PACIFIC OCEAN (April 14, 2021) An Airbus H225 Super Puma helicopter places cargo on the flight deck of the amphibious assault ship USS Makin Island (LHD 8) during a replenishment-at-sea with the dry cargo and ammunition ship USNS Alan Shepard (T-AKE 3). The Makin Island Amphibious Ready Group and the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit are operating in the U.S. 7th Fleet area of operations as part of a scheduled deployment to the region. As the U.S. Navy’s largest forward-deployed fleet, 7th Fleet routinely operates and interacts with 35 maritime nations while conducting missions to preserve and protect a free and open Indo-Pacific Region. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Ethan Jaymes Morrow)