160130-N-RM689-145 SOUTH CHINA SEA (January 30, 2016)- Sailors participate in a M16 live-fire exercise on the flight deck of the forward-deployed amphibious dock landing ship USS Ashland (LSD 48). Ashland is assigned to the Bonhomme Richard Amphibious Ready Group and is enroute to participate in Cobra Gold, a Thai-U.S. co-sponsored multinational joint exercise designed to advance regional security by exercising a robust multinational force from nations sharing common goals and security commitments in the Indo-Asia-Pacific region. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Kelsey L. Adams/Released)