. - 190815-N-EZ002-1069 GULF OF ADEN (Aug. 15, 2019) Assault Amphibious Vehicles assigned to the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) cruise towards land after exiting the well deck of the amphibious dock landing ship USS Harpers Ferry (LSD 49). Harpers Ferry is part of the Boxer Amphibious Ready Group and 11th MEU and is deployed to the U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations in support of naval operations to ensure maritime stability and security in the Central Region, connecting the Mediterranean and the Pacific through the Western Indian Ocean and three strategic choke points. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Keypher Strombeck)

180801-M-QP663-075.JPG - Marine Corps Mountain Warfare Training Center Bridgeport, CA – Lance Cpl. Phillip Strong, a rifleman with India Company, 3rd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, participates in a hike before conducting cliff assault training during Mountain Training Exercise (MTX) 4-18 aboard Mountain Warfare Training Center Bridgeport, Calif., July 30, 2018. 3rd Bn., 5th Marines, participated in MTX 4-18 to evaluate their ability to conduct their core mission essential tasks before attaching to the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit for its upcoming deployment. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Adam Dublinske)