A Sailor assigned to the Arleigh-Burke class guided-missile destroyer USS Oscar Austin (DDG 79) hugs his children during the completion of the ship's homeport shift from Naval Station (NAVSTA) Norfolk, Va., to NAVSTA Rota, Spain, Oct. 15, 2024. Oscar Austin is the first of two additional DDGs to join the Forward Deployed Naval Force-Europe (FDNF-E) force. As the "Gateway to the Mediterranean,” NAVSTA Rota provides U.S., NATO and allied forces a strategic hub for operations in Europe, Africa and the Middle East. NAVSTA Rota is a force multiplier, capable of promptly deploying and supporting combat-ready forces through