SOUTH CHINA SEA (May 5, 2024) Boatswain's Mate 3rd Class Elijah Rodarte signals to a light armored vehicle operator from Light Armored Reconnaissance Company, Battalion Landing Team 1/5, 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit, in the well deck of the San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock ship USS Somerset (LPD 25) while underway in the South China Sea during Exercise Balikatan 24, May 5, 2024. Balikatan 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. Rodarte is a native of California. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Evan Diaz)