170703-N-XU691-045 SURIGAO STRAIT (July 3, 2017) Ships assigned to Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 9 transit ahead of the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN 68) in the Surigao Strait. Nimitz is on deployment in the U.S. 7th Fleet area of operations. The U.S. Navy has patrolled the Indo-Asia Pacific routinely for more than 70 years promoting regional peace and security. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman David Claypool/Released)