190115-N-GC639-1154 ARABIAN GULF (Jan. 15, 2019) U.S. Navy Boatswain’s Mate 3rd Class Brandon Ross, from Honeapath, South Carolina, salutes the pilot of a Panther anti-submarine helicopter, assigned to France’s Marine Nationale air defense destroyer FS Cassard (D 614), as it approaches the flight deck of the guided-missile destroyer USS Spruance (DDG 111) while conducting daylight landing qualifications in the Arabian Gulf, Jan. 15, 2019, during exercise Intrepid Sentinel. Intrepid Sentinel brings together the John C. Stennis Strike Group, France's Marine Nationale, United Kingdom's Royal Navy and the Royal Australian Navy for a multinational exercise designed to enhance war fighting readiness and interoperability between allies and partners. The Spruance 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 and the Pacific through the western Indian Ocean and three strategic choke points. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Ryan D. McLearnon/Released)