Marines from Combat Assault Company, 3rd Marine Regiment, steer their AAVP-7 amphibious assault vehicles to USS Essex (LHD 2) at Pyramid Rock Beach, July 12. More than 50 Marines with CAC, launched 13 AAVs to the USS Essex and Special-Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force 3, as part of Rim of the Pacific 2012. Because most amphibious assault ships are based out of San Diego, this is a rare opportunity for the Marines to work aboard a ship in Hawaii, according to 2nd Lt. Kyle Durant, AAV platoon commander with CAC. “It prepares us for on- and off-ship and a lot of inter-service coordination,” Durant said. Twenty-two nations, more than 40 ships and submarines, more than 200 aircraft and 25,000 personnel are participating in RIMPAC exercise from June 29 to Aug. 3, in and around the Hawaiian Islands.