PHILIPPINE SEA (Nov. 16, 2023) Aviation Boatswain's Mate (Fuel) 3rd Class Benny Serigny, from Cut Off, Louisiana, collects a fuel sample aboard the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) during a fueling-at-sea with the Henry J. Kaiser-class fleet replenishment oiler USNS John Ericson (T-A0 194) 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. Vinson, flagship of 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 2nd Class Emily Claire Bennett)