Boatswain's Mate 2nd Class Fred Skilling, right, directs a Marine Corps amphibious assault vehicle as it backs into position in the upper vehicle storage bay aboard the amphibious transport dock ship USS Ponce (LPD 15).

ATLANTIC OCEAN (Oct. 11, 2011) Boatswain's Mate 2nd Class Fred Skilling, right, directs a Marine Corps amphibious assault vehicle as it backs into position in the upper vehicle storage bay aboard the amphibious transport dock ship USS Ponce (LPD 15). Ponce will begin a decommissioning process after a nearly 41-year career following a series of training operations and final port calls over the next two months. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Nathanael Miller) File# 111011-N-YX169-173