The prosperity and security of the United States is directly linked to a strong and ready Navy

PACIFIC OCEAN (MPG) Boatswain’s Mate Seaman Jarett Atteberry of Oroville, Calif., signals an MH-60 Seahawk assigned to the “Merlins” of Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 3 during night time deck landing qualifications aboard the Independence-variant littoral combat ship USS Coronado (LCS 4). The Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) is a fast, agile, mission-focused platform designed to operate in near-shore environments, winning against 21st-century coastal threats. The LCS is capable of supporting forward presence, maritime security, sea control, and deterrence. With more than 90 percent of all trade traveling by sea, and 95 percent of the world’s international phone and internet traffic carried through fiber optic cables lying on the ocean floor, Navy officials continue to emphasize that the prosperity and security of the United States is directly linked to a strong and ready Navy. Photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Hector Carrera/U.S. Navy