ISHIGAKI, Okinawa (Sept. 7, 2023) Sailors aboard the Avenger-class mine countermeasure ship USS Pioneer (MCM 9) secure a banner to the gangway after the ship arrives at Ishgaki Port on Ishigaki Island in Okinawa, Japan, Sept. 7, 2023. This marks the first time that a U.S. Navy ship has pulled into Ishigaki since 2009 and the first that the Pioneer has made port at the island. Pioneer is forward-deployed to Fleet Activities Sasebo, and is underway conducting routine operations in the U.S. 7th Fleet area of operations. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Gunnery Sgt. Andrew Ochoa)