Aviation Machinist’s Mate 2nd Class Victor Barone, assigned to future amphibious assault ship USS America (LHA 6), prepares to test a syringe of gearbox oil to determine the water to oil ratio on the aquatest machine in the aviation oil analysis lab. 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 MV-22 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)