180203-N-GR847-353 PACIFIC OCEAN (Feb. 3, 2018) A Landing Craft Air Cushion vehicle (LCAC) embarks the Whidbey Island-class dock landing ship USS Rushmore (LSD 47) during Iron Fist 2018. Rushmore is underway off the coast of Southern California in support of the amphibious portion of the exercise. Iron Fist is an annual, bilateral amphibious training exercise designed to improve the U.S. Marine Corps and the Japanese Ground Self-Defense Force’s ability to plan, communicate and conduct combined amphibious operations at the platoon, company and battalion levels. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Reymundo A. Villegas III/Released)