180726-N-PH222-0026 PACIFIC OCEAN (July 26, 2018) Hospital Corpsman 3rd Class Rene Cruz, from Seattle, reads a book to his child in the medical ward of the San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock ship USS Anchorage (LPD 23) during a scheduled deployment of the Essex Amphibious Ready Group (ARG) and the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU). The Essex ARG/MEU team is a strong and flexible force equipped and scalable to respond to any crisis ranging from humanitarian assistance and disaster relief to contingency operations. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Ryan M. Breeden/Released)