The United States Navy has just revealed their most powerful images taken over the course of the last 12 months that show the heart-breaking loss of life, strike operations on ISIS, emotional homecomings and more.
The Navy had an eventful and busy year with new ships being commissioned, hurricane victims in the mainland US and Puerto Rico being aided, terrorist groups ISIS and Syrian forces being hit with cruise-missile strikes and the USS Fitzgerald and USS John McCain being involved in collisions.
Founded 242 years ago, the US Navy is the largest and most capable navy in the world with 322,421 personnel on active duty and 107,577 in the Navy Reserve.
The photos captured by Navy personnel from around the world show the emotional moments of service members being reunited with their family, along with the tragic moments during funerals to those lost in the line of duty.
In addition, the images also showcase the hard work, tenacity, sacrifice and dedication that service members in all of the country’s military branches exhibit on a daily basis.
Check out the following captivating and most powerful images from this year that perfectly highlight the Navy’s longstanding mission and duties to be ‘always courageous’.
In too deep: Construction Mechanic Constructionman Matt Adams, attached to Naval Mobile Construction Battalion (NMCB) 5, traverses a mud-filled pit while participating in the endurance course at the Jungle Warfare Training Center (JETC) aboard Camp Gonsalves in Okinawa, Japan
Tragic: Darrold Martin, center, is presented with the flag by Navy Vice Adm. Thomas Moore during the burial service for Martin’s son, Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Xavier Alec Martin, 24, of Halethorpe, Maryland on August 9, 2017, at Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia. The sailor died in June when the USS Fitzgerald collided with a container ship near Japan
Rescue: A Naval aircrewman comforts a Puerto Rican evacuee following the landfall of Hurricane Maria on September 25
Angelic: Sailors create snow angels on the flight deck of the aircraft carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower on January 7 after returning home from a deployment
Man’s best friend: Naval Aircrewman (Helicopter) 2nd Class Jansen Schamp, a native of Denver, Colorado and assigned to the Dragon Whales of Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 28, rescues two dogs at Pine Forrest Elementary School, a shelter that required evacuation after flood waters from Hurricane Harvey reached its grounds on August 31
Emotional: Operations Specialist 3rd Class Ashley Arocho-Lopez, assigned to the amphibious assault ship USS Wasp (LHD 1), reunites with her grandma (right) and her aunt during a family assessment in Puerto Rico. Wasp Sailors with ties to Puerto Rico had the opportunity to go ashore to meet family members affected by Hurricane Maria
Fun: An electrician’s mate fireman and damage controlman practice pipe-patching drills during a damage-control training team exercise on the flight deck of the USS Barry on March 5
True love: U.S. Navy Logistics Specialist 3rd Class Michael Zegarra, who is from Miami and assigned to the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN 68), kisses his wife Caterina Zegarra on the pier, during the ship’s homecoming in Bremerton, Washington on December 10
Reunited: Lt. Cmdr. Nate Michael, assigned to the “Gray Wolves” of Electronic Attack Squadron (VAQ) 142, returns to Naval Air Station Whidbey Island on December 4. He completed a six-month deployment, operating in the U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations, with Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 11 while embarked aboard the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN 77)
Repairs: U.S. Navy Diver 2nd Class Chris Carlson, assigned to the submarine tender USS Emory S. Land (AS 39), performs underwater cutting operations using a Broco torch on a mooring system with other divers assigned to Underwater Construction Team (UCT) 2 in Apra Harbor, Guam on December 12
Working together: Airmen work together to install a bleed air valve on an F/A-18C Hornet in the hangar bay of the USS Roosevelt on December 4
Deep blue: U.S. Navy Divers, assigned to Mobile Diving Salvage Unit (MDSU) 1, conduct an underwater pier survey with divers assigned to Underwater Construction Team (UCT) 2 in Apra Harbor in Guam on December 14
Seeing clearly: Logisitics Specialist Seaman Kiara Jones practices using an ophthalmoscope, a tool used to exam eyes, during a general quarters drill aboard USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74) in Bremerton, Washington on November 29
Super power: Chief Aviation Support Equipment Technician Daniel Wynne lifts weights during the Ike Strength Fest competition in the hangar bay of the aircraft carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) on February 10
Special moment: Sailors bring the USS Washington to life during the commissioning ceremony for the Virginia-class attack submarine at Naval Station Norfolk on October 7
Unity: Members of the Royal Australian navy Clearance Diving Team observe as U.S. Navy Sailors assigned to Underwater Construction Team (UCT) 2 conduct a pier inspection in Apra Harbor, Guam, during the western Pacific Naval Symposium diving exercise on June 13
Beautiful: The amphibious assault ship USS Makin Island (LHD 8) transits the Arabian Sea on March 3
In the air: A U.S. Navy Hawkeye surveillance plane lands on the U.S. Navy aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) following a patrol off the disputed South China Sea on March 3
Team work: Maj. Gen. Christopher Bence, commander, U.S. Air Force Expeditionary Center, left, Rear Adm. Shoshana Chatfield, commander, Joint Region Marianas, and other senior leaders push a pallet into the back of a C-130J Super Hercules during the Operation Christmas Drop Push Ceremony aboard Andersen Air Force Base on December 11
Sending signals: A sailor signals the launch of an F/A-18E Super Hornet from the flight deck of the USS Reagan on November 18
Live-fire: The Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Oscar Austin (DDG 79) fires its Mark 45 5-inch gun during a live-fire exercise in the Arctic Circle on September 12
All smiles: A sailor interacts with students during a community engagement event at Lumut Naval Base in Malaysia on September 20
Jump! Members of the U.S. Navy Parachute Team, the Leap Frogs, exit a C-130 Hercules, assigned to the U.S. Air Force 403rd Wing, during a skydiving demonstration above Biloxi High School that was part of Navy Week in Biloxi, Mississippi on April 4
Repair time: Seabees fill a crater using a “super sack” during a rapid airfield damage repair exercise on October 17
Chilled out: Sailors assigned to the littoral combat ship USS Coronado (LCS 4) swim in the chilly South China Sea on February 23
Entangled: US Navy search-and-rescue swimmers assigned to the USS Howard save a loggerhead sea turtle entangled in a half-sunken fishing boat on October 16
Attack: U.S. Navy guided-missile destroyer USS Porter (DDG 78) conducts strike operations while in the Mediterranean Sea which U.S. Defense Department said was a part of cruise missile strike against Syria on April 7
Stand still: Sailors man the rails of the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Oscar Austin (DDG 79) as the ship departs Oslo, Norway, following a port visit on October 31
Speedy: An F/A-18F Super Hornet assigned to Air Test and Evaluation Squadron (VX) 23 flies over the aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78) in the Atlantic Ocean on July 28
Mesmerizing: The new USS Gerald R. Ford aircraft carrier transits the Atlantic Ocean on December 13 with a beautiful night sky
Squad up: The USS Nimitz, USS Ronald Reagan, and USS Theodore Roosevelt aircraft carriers and their strike groups in the Pacific Ocean on November 12
Full support: The USS John S. McCain conducts a patrol in the South China Sea on January 22 while supporting security efforts in the region
Light up: A medium-range ballistic-missile target is launched from the Pacific Missile Range Facility in Hawaii. It was successfully intercepted by SM-6 missiles fired from the USS John Paul Jones on August 29