The Afloat Forward Staging Base (Interim) USS "Ponce" (AFSB(I)-15) is boarded by Sailors and Marines from the amphibious transport dock ship USS "Mesa Verde" (LPD-19) during an enhanced vessel board, search and seizure drill in the Arabian Gulf. "Ponce" was recently converted and reclassified to fulfill a long standing U.S. Central Command request for an afloat forward staging base to be forward deployed to the U.S. 5th Fleet area of responsibility. Two Sikorsky MH-60S "Seahawk" helicopters circle the ship, a coastal command boat and a Riverine Command Boat (RCB), from Coastal Riverine Squadron (RIVRON) 3 are next to "Ponce".