U.S. Marine Corps Sgt. Colton Ciufo, left, and Sgt. Matt Hennies, right, psychological operations specialists, simulate the detention of Cpl. Patrick Esponla, center, a chemical, biological, radiation, nuclear defense specialist with the Command Element, 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU), after being sprayed by Oleoresin Capsicum Spray, aboard the Wasp-class amphibious assault ship USS Essex (LHD 2), Nov. 23, 2018, in the Arabian Gulf. The Essex is the flagship for the Essex Amphibious Ready Group and, with the embarked 13th MEU, is deployed to the U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations in support of naval operations to ensure maritime stability and security in the Central Region, connecting the Mediterranean and the Pacific through the western Indian Ocean and three strategic choke points.