170923-A-PF443-0008 CARIBBEAN SEA (Sept. 23, 2017) U.S. Army Soldiers assigned to the 602nd Area Support Medical Company, 261st Medical Battalion, 44th Medical Brigade, Fort Bragg, North Carolina, depart the amphibious assault ship USS Kearsarge (LHD 3) aboard a landing craft, utility in the Caribbean Sea. Service members returned to the U.S. Virgin Islands on a landing craft, utility to continue to assist with disaster relief operations in response to hurricanes Irma and Maria. The Department of Defense conducts Defense Support of Civil Authorities operations to assist civilian responders in saving lives, relieving human suffering and mitigating property damage in response to a catastrophic disaster. (U.S. Army photo by Pvt. Alleea Oliver/Relased)