180613-M-MR595-1260 PACIFIC OCEAN (June 13, 2018) Sgt. Bryan Perdigon, an assault amphibian Marine with Battalion Landing Team 3/1, 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit (13th MEU), watches assault amphibious vehicles splash off the Whidbey Island-class amphibious dock landing ship USS Rushmore (LSD 47), June 13, 2018. The Essex Amphibious Ready Group (ARG) and 13th MEU are conducting a composite training unit exercise (COMPTUEX), the final exercise before the units’ upcoming deployment. This exercise validates the ARG/MEU team’s ability to adapt and execute missions in ever-changing, unknown environments. Upon completion of COMPTUEX, the 13th MEU and Essex ARG will be certified as the nation’s premier forward-deployed, crisis response force, capable of executing missions across the broad spectrum of military operations. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Danny Gonzalez/Released)