PACIFIC OCEAN (Nov. 14, 2023) Boatswain's Mate 2nd Class Alexander Trujillo, from Strathmore, California, directs the crew of an MH-60R Sea Hawk helicopter assigned to the "Blue Hawks" of Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron (HSM) 78 on the flight deck aboard the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Sterett (DDG 104) during Annual Exercise (ANNUALEX) 2023. ANNUALEX is a multilateral exercise conducted by naval elements of the Royal Australian, Royal Canadian, Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force, and U.S. navies to demonstrate naval interoperability and a joint commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific. Sterett, assigned to Carrier Strike Group ONE, is deployed to the U.S. 7th Fleet area of operations in support of a free and open Indo-Pacific. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Charles J. Scudella III)