Marines, assigned to the 31st Marine Expedition Unit (MEU), watch as a CH-53E Super Stallion helicopter take off with a water barge from the flight deck of Whidbey Island-class amphibious dock landing ship USS Ashland (LSD 48). Ashland, and the embarked 31st MEU, is part of the Bonhomme Richard Amphibious Ready Group and is currently conducting routine operations in the U.S. 7th Fleet area of operations. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Raymond D. Diaz III/Released)