U.S. Marines with 4th Platoon, Company C, 3d Assault Amphibian Battalion, 1st Marine Division, set their Amphibious Assault Vehicle in a 360 security formation on a beach in Ancon, Peru, on July 7. The unit is embarked on the transport dock ship USS New Orleans in support of operation Partnership of the Americas/Southern Exchange, a combined amphibious exercise designed to enhance cooperative partnerships with maritime forces from Argentina, Mexico, Peru, Brazil, Uruguay and Colombia.