SOUTH CHINA SEA (April 21, 2020) Marines with Battalion Landing Team, 1st Battalion, 5th Marines, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU), load onto an MV-22B Osprey tiltrotor aircraft with Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron (VMM) 265 (Reinforced), 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU), during a combat mission rehearsal aboard amphibious assault ship USS America (LHA 6). The Osprey is a long-range troop transport aircraft that can be deployed at a moment’s notice, enabling the Blue-Green team to rapidly respond to crises. America, flagship of the America Expeditionary Strike Group, 31st MEU team, is operating in the U.S 7th Fleet area of operations to enhance interoperability with allies and partners and serve as a ready response force to defend peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region. (Marine Corps photo by Sgt Audrey M. C. Rampton) - SOUTH CHINA SEA (April 21, 2020) Marines with Battalion Landing Team, 1st Battalion, 5th Marines, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU), load onto an MV-22B Osprey tiltrotor aircraft with Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron (VMM) 265 (Reinforced), 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU), during a combat mission rehearsal aboard amphibious assault ship USS America (LHA 6). The Osprey is a long-range troop transport aircraft that can be deployed at a moment’s notice, enabling the Blue-Green team to rapidly respond to crises. America, flagship of the America Expeditionary Strike Group, 31st MEU team, is operating in the U.S 7th Fleet area of operations to enhance interoperability with allies and partners and serve as a ready response force to defend peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region. (Marine Corps photo by Sgt Audrey M. C. Rampton)

Cpl. Michael Cenci (middle left), a force reconnaissance Marine with the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit's Maritime Raid Force and a native of Malvern, Pennsylvania, holds a Reconnaissance Foundation flag at Hat Yao, Kingdom of Thailand, March 5, 2020, following the completion of Exercise Cobra Gold 2020. Cobra Gold 20 was the largest theater security cooperation exercise in the Indo-Pacific region and an integral part of the U.S. commitment to strengthen engagement in the region. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Isaac Cantrell) - Cpl. Michael Cenci (middle left), a force reconnaissance Marine with the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit's Maritime Raid Force and a native of Malvern, Pennsylvania, holds a Reconnaissance Foundation flag at Hat Yao, Kingdom of Thailand, March 5, 2020, following the completion of Exercise Cobra Gold 2020. Cobra Gold 20 was the largest theater security cooperation exercise in the Indo-Pacific region and an integral part of the U.S. commitment to strengthen engagement in the region. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Isaac Cantrell)

SOUTH CHINA SEA (April 18, 2020) An F-35B Lightning II fighter aircraft with Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron (VMM) 265 (Reinforced), 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU), prepares to land on the flight deck of amphibious assault ship USS America (LHA 6) during flight operations. Marines and Sailors aboard the America regularly conduct flight operations while underway to maintain their readiness to respond to contingencies. America, flagship of the America Expeditionary Strike Group, 31st MEU team, is operating in the U.S. 7th Fleet area of operations to enhance interoperability with allies and partners and serve as a ready response force to defend peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Audrey M. C. Rampton) - SOUTH CHINA SEA (April 18, 2020) An F-35B Lightning II fighter aircraft with Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron (VMM) 265 (Reinforced), 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU), prepares to land on the flight deck of amphibious assault ship USS America (LHA 6) during flight operations. Marines and Sailors aboard the America regularly conduct flight operations while underway to maintain their readiness to respond to contingencies. America, flagship of the America Expeditionary Strike Group, 31st MEU team, is operating in the U.S. 7th Fleet area of operations to enhance interoperability with allies and partners and serve as a ready response force to defend peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Audrey M. C. Rampton)