U.S. Marines prepare an AV-8B Harrier II aircraft assigned to Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron (VMM) 163 for flight operations aboard the amphibious assault ship USS Makin Island (LHD 8) in the Pacific Ocean Aug. 25, 2014. The Makin Island was underway in the U.S. 7th Fleet area of responsibility supporting maritime security operations and theater security cooperation efforts.