Higgins’ return marks the top of a six-month patrol that started in Might and took the ship and crew from the northern Pacific Ocean to the South China Sea and again.
“Our patrol this 12 months was an awesome illustration of how a lot floor seventh Fleet covers and the disparate environments and challenges discovered all through the world of operations,” stated Cmdr. Joseph McGettigan, Higgins commanding officer. “We began again in Might working Northeast of Japan close to the Kuril Islands, with pretty chilly temperatures, and rapidly discovered ourselves within the warmth, crossing the equator south of Guam, just a few weeks later. On the finish of 6 months of operations, we now have travelled throughout the South China Sea and again to Japan once more. I’m very impressed with how properly the crew operated as a group and actually got here collectively as a household to assist one another all through our time at sea.”
In August, Higgins joined the Japan Maritime Self-Protection Drive (JMSDF), Royal Canadian Navy (RCN), and Royal Australian Navy (RAN) conducting multi-lateral operation in assist of Indo-Pacific deployments for JMSDF, RAN, and RCN within the South China Sea. The time with Allies and companions included a sequence of workouts similar to live-fire occasions, flight operations, and several other strait transits.
Higgins additionally participated in cooperative maritime train Pacific Vanguard (PACVAN) 2022 alongside maritime forces from RAN, JMSDF, and Republic of Korea Navy, conducting maritime operations, anti-submarine warfare operations, air warfare operations, live-fire missile occasions, and replenishment at sea.
“Working with different international locations strengthened our worldwide relations as an entire,” stated Fireplace Controlman (Aegis) 2nd Class, Stephen Baugh, from Washington, D.C. “Coordinating with members of the Australian and Canadian navies confirmed us the technological and combatant development the U.S. as an entire is all the time striving to realize; particularly with our Allies.”
Throughout the deployment, Higgins visited overseas ports to incorporate Brunei, the Philippines and Thailand. Throughout these visits, Higgins Sailors had been in a position to take part in relationship constructing alternatives similar to a neighborhood relations occasion on the Youngster Growth and Safety Middle in Pattaya, Thailand, and with “Lil Bravehearts,” a company in Manila, Philippines dedicated to caring for and supporting the households of youngsters with Down syndrome. Sailors additionally explored and skilled the host nation’s wealthy tradition with the locals by way of Morale, Welfare and Recreation (MWR) scheduled excursions and occasions, and carried out ship tours-hosting distinguished guests to incorporate the Ambassador of the U.S. to Brunei, members of Veterans of International Conflict (VFW) Publish 9876, VFW Publish 12146 and American Legion Publish TH02.
Higgins is assigned to Commander, Process Drive 71/Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 15, the Navy’s largest forward-deployed DESRON and the U.S. seventh fleet’s principal floor drive.
Higgins is forward-deployed to the U.S. seventh Fleet space of operations in assist of a free and open Indo-Pacific area. U.S. seventh Fleet is the most important numbered fleet on the planet, and with the assistance of 35 different maritime-nation allies and companions, the U.S. Navy has operated within the Indo-Pacific area for greater than 70 years, offering credible, prepared forces to assist protect peace and stop battle.
