150916-N-BD107-029 ARABIAN GULF (Sept. 16, 2015) Chief petty oficer selectees march into ranks during a chief petty officer pinning ceremony on the flight deck of the Wasp-class amphibious assault ship USS Essex (LHD 2). Essex is the flagship of the Essex Amphibious Group and, with the embarked 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit (15th MEU), is deployed in support of maritime security operations and theater security cooperation efforts in the U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Liam Kennedy/Released)