USS Higgins (DDG 76) Conducts Flight Operations with HSM 77 in Support of Valiant Shield 2024
PHILIPPINE SEA (June 12, 2024) Boatswain’s Mate 2nd Class Kaelin Lemieux from Baton Rouge, Louisiana, (right) and Boatswain’s Mate 2nd Class Gustavo Ramirez from Vasalia, California, (left) secure a MH-60R Sea Hawk helicopter, assigned to the “Saberhawks” of Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron (HSM) 77 on the flight deck of the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Higgins (DDG 76) during flight operations in support of Valiant Shield 2024. Exercises such as Valiant Shield allow the Indo-Pacific Command Joint Forces the opportunity to integrate forces from all branches of service and with our allies to conduct precise, lethal, and overwhelming multi-axis, multi-domain effects that demonstrate the strength and versatility of the Joint Force and our commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Hannah Fry)