150305-N-CC789-003 PACIFIC OCEAN (March 5, 2015) Sailors assigned to the amphibious assault ship USS America (LHA 6) take the petty officer first class advancement exam on the ship’s mess decks. America is conducting maritime training operations off the coast of California. The ship is the first of its class and is optimized for Marine Corps aviation. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Vladimir Ramos/Released)