PHILIPPINE SEA (May 21, 2022) Pallets of supplies are staged in the hangar bay of the Independence-variant littoral combat ship USS Charleston (LCS 18) as preparations are made to transfer them by helicopter to the Arleigh Burke-class destroyer USS Sampson (DDG 102). Charleston, part of Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 7, is on a rotational deployment, operating in the U.S. 7th Fleet area of operations to enhance interoperability with partners and serve as a ready-response force in support of a free and open Indo-Pacific region. (U.S. Navy photo by Ensign James French)