171028-N-GC965-091 5TH FLEET AREA OF OPERATIONS (Oct. 28, 2017) Lt. j.g. Nobuyuki Acevedo, a native of Okinawa, Japan, assigned to the amphibious assault ship USS America (LHA 6), communicates with the bridge watch standers as the ship makes an approach with the fleet replenishment oiler USNS Patuxent (T-AO 201) during a replenishment-at-sea. America is the flagship for the America Amphibious Ready Group and, with the embarked 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit, is deployed to the U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations in support of maritime security operations to reassure allies and partners and preserve the freedom of navigation and the free flow of commerce in the region. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Ramon Go/Released)