180724-N-AT135-0068 PACIFIC OCEAN (July 24, 2018) An F-35B Lightning II attached to the “Avengers�? of Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 211 flies over the Wasp-class amphibious assault ship USS Essex (LHD 2) during a scheduled deployment of the Essex Amphibious Ready Group (ARG) and the 13th 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. The Essex ARG and 13th MEU is the first continental United States Navy/Marine Corps team to deploy with the F-35B. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Matthew Freeman/Released)