200211-N-SL179-1018 ARABIAN SEA (Feb. 11, 2020) Aviation Support Equipment Technician 1st Class Francis Lasch and Aviation Support Equipment Technician 3rd Class Mayson Newman, assigned to the amphibious assault ship USS Bataan (LHD 5), perform maintenance in the hangar bay. Bataan is the flagship for the Bataan Amphibious Ready Group and, with the embarked 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit, is deployed to the U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations in support of naval operations to ensure maritime stability and security in the Central Region, connecting the Mediterranean Sea and the Pacific Ocean through the western Indian Ocean and three strategic choke points. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Alan L. Robertson/Released)