(U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Wesley Richardson)

Fort Myers resident serving aboard USS Essex

INDIAN OCEAN — Machinist’s Mate Fireman Thomas Heins, from Fort Myers, Fla., left, conducts maintenance on a burner barrel aboard the amphibious assault ship USS Essex (LHD 2) Jan. 8. The Essex, flagship of the Essex Amphibious Ready Group (ARG), along with the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU), is operating in the U.S. 7th Fleet area of operations to enhance interoperability with alliances and partners and serve as a ready response force to ensure maritime security and a free and open Indo-Pacific region.