181020-N-UX013-1082 U.S. 5TH FLEET AREA OF OPERATIONS (Oct. 20, 2018) An MH-60R Sea Hawk helicopter, assigned to the �Vipers� of Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron (HSM) 48, takes off from the flight deck of the expeditionary mobile base platform ship USS Lewis B. Puller (ESB 3), Oct. 20, 2018. Puller and the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Jason Dunham (DDG 109) are 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 Specialists 3rd Class Jonathan Clay/Released)