U.S. Marine Corps Staff Sgt. Christopher Sargent, assigned

U.S. Marine Corps Staff Sgt. Christopher Sargent, assigned to Special Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force South, explains the components of an improvised explosive device (IED) detection kit to Brazilian sailors during a visitors tour on board the future amphibious assault ship USS America (LHA 6). America is currently traveling through the U.S. Southern Command and U.S. 4th Fleet area of responsibility on her maiden transit, “America visits the Americas.” America is the first ship of its class, replacing the Tarawa-class of amphibious assault ships. As the next generation “big-deck” amphibious assault ship, America is optimized for aviation, capable of supporting current and future aircraft such as the Osprey and F-35B Joint Strike Fighter. The ship is scheduled to be ceremoniously commissioned Oct. 11 in San Francisco. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Jonathan A. Colon/Released)