181204-N-TB177-1165 ARABIAN GULF (Dec. 4, 2018) Sailors from the Royal Navy and U.S. Navy pull in Sailors on a combat rubber rating craft aboard the Royal Fleet Auxiliary landing ship dock RFA Cardigan Bay (L3009) during Mine Countermeasures Exercise (MCMEX) 19-1. MCMEX is the premier quarterly mine countermeasures exercise in the Middle East, and is conducted with the United Kingdom's Royal Navy to increase interoperability and demonstrate the shared commitment to ensuring unfettered maritime operations. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Kevin J. Steinberg/Released)