Egyptian Army Soldiers armed with 7.62mm AK-47 assault rifles and a FN 7.62mm MAG general purpose machine gun practice their beach assault techniques at El Omayed, Egypt as US, Spanish and Egyptian Forces conduct amphibious operations, during Exercise BRIGHT STAR 01/02. BRIGHT STAR 01/02 is a multinational exercise involving more than 74,000 troops from 44 countries that enhances regional stability and military-to-military cooperation among our key allies, and our regional partners. It prepares US Central Command to rapidly deploy and employ the forces needed to deter aggressors and, if necessary, fight and win side-by-side with our allies and regional partners