U.S. Coast Guard Petty Officer 2nd Class Sanders Mathieu, an operations specialist assigned to U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Waesche (WMSL 751), gives a preflight brief to members of the Philippine Coast Guard during a bilateral U.S.-Philippine search and rescue exercise in the South China Sea, July 16, 2024. The bilateral exercise was an opportunity to strengthen relations by working together and exchanging operating procedures and practices. Waesche is the second U.S. Coast Guard National Security Cutter deployed to the Indo-Pacific in 2024. Coast Guard cutters routinely deploy to the region to engage with partner nations to ensure a free and open Indo-Pacific. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Elijah Murphy)