200314-M-WB494-1001 SOUTH CHINA SEA (March 14, 2020) A Marine with Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron (VMM) 265 (Reinforced), 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU), fires an M2 Browning .50 Caliber machine gun off of a CH-53E Super Stallion helicopter with VMM-265 (Rein.), 31st MEU, after departing the amphibious assault ship USS America (LHA 6). 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. (Official U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Isaac Cantrell/Released)