180717-N-AT135-0022 PACIFIC OCEAN (July 17, 2018) Gunner’s Mate 3rd Class Silas Kirk, left, and Gunner’s Mate 1st Class Robert Ward fire a 40mm saluting charge during a live-fire exercise aboard the Wasp-class amphibious assault ship USS Essex (LHD 2) while on a scheduled deployment of the Essex Amphibious Ready Group (ARG) and the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit (13th MEU). The Essex ARG/MEU team is a strong, flexible, responsive, and consistent force capable of maneuver warfare across all domains; it is equipped and scalable to respond to any crisis from humanitarian assistance and disaster relief to contingency operations. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Matthew Freeman/Released)