171124-N-ZS023-018 ARABIAN GULF (Nov. 24, 2017) Marines assigned to the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit (15th MEU) aboard the amphibious assault ship USS America (LHA 6) participate in a live-fire exercise on the port elevator. America is the flagship for the America Amphibious Ready Group and, with the embarked 15th MEU, is deployed to the U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations in support of maritime security operations designed to reassure allies and partners and preserve the freedom of navigation and the free flow of commerce in the region. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Vance Hand/Released)