SOUTH CHINA SEA (May 5, 2024) Sailors assigned to the San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock ship USS Somerset (LPD 25) and U.S. Marines assigned to the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit transport vehicles and gear in the well deck while underway in the South China Sea during Exercise Balikatan 24, May 5, 2024. BK 24 is an annual exercise between the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the U.S. military designed to strengthen bilateral interoperability, capabilities, trust, and cooperation built over decades of shared experiences. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Evan Diaz)