171101-M-QH615-002 OKINAWA, Japan (Nov. 1, 2017) Marines assigned to 1st Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, gather around the top view of the well deck aboard the Amphibious Dock Landing Ship, USS Ashland (LSD 48), during Blue Chromite 18. Blue Chromite is an annual exercise between the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps is designed to strengthen interoperability and increase naval integration and proficiencies in amphibious warfare. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Aaron S. Patterson/Released)