Happy 248th Birthday U.S. Navy

I teach my National Security students that the U.S. Navy is always ready to support the goals of the United States during war, peace and the gray in-between.

Even as I write this, the carrier strike group crews of the USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN-78) eight squadrons of attack and support aircraft, accompanied by the guided-missile cruiser USS Normandy and the guided-missile destroyers USS Thomas Hudner, USS Carney, USS Roosevelt and USS Ramage are in the Eastern Mediterranean.

Why is the group there? U.S. Central Command's General Michael "Erik" Kurilla said "The arrival of these highly capable forces to the region is a strong signal of deterrence should any actor hostile to Israel consider trying to take advantage of this situation."