MANAMA, Bahrain (Feb. 1, 2024) Army Gen. Michael Erik Kurilla, commander of U.S. Central Command, center; Vice Adm. Brad Cooper, outgoing commander of U.S. Naval Forces Central Command (NAVCENT), U.S. 5th Fleet and Combined Maritime Forces (CMF), left; and Vice Adm. George Wikoff, incoming commander of NAVCENT, U.S. 5th Fleet and CMF, right; render honors during a change of command ceremony in Manama, Bahrain, Feb. 1. NAVCENT and U.S. 5th Fleet’s area of operations encompasses about 2.5 million square miles of water area and includes the Arabian Gulf, Red Sea, Gulf of Oman and parts of the Indian Ocean. This expanse, comprised of 21 countries, includes three critical choke points at the Strait of Hormuz, the Suez Canal and the Bab al-Mandeb at the southern tip of Yemen. (U.S. Navy photo)