Marines with Special Purpose Marine Air Ground Task Force South clean their weapons aboard the future amphibious assault ship USS America (LHA 6) after a successful bi-lateral exchange with the Brazilian Naval More
The food and drinks are set on display for a reception in the hangar bay of the future amphibious assault ship USS America (LHA 6) at Rio De Janeiro, Brazil, Aug. 7, 2014. The reception was hosted by the Sailor More
The U.S. Ambassador to El Salvador Mari Carmen Aponte comes aboard the future amphibious assault ship USS America (LHA 6), Sept. 8, 2014. Salvadoran officials were hosted aboard America for a key leader engagem More
Rear Adm. Frank L. Ponds, commander of Expeditionary Strike Group 3, present a coin to the U.S. Ambassador to El Salvador Mari Carmen Aponte during a leadership conference aboard the future amphibious assault s More
Takejiro Higa, center, shares his experiences as a U.S. Army soldier and Battle of Okinawa veteran Dec. 9 with Marines here. Higa was recruited by the U.S. Army for his linguistic abilities and, during the batt More
A Marine with Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 122, Marine Aircraft Group 31, 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing, cleans the window of an F/A-18 Hornet before its departure to participate in a Weapons and Tactics Instructo More
A disassembled M-4 service rifle lies on the deck of the future amphibious assault ship USS America (LHA 6) to be cleaned after a successful bi-lateral exchange with the Brazilian Naval Forces, Aug. 7, 2014. As More
A Marine with Special Purpose Marine Air ground Task Force South presents a tray of food during a reception in the hanger bay of the future amphibious assault ship USS America (LHA 6) at Rio De Janeiro, Brazil, More
Lieutenant Col. Terence Connelly, executive officer of Special Purpose Marine Air Ground Task Force South, welcomes U.S. Ambassador to El Salvador Mari Carmen Aponte aboard the future amphibious assault ship U More
Rear Adm. Frank L. Ponds, commander of Expeditionary Strike Group 3, is embraced by the U.S. Ambassador to El Salvador Mari Carmen Aponte after presenting her with a coin during a leadership conference aboard t More
Members of the Brazilian Navy band socialize during a reception in the hangar bay of the future amphibious assault ship USS America (LHA 6) at Rio De Janeiro, Brazil, Aug. 7, 2014. The reception was hosted by t More
A Marine with Special Purpose Marine Air Ground Task Force South turns his weapon into the armory aboard the future amphibious assault ship USS America (LHA 6) after a successful bi-lateral exchange with Brazil More
The leadership of the future amphibious assault ship USS America (LHA 6) and El Salvadorian officials enjoy a formal lunch together during a key leader engagement aboard the ship, Sept. 8, 2014. The KLE consist More
Sergeant Maj. Wesley Schaffer, sergeant major of Special Purpose Marine Air Ground Task Force South, and a native of Roanoke, Va., welcomes U.S. Ambassador to El Salvador Mari Carmen Aponte aboard the future am More
Two MV-22B Ospreys with Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 163, Marine Aircraft Group 16, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, prepare for refueling during an aerial refueling training exercise as part of Weapons and Tactic More
The lights from the hangar bay of the future amphibious assault ship USS America (LHA 6) shine brightly during a reception at Rio De Janeiro, Brazil, Aug. 7, 2014. The reception was hosted by the Sailors and Ma More
The wardroom staff aboard the future amphibious assault ship USS America (LHA 6) stand in line as they are thanked by the ships leadership and El Salvadorian officials for serving a formal lunch during a key le More
Rear Adm. Frank L. Ponds, commander of Expeditionary Strike Group 3, welcomes distinguished visitors from El Salvador aboard the future amphibious assault ship USS America (LHA 6), Sept. 8, 2014. Salvadoran off More
An MV-22B Osprey with Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 163, Marine Aircraft Group 16, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, approaches a refueling hose during an aerial refueling training exercise as part of Weapons and Ta More
Marines with Marine Operational Test and Evaluation Squadron 22 (XVM-22) stand at a static display of the MV-22 Osprey during a reception in the hangar bay of the future amphibious assault ship USS America (LHA More
The leadership of the future amphibious assault ship USS America (LHA 6) and El Salvadorian officials listen as Rear Adm. Frank L. Ponds speaks about partnership during a leadership conference aboard the ship, More
Lance Cpl. Christian Chevez, MV-22 crew chief with Marine Operational Test and Evaluation Squadron 22, and a native of Dallas, Texas, speaks to distinguished visitors from El Salvador about his ties with the co More
An MV-22B Osprey with Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 163, Marine Aircraft Group 16, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, makes contact with a refueling hose during an aerial refueling training exercise as part of Weapon More
A trombone player with the Brazilian Marine Corps band plays for a reception held in the hangar bay of the future amphibious assault ship USS America (LHA 6) at Rio De Janeiro, Brazil, Aug. 7, 2014. The band pl More
Captain George Cummings IV, MV-22 pilot with Marine Operational Test and Evaluation Squadron 22, and a native of Los Altos Hills, Calif., speaks to distinguished visitors from El Salvador about his ties with th More
Distinguished Brazilian visitors and guests line up on the ramp to hangar bay of the future amphibious assault ship USS America (LHA 6) to be greeted by U.S. Marine Corps and Navy commanders and staff for a rec More
Distinguished visitors from El Salvador are welcomed for a key leader engagement (KLE) aboard the future amphibious assault ship USS America (LHA 6), Sept. 8, 2014. The KLE consisted of a tour, a formal lunch a More
A Sailor with the future amphibious assault ship USS America (LHA 6) presents the official cake for a reception in the hangar bay of the ship at Rio De Janeiro, Brazil, Aug. 7, 2014. The cake was ceremoniously More
The senior leadership from Expeditionary Strike Group 3, Special Purpose Marine Air Ground Task Force South and the future amphibious assault ship USS America (LHA 6) host a meet and greet with distinguished vi More
A table over flows with dress covers of Brazilian Navy guests at a reception in the hangar bay of the future amphibious assault ship USS America (LHA 6) at Rio De Janeiro, Brazil, Aug. 7, 2014. The reception wa More
Marines and Sailors with ties to El Salvador pose for a photo with distinguished visitors during a key leader engagement (KLE) with Salvadoran officials aboard the future amphibious assault ship USS America (LH More
Lieutenant Col. George Hasseltine, commanding officer of Special Purpose Marine Air Ground Task Force South, and a native of Metairie, La., greets distinguished visitors and guests in the hangar bay of the futu More
Vice President of El Salvador Oscar Ortiz addresses the leadership of the future amphibious assault ship USS America (LHA 6) and Salvadoran officials during a leadership conference aboard the ship, Sept. 8, 201 More
U.S. Marines, Sailors, diplomats and Brazilian distinguished visitors respectfully await the presentation of the colors during a reception in the hangar bay of the future amphibious assault ship USS America (LH More
Rear Adm. Frank L. Ponds, commander of Expeditionary Strike Group 3, presents a plaque to a Salvadoran official during a leadership conference aboard the future amphibious assault ship USS America (LHA 6), Sept More
The color guard for the future amphibious assault ship USS America (LHA 6) marches across the hangar bay to present the colors during a reception at Rio De Janeiro, Brazil, Aug. 7, 2014. The color guard marched More
Lt. Col. Terence Connelly, executive officer of Special Purpose Marine Air Ground Task Force South (SPMAGTF), presents a coin to a Salvadoran official during a leadership conference aboard the future amphibious More
Musicians with the Brazilian Navy band play the national anthem for Brazil and the United States in the hangar bay of the future amphibious assault ship USS America (LHA 6) during a reception at Rio De Janeiro, More
Corporal Daniel Augustin landing support specialist with Special Purpose Marine Air Ground Task Force South, and a native of Seattle, explains a light weight air delivery system to distinguished visitors from E More
The Honorable Liliana Ayalde, U.S. Ambassador to Brazil, approaches a lectern to address U.S. Marines, Sailors and Brazilian distinguished visitors during a reception in the hangar bay of the future amphibious More
Gunnery Sgt. Arturo Belmonte, a military policeman with Special Purpose Marine Air Ground Task Force South explains equipment used in his occupation to distinguished visitors from El Salvador during a tour of t More
The Honorable Liliana Ayalde, U.S. Ambassador to Brazil, speaks with Lieutenant Gen. Ronald L. Bailey, deputy commandant of United States Marines Corps, and Rear Adm. Frank L. Ponds, commander of Expeditionary More
Peruvian distinguished guests are hosted for an evening reception in the hangar bay of the future amphibious assault ship USS America (LHA 6), Sept. 1, 2014. The reception was hosted by the Marines, Sailors abo More
Distinguished visitors from El Salvador descend the ramp from the hangar bay to the vehicle stowage area of the future amphibious assault ship USS America (LHA 6) during a tour of the ship, Sept. 8, 2014. The t More
Chief Petty Officer Diana Alicia Brione-Rodriguez, ship secretary assigned to the future amphibious assault ship USS America (LHA 6), translates for Staff Sgt. Christopher Sargent, an explosive ordnance disposa More
Staff Sgt. Christopher Sargent, an explosive ordnance disposal technician with Special Purpose Marine Air Ground Task Force South, and a native of Yoder, Colo., explains equipment EOD technician use to distingu More
Lance Cpl. Matthew Michener, left, a native of Fort Worth, Texas, and Lance Cpl. Zachery Cantrell, a native of Springtown, Texas, light armored vehicle crewmen with Special Purpose Marine Air Ground Task Force More
Distinguished visitors from El Salvador gather around to hear about organic infantry weapons systems from Marines with Special Purpose Marine Air Ground Task Force South during a tour of the future amphibious a More
Lance Cpl. Matthew Petty, an anti-tank missleman with Special Purpose Marine Air Ground Task Force South speaks to distinguished visitors from El Salvador about organic infantry weapons systems used by Marines More
Lance Cpl. Cristian Chavez, an MV-22 Osprey crew chief with Marine Operational Test and Evaluation Squadron 22 (VMX-22), speaks about the MV-22 Osprey to distinguished visitors from El Salvador during a tour of More
Distinguished visitors from El Salvador gather around to hear about the MV-22 Osprey from Lance Cpl. Cristian Chavez, an MV-22 Osprey crew chief with Marine Operational Test and Evaluation Squadron 22 (VMX-22), More
Distinguished visitors from El Salvador learn about the medical capabilities of the future amphibious assault ship USS America (LHA 6) during a tour of the ship, Sept. 8, 2014. The tour was part of a key leader More