Lt. J.G. Michael Root, assigned to Independence-variant littoral combat ship USS Manchester (LCS 14), greets a loved one during a homecoming ceremony on Naval Base San Diego, September 11. Manchester returned to Naval Base San Diego following an 18-month deployment to the U.S. 3rd and 7th Fleets in support of a free and open Indo-Pacific. Littoral Combat Ships are fast, optimally manned, mission-tailored surface combatants that operate in near-shore and open-ocean environments, winning against 21st-century coastal threats. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communications 2nd Class Isaak Martinez)