Each Friday, we pause to remember the men and women serving far from home. Wearing red is a small but powerful act of solidarity, a reminder that behind every deployment stands a family waiting, a community supporting, and a nation grateful for the sacrifices being made.
Today, we carry those thoughts across the globe — to the waters of the Arabian Sea where U.S. Sailors train with Indian partners, to the Mediterranean where Allied navies patrol contested seas, and to the Pacific where multinational exercises test endurance and resolve. These missions are more than maneuvers; they are living proof of commitment, resilience, and readiness.
For those deployed, days at sea or on distant shores often blur together into a cycle of watches, drills, and duties. Yet even in the most routine moments, service members are forging bonds, sharpening skills, and carrying out responsibilities that shape the security of entire regions. Their presence is a shield against instability and a promise to allies that the United States stands alongside them.
For families, each deployment brings sacrifice — empty seats at dinner, milestones marked by letters or video calls, and the constant weight of distance. RED Friday is a moment to honor not only the service members in uniform, but also the strength of the spouses, children, parents, and loved ones who keep the home front steady.
As we wear red this Friday, let it be a reminder that freedom and security are safeguarded daily by those who serve abroad. It is our responsibility to keep them close in thought and to ensure their dedication is never overlooked.
American Warship Opens Fire in Baltic Sea During NATO Exercise
An American destroyer has conducted live-fire gunnery drills in the Baltic Sea during Exercise NEPTUNE STRIKE 25-3, a NATO-led operation designed to demonstrate allied strength, sharpen integration, and safeguard maritime security across Europe’s northern waters.
On September 23, the USS Bainbridge (DDG 96), an Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer, fired its five-inch Mk 45 gun at a designated surface target while operating alongside European allies. The gunnery drill was carried out in close coordination with Finland’s Hamina-class missile boat FNS Tornio (81), Germany’s Sachsen-class frigate FGS Hamburg (F220), and Sweden’s Visby-class corvette Helsingborg (K32).
The exercise, which spans from September 22–26, is one of NATO’s largest enhanced vigilance activities of the year. More than 10,000 personnel from 13 nations are participating, supported by a wide array of aircraft, warships, and maritime command elements. The goal is to enhance NATO’s ability to deter aggression, defend strategic sea lanes, and conduct strike operations under a unified command.
Strengthening Alliance Integration
NEPTUNE STRIKE 25-3 is directed by Naval Striking and Support Forces NATO, headquartered in Oeiras, Portugal, under U.S. Vice Admiral Jeffrey T. Anderson. During the exercise, the U.S. Navy’s Carrier Strike Group 12 operates under NATO command and control, working alongside amphibious and surface forces to practice integrated strike planning.
This multinational training is designed to test interoperability across the air, land, and sea domains. It includes not only gunnery exercises but also strike coordination, maritime chokepoint security, and complex command-and-control drills. For NATO, such exercises reaffirm collective defense obligations and ensure that alliance members can seamlessly combine forces in a real-world crisis.
The Role of USS Bainbridge
Commissioned in 2005, the USS Bainbridge is a Flight IIA Arleigh Burke-class destroyer equipped with the Aegis Combat System, one of the most advanced naval warfare platforms in the world. The destroyer’s weapons suite includes Standard Missiles for air defense, Tomahawk cruise missiles for long-range land attack, ESSM for point defense, and ASROC for anti-submarine warfare. Its five-inch gun, tested in this Baltic operation, remains a versatile asset for surface engagements and shore fire support.
With its embarked MH-60R Seahawk helicopters, Bainbridge adds extended reach against submarine and surface threats. Its presence in the Baltic Sea reflects the U.S. Navy’s ability to project power into contested waters while reassuring allies on NATO’s eastern flank.
The Baltic Sea’s Strategic Significance
The Baltic Sea has long been a focal point of military strategy due to its proximity to Russia, its enclosed geography, and its importance to NATO’s northern members. For countries like Finland, Germany, and Sweden—two of which only recently deepened their defense commitments through NATO accession—operating alongside the U.S. Navy reinforces both national security and alliance unity.
Conducting live-fire exercises in this region sends a clear message of deterrence, emphasizing NATO’s commitment to defend its members and ensure maritime access. The drills also allow navies to practice operating in a congested environment where deconfliction, communication, and precision coordination are critical.
Interoperability in Action
During the exercise, participating warships rehearsed joint target tracking, surface strike coordination, and combined command-and-control protocols. These tasks are vital for ensuring that multinational forces can respond swiftly and effectively to any potential crisis. Beyond the tactical drills, the operation also strengthens trust and working relationships between sailors of different nations—a cornerstone of NATO’s enduring strength.
Continuing the Vigilance Series
NEPTUNE STRIKE 25-3 follows the July iteration, 25-2, and continues the series of enhanced vigilance activities conducted throughout 2025. Each builds on the last, increasing the complexity of operations while refining joint readiness. With multiple strike groups, amphibious units, and regional navies involved, the exercises collectively demonstrate the alliance’s ability to project maritime power across the Mediterranean, Adriatic, North, and Baltic Seas.
As the USS Bainbridge and her allied counterparts complete their Baltic operations, the exercise underscores the importance of U.S. naval presence in Europe and the shared commitment of NATO allies to deterrence, stability, and the free use of the world’s oceans.
USS Benfold Departs 7th Fleet Forward Deployment After 10 Years in Japan
The Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Benfold (DDG 65) has departed its forward-deployed station in Yokosuka, Japan, concluding a decade of continuous service within the U.S. 7th Fleet. The departure marks the end of a significant chapter in the ship’s history, one that has seen Benfold play an integral role in maintaining regional stability, strengthening alliances, and supporting the U.S. Navy’s presence across the Indo-Pacific.
Commissioned in 1996, USS Benfold joined the Forward Deployed Naval Forces-Japan (FDNF-J) in 2015. For the past ten years, the destroyer has operated from Fleet Activities Yokosuka, where it became a critical asset in deterrence missions, freedom of navigation operations, and multinational exercises with allies and partners.
A Decade of Service in the Indo-Pacific
During its tenure in Japan, Benfold conducted countless patrols across the Western Pacific, South China Sea, and Sea of Japan. The ship frequently integrated with carrier strike groups, executed ballistic missile defense patrols, and provided security in areas of heightened geopolitical tension. It also participated in annual exercises such as Keen Sword with the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force, RIMPAC in Hawaii, and Malabar with India and Australia, demonstrating interoperability and enhancing allied maritime cohesion.
Notably, Benfold became well-known for conducting freedom of navigation operations (FONOPS) near contested waters in the South China Sea, reinforcing international law and the principle of open seas. These missions placed the destroyer at the forefront of America’s commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific.
Strengthening Alliances
Stationed in Japan, the destroyer served as a visible symbol of the U.S.-Japan security alliance. Beyond military operations, Benfold’s crew engaged in community relations projects, forging friendships and strengthening ties with local Japanese communities. Ship visits, goodwill exchanges, and combined training events reinforced the shared commitment between the U.S. Navy and its allies to regional security and stability.
The destroyer also frequently operated with South Korea, Australia, and the Philippines, as well as European allies such as the United Kingdom and France when they deployed to the Pacific. These operations highlighted the Navy’s ability to integrate seamlessly with partners across the globe.
Legacy and Next Chapter
With its departure from Japan, USS Benfold will return to the United States for follow-on service with the Navy. While the ship’s exact future assignments have yet to be publicly confirmed, its decade of forward deployment leaves behind a legacy of steadfast service.
For the sailors who served aboard during this era, Benfold’s departure carries a sense of pride. They were part of a mission that extended beyond tactical operations — one that safeguarded sea lanes, reassured allies, and deterred aggression in one of the world’s most strategically vital regions.
As the Navy continues to rotate forces through the Indo-Pacific, Benfold’s departure is a reminder of the enduring U.S. commitment to the region. While one ship transitions home, others will continue the mission, ensuring that the stability and security of the Indo-Pacific remain a top priority.
U.S. and India Conduct Joint Naval Exercise in the Arabian Sea to Sharpen Interoperability
Arabian Sea — late September 2025. United States and Indian naval forces are conducting a bilateral exercise in the Arabian Sea that emphasizes integrated maritime operations, anti-submarine warfare, and coordinated sea-lift and logistics. The drills bring together surface combatants, maritime patrol aircraft, helicopters, and specialist teams to rehearse the sort of high-tempo, combined operations that modern naval campaigns require.
Scope and participants
While official force lists vary by press release, the exercise pairs U.S. Navy surface units and aviation assets with Indian Navy frigates, destroyers, and maritime patrol aircraft. Participating units rehearse a broad range of missions: coordinated anti-submarine warfare (ASW) sweeps, multi-ship surface maneuvers, air-sea integration with shipboard helicopters and maritime patrol aircraft, underway replenishment, and combined communications and command-and-control drills.
The bilateral activity fits into a broader pattern of increased U.S.–India naval cooperation that has evolved over the past decade, reflecting an emphasis on practical, operational interoperability rather than political signaling alone.
Training focus and realistic scenarios
Training modules during the exercise are practical and mission-oriented:
- Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW): Crews practice coordinated detection and tracking using shipboard sonar, towed arrays, maritime patrol aircraft sensors, and embarked helicopters. ASW training reinforces tactics, procedures, and data-sharing that are critical when operating in dense maritime environments.
- Surface and Air Integration: Surface units and maritime aircraft rehearse multi-axis detection, target designation, and deconfliction to ensure safe, effective combined strike or interdiction operations. This includes coordinated helicopter operations for over-the-horizon targeting and surface surveillance.
- Underway Replenishment and Logistics: Sailors and logisticians practice high-tempo underway replenishment to sustain long-range operations, an often under-appreciated skill that keeps ships on station longer and magnifies operational reach.
- Communications and Command-and-Control: Secure data links, interoperability of tactical networks, and combined command procedures are exercised so allied commanders can form a coherent picture swiftly and make timely decisions in dynamic environments.
- Boarding and Maritime Security Procedures: Specialist teams rehearse visit-board-search-and-seizure (VBSS) drills and procedures for safe, lawful interdiction of suspect vessels, a capability often used in counter-smuggling and maritime security missions.
The combination of these training lanes is designed to replicate the full spectrum of naval tasks — from humanitarian assistance and disaster response to contested sea-control scenarios — and to make combined forces faster and more reliable when called to act together.
Why this matters operationally
For the U.S. and Indian navies, this exercise strengthens the practical skills that underpin coalition operations. It reduces friction in combined warfighting by straightening out communications, aligning tactics, and familiarizing crews with each other’s systems and procedures. In an era where maritime security challenges range from natural disasters to advanced anti-access/area-denial threats, the ability to operate as a single, coordinated force is a strategic multiplier.
The training also helps standardize procedures for shared challenges — submarine detection lanes, tactical data exchange, and cross-deck helicopter operations — improving the speed and safety of multinational responses.
Impact on service members and families
For the sailors, aviators, and support personnel involved, the exercise is both demanding and professionally rewarding. Deploying at sea for sustained periods means long watches, continuous maintenance, and intense teamwork. Crews hone technical skills, gain experience in multinational operations, and return with heightened readiness and confidence.
For families ashore, exercises like this are a reminder of the operational tempo that accompanies forward naval work. While these operations contribute to regional stability and allied readiness, they also mean time away from home, missed events, and the everyday sacrifices that come with military service.
Takeaway
The U.S.–India naval exercise in the Arabian Sea is a clear example of modern naval cooperation: practical, interoperable, and focused on mission set readiness. By rehearsing ASW, air-sea integration, logistics, and combined command-and-control, the two navies sharpen a partnership that supports safe seas and efficient responses to crises across a large maritime domain.
