WEST CAROLINE BASIN (Aug 20, 2023) Sailors load a NATO Sea Sparrow missile into a missile launcher aboard the forward-deployed amphibious assault ship USS America (LHA 6) in the West Caroline Basin, Aug. 20, 2023. America, lead ship of the America Amphibious Ready Group, is operating in the U.S. 7th Fleet area of operations. U.S. 7th Fleet is the U.S. Navy's largest forward-deployed numbered fleet, and routinely interacts and operates with allies and partners in preserving a free and open Indo-Pacific region. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Matthew Bakerian)