A Marine with Alpha Company, 3rd Reconnaissance Battalion, controls his M4 carbine before boarding a helicopter for a helicopter-borne assault rehearsal during the schedule of events phase of Rim of the Pacific 2012, July 14. The helicopter assault on the beach was a chance for multilateral units to operate together in a joint training environment in preparation for a later mission during RIMPAC. Approximately 2,200 personnel from nine nations are participating in RIMPAC as part of the Special Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force 3, Combined Force Land Component Command. The CFLCC is conducting amphibious and land-based operations in order to enhance multinational and joint interoperability.