Service can lead from the Hoosier heartland to sailing the seven seas

(TOP LEFT) Captain Robert “Seph” Coats from Carmichael, Calif., presents an award to Musician First Class Amanda Ballantine from Indianapolis at an all-hands meeting in the historic sail loft at the Washington Navy Yard. The U.S. Navy Band performs concerts and ceremonies in the Washington Capital region and on tours nationwide.

(TOP RIGHT) Fire Controlman (Aegis) 2nd Class Caleb Grafton, Indianapolis, tracks air contacts in the combat information center of the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Wayne E. Meyer (DDG 108) in the Pacific Ocean, Jan. 31, 2025. Wayne E. Meyer is underway in U.S. 3rd Fleet conducting routine operations.

(ABOVE LEFT) U.S. Navy Aviation Boatswain’s Mate (Handling) Airman Apprentice Jashon Webb (left) from Indianapolis and Izaiah Blackman assemble light fixtures aboard the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71), Jan. 29, 2025. Theodore Roosevelt, the flagship of Theodore Roosevelt Carrier Strike Group, is currently pierside at Naval Air Station North Island in its homeport of San Diego undergoing routine maintenance and equipment upgrades during a Planned Incremental Availability.

(ABOVE RIGHT) Master-at-Arms 1st Class Luis Zaragoza, Indianapolis, oversees a small arms live-fire exercise as the small arms marksmanship instructor on the flight deck of the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Preble (DDG 88) in the Philippine Sea, Jan. 16. Preble is forward-deployed and assigned to Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 15, the Navy’s largest DESRON and the U.S. 7th Fleet’s principal surface force.