THE TENSION: Combat Camera: Aboard USS John C Stennis, April 15, 2009

PACIFIC OCEAN (April 13, 2009) Gunner's Mate 3rd Class Aaron Sanneman, from Clarke, Wis., mans a .50-caliber machine gun on the fantail of the aircraft carrier USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74) during a high value transit while departing Laem Chabang, Thailand. John C. Stennis was in Thailand as part of a scheduled port visit during a six-month deployment to the western Pacific Ocean. (U.S. Navy photo by Seaman Eboni C. Cameron.)

PACIFIC OCEAN (April 8, 2009) An F/A-18F Super Hornet from the "Black Knights" of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 154 launches from the aircraft carrier USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74). John C. Stennis and Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 9 are on a scheduled six-month deployment to the western Pacific Ocean. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Elliott Fabrizio.)

PACIFIC OCEAN (April 8, 2009) Lightning strikes behind the aircraft carrier USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74) as she steams through the gulf of Thailand. John C. Stennis is on a scheduled six-month deployment to the western Pacific Ocean. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Jon Husman.)

PACIFIC OCEAN (April 8, 2009) Seaman Anthony Fortunate, from Las Vegas, stands port forward lookout watch aboard the aircraft carrier USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74). Stennis is on a scheduled six-month deployment to the western Pacific Ocean. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Walter M. Wayman.)

PACIFIC OCEAN (April 8,2009) An F/A-18E Super Hornet from the "Argonauts" of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 147 launches from the aircraft carrier USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74). John C. Stennis and Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 9 are on a scheduled six-month deployment to the western Pacific Ocean. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Denny Cantrelll.)

PACIFIC OCEAN (April 8, 2009) Lightning strikes behind an F/A-18C Hornet from the "Blue Diamonds" of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 146 on the flight deck aboard the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74). Stennis and Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 9 are on a scheduled six-month deployment to the western Pacific Ocean. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Elliott Fabrizio.)

PACIFIC OCEAN (April 7, 2009) Aviation Boatswain's Mate Airman Oscar Auten, from Council Bluffs, Iowa, wipes down the hydraulic piston of a jet-blast deflector on the flight deck of the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74). John C. Stennis is on a scheduled six-month deployment to the western Pacific Ocean. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Walter M. Wayman.)

PACIFIC OCEAN (April 7, 2009) Sailors on flight deck of the aircraft carrier USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74) prepare two MH-60S Sea Hawk helicopters from the "Eightballers" of Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) for flight operations. John C. Stennis and Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 9 are on a scheduled six-month deployment to the western Pacific Ocean. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Walter M. Wayman.)

PACIFIC OCEAN (April 8, 2009) Lightning strikes behind two F/A-18C Hornet strike fighters from the "Blue Diamonds" of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 146 on the flight deck aboard the aircraft carrier USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74). John C. Stennis and Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 9 are on a scheduled six-month deployment to the western Pacific Ocean. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Elliott Fabrizio.)

PACIFIC OCEAN (April 8,2009) Distinguished visitors from Thailand watch flight operations from Vultures Row aboard the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74) as an EA-6B Prowler from the "Yellowjackets" of Electronic Warfare Squadron (VAQ) 138 lands on the flight deck . John C. Stennis and Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 9 are on a scheduled six-month deployment to the western Pacific Ocean. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Denny Cantrell.)

PACIFIC OCEAN (April 8, 2009) An F/A-18E Super Hornet from the "Argonauts" of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 147 and an EA-6B Prowler from the "Yellowjackets" of Electronic Attack Squadron (VAQ) 138 launch from the aircraft carrier USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74). John C. Stennis and Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 9 are on a scheduled six-month deployment to the western Pacific Ocean. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Walter M. Wayman.)

PACIFIC OCEAN (April 7, 2009) Sailors enter a smoky space to combat a simulated fire during a general quarters drill aboard the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74). John C. Stennis is on a scheduled six-month deployment to the western Pacific Ocean. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Jon Husman.)

PACIFIC OCEAN (April 7, 2009) Sailors on flight deck of the aircraft carrier USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74) prepare for evening flight operations. John C. Stennis is on a scheduled six-month deployment to the western Pacific Ocean. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Walter M. Wayman.)

PACIFIC OCEAN (April 08, 2009) Boatswain's Mate Seaman Apprentice Paul Coombs, from Dover, Ohio, uses the "big eyes" to locate surface contacts while standing port forward lookout watch on the island structure aboard t aircraft carrier USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74). John C. Stennis is on a scheduled six-month deployment to the western Pacific Ocean. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Walter M. Wayman.)