PACIFIC OCEAN (February 11, 2024) Aviation Boatswain's Mate 2nd Class Robert Miller, from Palatka, Florida, launches a F-35B Lightning II aircraft assigned to the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) Air Combat Element from the flight deck of the forward-deployed amphibious assault ship USS America (LHA 6) in the Pacific Ocean, Feb. 11, 2024. America, lead ship of the America Amphibious Ready Group, is operating in the U.S. 7th Fleet area of operations. U.S. 7th Fleet is the U.S. Navy's largest forward-deployed numbered fleet, and routinely interacts and operates with allies and partners in preserving a free and open Indo-Pacific region. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Thomas B. Contant)