SOUTH CHINA SEA (Sept. 5, 2020) Sgt. Jacob Cook, an infantry Marine with Battalion Landing Team, 2nd Battalion, 4th Marines, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) and a native of Paducah, Ky., simulates firing his M27 Infantry Automatice Rifle during a reload drill aboard dock landing ship USS Germantown (LSD 42). Germantown, part of the America Amphibious Ready Group (ARG), 31st MEU team, is operating in the U.S. 7th Fleet area of operations to enhance interoperability with allies and partners and serve as a ready response force to defend peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region. The America ARG, 31st MEU team remains the premier crisis response force in the region despite the unique challenges caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Danny Gonzalez)