U.S. Marines and Australian service members prepare

U.S. Marines and Australian service members prepare for an amphibious assault in Marine AAV-P7/A1 Amphibious Assault Vehicles in the well deck of the USS Ashland (LSD 48) July 11, 2015. The Marines with Echo Company, Battalion Landing Team 2nd Battalion, 5th Marines, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, and Australians with Combat Team Bravo, 2nd Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment, assaulted the beach and moved inland to secure additional objectives as part of Talisman Sabre 2015. Talisman Sabre is a biennial exercise designed to improve the interoperability between Australian and U.S. forces. The 31st MEU is taking part in the exercise while deployed on its regularly scheduled Fall Patrol of the Asia-Pacific region. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Ryan C. Mains/Released)