ABOARD USS ESSEX AT SEA

Aviation Boatswain's Mate 2nd Class Timothy S. Frazier adjusts his radio to communicate with flight deck control as he directs an AV-8 Harrier (VMA -214) attached to the Aviation Combat Element (ACE) around the ship's flight deck during the ACE fly on Sep. 10. Essex embarks the ACE along with the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit to conduct Blue-Green Workups in the vicinity of Okinawa. The semiannual workups help blend the capabilities and techniques of the Navy/Marine Corps team into one cohesive team focusing on conducting amphibious operations in support of a wide range of contingencies, from humanitarian assistance and disaster relief efforts, to full-scale combat operation.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph by Photographer's Mate 3rd Class (AW) Clover B. Christensen

ABOARD USS ESSEX AT SEA

Aviation Boatswain's Mate 2nd Class Timothy S. Frazier secures the side crew door of a CH-46 Sea Knight as the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit's (MEU) Aviation Combat Element (ACE) fly on aboard USS Essex (LHD 2) Sept 10. Essex embarks the ACE along with the 31st MEU to conduct Blue-Green Workups in the vicinity of Okinawa. The semiannual workups help blend the capabilities and techniques of the Navy/Marine Corps team into one cohesive team focusing on conducting amphibious operations in support of a wide range of contingencies, from humanitarian assistance and disaster relief efforts, to full-scale combat operation.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph by Photographer's Mate 3rd Class (AW) Clover B. Christensen

ABOARD USS ESSEX AT SEA

Members of USS Essex's (LHD 2) crash and salvage team oversee the safety of flight operations as aircraft from the Aviation Combat Element (ACE) of the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) flies aboard the ship Sept. 10. Essex embarks the ACE along with the 31st MEU to conduct Blue-Green Workups in the vicinity of Okinawa. The semiannual workups help blend the capabilities and techniques of the Navy/Marine Corps team into one cohesive team focusing on conducting amphibious operations in support of a wide range of contingencies, from humanitarian assistance and disaster relief efforts, to full-scale combat operation.

Official US Navy Photograph by Photographer's Mate Airman Stephanie M. Bergman

ABOARD USS ESSEX AT SEA

USS Essex's (LHD 2) flight deck becomes busy with U.S. Marine aircraft as the Aviation Combat Element (ACE) of the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) flies aboard the ship. Essex embarks the ACE along with the 31st MEU to conduct Blue-Green Workups in the vicinity of Okinawa. The semiannual workups help blend the capabilities and techniques of the Navy/Marine Corps team into one cohesive team focusing on conducting amphibious operations in support of a wide range of contingencies, from humanitarian assistance and disaster relief efforts, to full-scale combat operation.

Official US Navy Photograph by Photographer's Mate Airman Stephanie M. Bergman

ABOARD USS ESSEX AT SEA

USS Essex's (LHD 2) "blue shirts" return to the foul line on the ship's flight deck finish chalking and chaining a CH-46 Sea Knight attached to the Aviation Combat Element (ACE) of the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) Sept. 10. Essex embarks the ACE along with the 31st MEU to conduct Blue-Green Workups in the vicinity of Okinawa. The semiannual workups help blend the capabilities and techniques of the Navy/Marine Corps team into one cohesive team focusing on conducting amphibious operations in support of a wide range of contingencies, from humanitarian assistance and disaster relief efforts, to full-scale combat operation.

Official US Navy Photograph by Photographer's Mate Airman Stephanie M. Bergman

ABOARD USS FORT MCHENRY AT SEA

A USS Fort McHenry (LSD 43) Sailor gives a "green" well signal to a Light Armored Reconnaissance Craft (LARC), which tells the craft to proceed into the ship's well deck Sept 13. Fort McHenry, with the Marines from the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) embarked, is participating in Blue-Green Workups in the vicinity of Okinawa, Japan. The semiannual join exercise between the Essex Amphibious Ready Group (ARG) and the 31st MEU is designed to help blend the capabilities and techniques of the Navy/Marine Corps team into one cohesive force capable of conducting amphibious operations in support of a wide range of contingencies, from humanitarian assistance and disaster relief efforts, to full-scale combat operation. The Essex ARG is comprised of USS Essex (LHD 2), USS Juneau (LPD 10), and Fort McHenry

Official US Navy photo by Journalist 3rd Class Robert N. Sealover

ABOARD USS FORT MCHENRY AT SEA

A Landing Craft Air Cushioned (LCAC) from USS Essex (LHD) passes by USS Fort McHenry as it transports Marines from the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) and their equipment to the beach for a simulated non-combatant evacuation operation (NEO) Sept. 16. The NEO is only one mission that the Essex Amphibious Ready Group (ARG) and the 31st MEU will conduct during ARG Exercise in the vicinity of Okinawa. The semiannual exercise helps blend the capabilities and techniques of the Navy/Marine Corps team into one cohesive force capable of conducting amphibious operations in support of a wide range of contingencies, from humanitarian assistance and disaster relief efforts, to full-scale combat operation. The Essex ARG is comprised of Essex, USS Juneau (LPD 10), and Fort McHenry.

Official U.S. Navy photograph by Journalist 3rd Class Wes Eplen

ABOARD USS FORT MCHENRY AT SEA

A Landing Craft Air Cushioned (LCAC) 61 of Assault Craft Unit 5 transports Marines from the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) and their equipment to the beach during a simulated non-combatant evacuation operation (NEO) Sept. 16. The NEO is only one mission that the Essex Amphibious Ready Group (ARG) and the 31st MEU will conduct during ARG Exercise in the vicinity of Okinawa. The semiannual exercise helps blend the capabilities and techniques of the Navy/Marine Corps team into one cohesive force capable of conducting amphibious operations in support of a wide range of contingencies, from humanitarian assistance and disaster relief efforts, to full-scale combat operation. The Essex ARG is comprised of Essex, USS Juneau (LPD 10), and Fort McHenry

Official U.S. Navy photograph by Journalist 3rd Class Wes Eplen

ABOARD USS ESSEX AT SEA

Landing Craft Air Cushion (LCAC) 76 attached to Assault Craft Unit 5 is launched from USS Essex's (LHD 2) well deck Sept. 16 to transport Marines of the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) and their equipment ashore as part of a simulated non-combatant evacuation operation (NEO). The NEO is only one mission that the Essex Amphibious Ready Group (ARG) and the 31st MEU will conduct during ARG Exercise in the vicinity of Okinawa. The semiannual exercise helps blend the capabilities and techniques of the Navy/Marine Corps team into one cohesive team focusing on conducting amphibious operations in support of a wide range of contingencies, from humanitarian assistance and disaster relief efforts, to full-scale combat operation.

Official U.S. Navy Photo by: Photographer's Mate Third Class (AW) Clover B. Christensen

ABOARD USS ESSEX AT SEA

Landing Craft Air Cushion (LCAC) 76 attached to Assault Craft Unit 5 returns to USS Essex's (LHD 2) well deck Sept. 16 after transporting Marines of the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) and their equipment ashore as part of a simulated non-combatant evacuation operation (NEO). The NEO is only one mission that the Essex Amphibious Ready Group (ARG) and the 31st MEU will conduct during ARG Exercise in the vicinity of Okinawa. The semiannual exercise helps blend the capabilities and techniques of the Navy/Marine Corps team into one cohesive force capable of on conducting amphibious operations in support of a wide range of contingencies, from humanitarian assistance and disaster relief efforts, to full-scale combat operation.

Official U.S. Navy Photo by: Photographer's Mate Third Class (AW) Clover B. Christensen