170130-N-RM689-359 PACIFIC OCEAN (Jan. 30, 2017) Aviation Electronics Technician 3rd Class Jacob Kruegar (front), from Seattle, Wash., attaches the hook to an MH-60R Sea Hawk helicopter attached to Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron (HSM) 78 while Aviation Ordnanceman 1st Class Nick Gravesande, from Tecate, Mexico, holds him steady during a practice exercise for a future vertical replenishment-at-sea on the flight deck of Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Wayne E. Meyer (DDG 108). The ship is on a scheduled western Pacific deployment with the Carl Vinson Carrier Strike Group as part of the U.S. Pacific Fleet-led initiative to extend the command and control functions of U.S. 3rd Fleet into the Indo-Asia-Pacific region. U.S. Navy aircraft carrier strike groups have patrolled the Indo-Asia-Pacific regularly and routinely for more than 70 years. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Kelsey L. Adams/Released)