USS OAKLAND CONDUCTS FLIGHT OPERATIONS

by Petty Officer 2nd Class Sang Kim

28 February 2023 NATUNA SEA -- Boatswain’s Mate 2nd Class Louis Guicovelasquez, right, from Grand Island, Nebraska, uses hand signals to communicate with pilots flying an MH-60R SeaHawk, attached to Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron (HSM) 35, during a vertical replenishment (VERTREP) operation training aboard Independence-class littoral combat ship USS Oakland (LCS 24) as the ship sails across the Natuna Sea, Feb. 28, 2023. Oakland, part of Destroyer Squadron 7, is on a rotational deployment, operating in the U.S. 7th Fleet area of operations to enhance interoperability with Allies and partners and serve as a ready-response force in support of a free and open Indo-Pacific region. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Sang Kim)