NAVAL BASE SAN DIEGO, Calif. – Rear Adm. Philip Sobeck, Commander, Expeditionary Strike Group THREE, (center), delivers remarks during the decommissioning ceremony of the Mine Countermeasure ship USS Ardent (MCM 12) at Naval Base San Diego. Ardent was decommissioned after nearly 30 years of distinguished service. Commissioned Feb. 8, 1994, Ardent assisted in the recovery of a downed F/A-18C in the North Arabian Gulf and provided support following the bombing of USS Cole (DDG 67) in Port of Aden, Yemen. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Kevin C. Leitner)