170305-N-RM689-184 SOUTH CHINA SEA (March 5, 2017) The Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Wayne E. Meyer (DDG 108) pulls alongside the Lewis and Clark-class dry cargo ship USNS Richard E. Byrd (T-AKE 4) as the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) pulls alongside the Henry J. Kaiser-class oiler USNS Tippecanoe (T-AO 199) in preparation for a replenishment-at-sea. Wayne E. Meyer is on a regularly 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)