181109-N-NI420-0133 MANAMA, BAHRAIN (Nov. 9, 2018) Boatswain’s Mate 1st Class Clarissa Garcia, assigned to Assault Craft Unit (ACU) 5, left, and Quartermaster 3rd Class Dianna Howze, assigned to the Wasp-class amphibious assault ship USS Essex (LHD 2), spend time with a rescue cat during a community relations event at the Bahrain Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (BSPCA) while on a scheduled deployment with the Essex Amphibious Ready Group (ARG) and 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU). The Essex ARG and 13th MEU are a flexible and persistent Navy-Marine Corps team deployed to the U.S. 5th Fleet area of operation 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 3rd Class Molly DiServio/Released)