MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP PENDLETON, California (July

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP PENDLETON, California (July 21, 2016) – U.S. Marines and Mexican sailors brief the commanding officer of the15th Marine Expeditionary Unit the concept of operations for an amphibious assault during the Southern California portion of Rim of the Pacific 2016 aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, July 21, 2016. The 15th MEU and its subordinate elements for RIMPAC where conducting a rapid response planning process with partner nations. This massing of information enables the commanders and staff to acquire a complete sight picture of the operation, and the senior leadership is able to convey guidance and intent to the international staff. Units participating in the exercise were Marines with 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit, and service members with the Mexican navy, Canadian army and Chilean marines. Twenty-six nations, more than 40 ships and submarines, more than 200 aircraft and 25,000 personnel are participating in RIMPAC from June 30 to Aug. 4, in and around the Hawaiian Islands and Southern California. The world's largest international maritime exercise, RIMPAC provides a unique training opportunity that helps participants foster and sustain the cooperative relationships that are critical to ensuring the safety of sea lanes and security on the world's oceans. RIMPAC 2016 is the 25th exercise in the series that began in 1971. (U.S. Marine Corps Photo by Cpl Skyler E. Treverrow/ Released)