Navy Seaman Leila Barnett of Kauai, Hawaii, serves aboard USS Forrest Sherman (DDG 98)

“Why Being There Matters”

On our planet, more than 70 percent of which is covered by water, being there means having the ability to act from the sea. The Navy is uniquely positioned to be there; the world’s oceans give the Navy the power to protect America’s interests anywhere, and at any time. Your Navy protects and defends America on the world’s oceans. Navy ships, submarines, aircraft and, most importantly, tens of thousands of America’s finest young men and women are deployed around the world doing just that. They are there now. They will be there when we are sleeping tonight. They will be there every Saturday, Sunday and holiday this year. They are there around the clock, far from our shores, defending America at all times.

Thank you very much for your support of the men and women in U.S. Navy, deployed around the clock and ready to protect and defend America on the world’s oceans.

U.S. 5TH FLEET AREA OF OPERATIONS (July, 15, 2015) – Seaman Leila Barnett, from Kauai, Hawaii, paints a chalk aboard the guided-missile destroyer USS Forrest Sherman (DDG 98). Forrest Sherman is deployed to the U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations as part of Theodore Roosevelt Carrier Strike Group supporting Operation Inherent Resolve, strike operations in Iraq and Syria as directed, maritime security operations and theater security cooperation efforts in the region. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Anthony N. Hilkowski/Released)