GULF OF OMAN (May 27, 2023) Cryptologic Technician (Collection) 2nd Class Drew Appleton, assigned to the Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer USS McFaul (DDG 74), establishes communications during a replenishment-at-sea with the Lewis and Clark-class dry cargo ship USNS Alan Shepard (T-AKE 3) in the Gulf of Oman, May 27, 2023. U.S. Naval Forces Central Command/U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations (AOO) encompasses about 2.5 million square miles of water area and includes the Arabian Gulf, Red Sea, Gulf of Oman, Gulf of Aden, Arabian Sea and parts of the Indian Ocean. This expanse, comprised of 21 nations, includes three critical choke points at the Strait of Hormuz, the Suez Canal and the Strait of Bab al Mandeb. (U.S. Photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Juel Foster)