Rear Adm. Frank L. Ponds (left), commander, Expeditionary

Rear Adm. Frank L. Ponds (left), commander, Expeditionary Strike Group 3, Vice Adm. Arturo Undurraga Díaz (Center), commandant of Chilean naval aviation, and Brigadier Gen. David Coffman, commander of U.S. Marine Corps Forces, South, pose for a picture after a Partnership of the Americas after action debrief aboard the future amphibious assault ship USS America (LHA 6), Aug. 24, 2014. Representatives of different nations came together to give their input on their participation in the exercise. POA was based on a simulated humanitarian assistance and disaster relief scenario in Chile. Multiple nations came together to plan and execute a multi-lateral exercise in response to the HA/DR scenario. Exercises like POA allow the U.S. and our partners in the region to respond to and address transnational and global challenges. America is currently transiting through the U.S. Southern Command’s area of responsibility carrying Marines and Sailors with Special Purpose Marine Air Ground Task Force South. The SPMAGTF is embarked in support of the ship’s maiden transit, “America Visit the Americas.” (U.S Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Christopher J. Moore/Released)