SASEBO, Japan (Oct. 27, 2021) Captain Ken Ward, commanding officer of the forward-deployed amphibious assault ship USS America (LHA 6), right, describes the ship’s capability to Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force Capt. Koji Miyazaki, commanding officer of JMSDF ship JS Ise (DDH 182), during a tour of the ship. America, lead ship of the America Amphibious Ready Group, along with the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, is operating in the U.S. 7th Fleet area of responsibility 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. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Theodore C. Lee)