SOUTH CHINA SEA (Dec. 14, 2023) Ensign Samuel Wente, from North Sioux City, North Dakota, checks the ship's relative position to a surface contact while standing conning officer watch on the bridge of the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Sterett (DDG 104) in the South China Sea, Dec. 14, 2023. Sterett, assigned to Carrier Strike Group (CSG) 1, is deployed to 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)