A Navy Marine Mammal Program California sea lion salutes his handler before diving into the water to look for potential enemy divers Nov. 2, 2014, as part of the 5th Fleet-led International Mine Countermeasures Exercise in the Middle East. (Hendrick Simoes/Stars and Stripes)

A Navy Marine Mammal Program California sea lion awaits instructions from his handler while conducting operations in the harbor area at Naval Support Activity Bahrain Nov. 2, 2014. The Navy's sea lions are participating in the U.S. 5th Fleet-led international mine countermeasures exercise for the first time. (Hendrick Simoes/Stars and Stripes)

An MH-60S Sea Hawk helicopter, equipped with the Airborne Laser Mine Detection System, lands aboard the afloat forward staging base USS Ponce, during the International Mine Countermeasure Exercise Nov. 3, 2014. (Hendrick Simoes/Stars and Stripes)

The Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force minesweeper ship Yaeyama, in the foreground, sails past the afloat forward staging base USS Ponce in the Persian Gulf, during the International Mine Countermeasure Exercise Nov. 3, 2014. (Hendrick Simoes/Stars and Stripes)

An MH-53 helicopter, flying over the Persian Gulf Nov. 3, 2014, conducts a mine sweeping process in which the helicopter tows underwater equipment that can cut the chains off sea mines, thereby revealing them when they float to the surface. (Hendrick Simoes/Stars and Stripes)

The minesweeper ship USS Sentry underway in the Persian Gulf, Nov. 3, 2014, participating in the the U.S. 5th Fleet-led International Mine Countermeasures Exercise. (Hendrick Simoes/Stars and Stripes)

Sailors in the combat direction center aboard the minesweeper ship USS Sentry monitor sonar equipment, while the ship is in the Persian Gulf participating in the U.S. 5th Fleet-led International Mine Countermeasures exercise Nov. 3, 2014. (Hendrick Simoes/Stars and Stripes)

Sailors aboard the minesweeper ship USS Sentry launch a Seafox mine hunting unmanned underwater vehicle into the Persian Gulf in support of an international mine countermeasure exercise Nov 3, 2014. (Hendrick Simoes/Stars and Stripes)

Divers from several nations participating in the International Mine Countermeasure Exercise conduct a joint dive in the harbor area at Naval Support Activity Bahrain Nov. 2, 2014. (Hendrick Simoes/Stars and Stripes)

Divers from the Jordanian Royal Naval Force attach a lift bag to a mine weight in the Gulf of Aqaba, during the International Mine Countermeasures Exercise Nov. 3, 2014. (Daniel Rolston/U.S. Navy)

Petty Officer 2nd Class Robert Carlson, left, and Petty Officer 1st Class Melvin Lankford deploy an MK 18 MOD 2 Swordfish to survey the ocean floor in the Gulf of Oman, during the International Mine Countermeasure Exercise Nov. 4, 2014. (Blake Midnight/U.S. Navy)

After getting a face-full of pepper spray, Petty Officer 3rd Class Amanda Bogumill performs a knee strike on Petty Officer 1st Class Billy Bernal during Security Reaction Forces Bravo training aboard USS Ponce Nov. 5, 2014. Ponce is in the Persian Gulf participating in the International Mine Countermeasures Exercise. (Peter D. Blair/ U.S. Navy)

Sailors from various nations conduct a joint Visit, Search, Board and Seizer exercise at Naval Support Activity Bahrain, as part of the U.S. 5th Fleet-led International Mine Countermeasures Exercise Nov. 2, 2014. (Hendrick Simoes/Stars and Stripes)

Explosive Ordnance Disposal technicians train with the Kuwait Naval Force and teach the proper way to operate a Seabotix underwater robot Oct. 30, 2014. Jonah Stepanik/ U.S. Navy (Jonah Stepanik/ U.S. Navy)