Landing craft air cushion 63, assigned to Assault Craft Unit 5, enters the well deck of the forward-deployed amphibious assault ship USS Essex while transporting simulated evacuees from Yokosuka, Japan. At the request of the Kanagawa Prefecture Government, Essex is participating in the evacuation phase of this year's Kanagawa Prefecture Government disaster response drill. Essex is the lead ship of the only forward-deployed U.S. Expeditionary Strike Group and serves as the flagship for Combined Task Force 76, the Navy's only forward-deployed amphibious force commander.