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An amphibious assault vehicle (AAV) assigned to Alpha Company of the 2nd Assault Amphibian Battalion leaves the well deck of the multi-purpose amphibious assault ship USS Iwo Jima (LHD 7). Service members aboard Iwo Jima took rides on the AAVs as an opportunity to experience an amphibious landing. Iwo Jima is supporting the Panama phase of the Continuing Promise 2010 humanitarian civic assistance mission. The assigned medical and engineering staff embarked aboard Iwo Jima are working with partner nations to provide medical, dental, veterinary, and engineering assistance in eight countries. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Zane Ecklund/Released)

Marines assigned to the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit (11th MEU) prepare to navigate an amphibious assault vehicle (AAV) into the well deck of the San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock ship USS New Orleans (LPD 18). New Orleans and Marines embarked from the 11th MEU are conducting pre-deployment work-ups as part of the Makin Island Amphibious Ready Group. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Dominique Pineiro/Released)

Amphibious Assault Vehicles (AAVs) line the beach below Mount Suribachi on the island of Iwo Jima in a static display for the 58th Anniversary of the Battle of Iwo Jima Commemoration, March 12. Mt. Suribachi is the historic site where four Marines and one Sailor raised the American Flag during the WWII battle. The AAVs are embarked aboard ships of the Essex Amphibious Ready Group, consisting of USS Essex (LHD 2), USS Fort McHenry (LSD 43), USS Harpers Ferry (LSD 49), and USS Juneau (LPD 10). Iwo Jima was the largest sustained aerial offensive of the Pacific Campaign of World War II. The U.S. sent over 110,000 Marines in 880 ships in what also became the largest invasion force of the Pacific Campaign. It took 36 days of fighting and more than 25,000 U.S. casualties to break through and bring the island under American control. Today's forward deployed Sailors from the Essex ARG and embarked Marines of the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, Special Operations Capable, continue to sail throughout the Pacific to help promote peace and stability in the region. (Official U.S. Navy photograph by Journalist 2nd Class Wes Eplen)

Armored Amphibious Vehicles (AAV) land on Blue Beach Vieques. The Kilo Company, Battalion Landing Team 3-6 AAVs and personnel are home-based out of Camp Lejeune, N.C. and participating in Supporting Arms Coordination Exercise designed to provide advanced level training for Marine forces. (U.S. Navy photo by Senior Chief Journalist Alan Baribeau)

An Amphibious Assault Vehicle (AAV) attached to the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) is launched from the well deck of the Juneau and makes its way to the beach during Blue-Green Workups. This semi-annual joint exercise between the USS Essex (LHD 2) Amphibious Ready Group (ARG) and the 31st MEU helps blend the capabilities and techniques of the Navy/Marine Corps team into one cohesive force focusing on conducting amphibious operations in support of a wide range of contingencies, from humanitarian assistance and disaster relief efforts, to full-scale combat operations. The Essex ARG is conducting the exercise in the vicinity of Okinawa, Japan. (U.S. Navy photo by Journalist Seaman J.J. Hewitt)