Boatswain's Mate Seaman Jay Meers scrubs the mooring lines on the flight deck of amphibious assault ship USS Tarawa (LHA 1).

KUWAIT (Jan. 04, 2008) Boatswain's Mate Seaman Jay Meers scrubs the mooring lines on the flight deck of amphibious assault ship USS Tarawa (LHA 1). The Tarawa Expeditionary Strike Group is deployed to the U.S. 5th Fleet area of responsibility and is working with coalition forces to maintain a naval and air presence in the region to deter destabilizing activities and safeguard the region's vital links to the global economy. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Michael Leporati File# 080104-N-2832L-025