Friends and family members watch as the Wasp-class amphibious assault ship USS Kearsarge (LHD 3) prepares to depart Naval Station Norfolk for a deployment.

NORFOLK (Dec. 17, 2018) Friends and family members watch as the Wasp-class amphibious assault ship USS Kearsarge (LHD 3) prepares to depart Naval Station Norfolk for a deployment. Kearsarge is deploying as part of the Kearsarge Amphibious Ready Group in support of maritime security operations, crisis response and theater security cooperation, while also providing a forward naval presence. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Maria I. Alvarez) File# 181217-N-BY095-0171