The crew of the Coast Guard cutter Stratton returned to their home port in Alameda, California, Oct. 24, after a 103-day patrol in the Arctic and Bering Sea, where they worked to reinforce maritime safety, security and national sovereignty in one of the most demanding operating areas in the world.
The Stratton conducted maritime security operations and training alongside regional partners under Operation Frontier Sentinel and Operation Tundra Merlin.
"I am proud of this crew for the professionalism they showed during a long and demanding patrol in the Arctic and Bering Sea," said Coast Guard Capt. Matthew Press, the Stratton's commanding officer. Whether conducting search and rescue response, safeguarding U.S. sovereignty, completing joint operations or engaging with Alaskan communities, the crew delivered presence and readiness where it mattered most.
The cutter conducted flight operations with a Coast Guard MH-60T Jay Hawk helicopter off the coast of Alaska, Aug. 11, building proficiency between cutter and aviation crews for search and rescue and maritime response. That same day, the cutter conducted a joint sail with the Canadian offshore patrol vessel HMCS Max Bernays in the Bering Strait, strengthening interoperability in the Arctic region.
On Aug. 24, the Stratton held a change of command ceremony while anchored off Kotzebue, Alaska. Coast Guard Rear Adm. Jeffrey Novak, Coast Guard Southwest District commander, presided over the event as Press assumed command from Coast Guard Rear Adm. Dorothy Hernaez.
The Stratton also conducted a live-fire gunnery exercise with its Mark 110 57 mm gun off the coast of Unalaska, Alaska, Sept. 30. The crew engaged multiple targets to test the cutter's weapons systems and practice gunnery skills. On Oct. 6, the ship conducted a simulated fueling training while anchored with the Coast Guard cutter Storis in Broad Bay, Alaska. The training demonstrated the Storis' ability to refuel other Coast Guard cutters while at anchor and expanded logistical flexibility for assets operating in remote Alaskan waters.
While on patrol, the Stratton's crew spent 26 days north of the Arctic Circle, earning the Coast Guard Arctic Service Medal. The crew visited Seattle, several Alaskan cities, and Victoria, Canada. In Seattle, the cutter participated in the Fleet Week Parade of Ships and provided tours to more than 2,500 members of the public.
The Stratton also hosted a flight-deck reception during Seattle Fleet Week for guests from the Coast Guard, Navy and Royal Canadian Navy, along with civic leaders from the Seattle area.
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