PACIFIC OCEAN (Feb. 11, 2024) A F-35B Lightning II aircraft from the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit's (MEU) Air Combat Element (ACE), takes off from the flight deck of the forward-deployed amphibious assault ship USS America (LHA 6) while conducting routine operations 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)