ARABIAN SEA – U.S. Marine Sgt. Ayman Khan, left, an

ARABIAN SEA – U.S. Marine Sgt. Ayman Khan, left, an embarkation noncommissioned officer with the Command Element, 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU), and Culinary Specialist 1st Class Edmond Kugblenu, right, with the Essex Amphibious Ready Group (ARG), look over a personnel roster for the replenishment-at-sea aboard the Wasp-class amphibious assault ship USS Essex (LHD 2), Jan. 8, 2019. The Essex is the flagship for the Essex ARG and, with the embarked 13th MEU, is deployed to the U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations in support of naval operations to ensure maritime stability in the Central Region, connecting the Mediterranean and the Pacific through the western Indian Ocean and three strategic choke points. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Francisco J. Diaz Jr./Released)