An amphibious assault vehicle (AAV) attached to the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) drives out of the well deck of the amphibious dock landing ship USS Oak Hill (LSD 51) during well deck operations. Oak Hill, with the Bataan Amphibious Ready Group and with embarked 26th 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.