151219-M-PA636-065 ARABIAN GULF (Dec. 19, 2015) Secretary of Defense Ash Carter visits U.S. Marines with the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit and Sailors assigned to the amphibious assault ship USS Kearsarge (LHD 3), aboard the Kearsarge, in the Arabian Gulf. The visit was part of a weeklong trip to the Middle East. The 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit is embarked on the Kearsarge Amphibious Ready Group and is deployed to maintain regional security in the U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Andre Dakis, 26th MEU Combat Camera/Released)