PHILIPPINE SEA (Aug. 18, 2021) U.S. Marines with the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU), board a Landing Craft, Air Cushion for tactical offloads aboard the San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock USS New Orleans (LPD 18) in the Philippine Sea, Aug. 18, 2021. Exercise Noble Union is part of 31st MEU�s Noble Series of exercises which are used to validate or invalidate the Family of Naval Concepts, develop techniques and procedures for the employment of MEU assets in support of sea denial and fleet maneuver, and inform future force design and experimentation efforts. The 31st MEU is operating aboard ships of the America Expeditionary Strike Group in the 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. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Grace Gerlach)