HAT YAO, Kingdom of Thailand (Feb. 10, 2011) – Marines with Battalion Landing Team, 2nd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, assault the beach during a multinational amphibious assault rehearsal carried out by Korean, Thai and U.S. Marines here Feb. 9, 2011. The assault came as part of Cobra Gold 2011, a yearly training exercise hosted by Thailand, designed to improve partner nation interoperability. (Marine Corps photo by Pfc. Mark W. Stroud)

GULF OF THAILAND (Feb. 8, 2011) - An amphibious assault vehicle (AAV) assigned to the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) launches from the well deck of the amphibious transport dock USS Denver (LPD 9). Denver is part of the forward-deployed Essex Amphibious Ready Group (ARG) and is currently underway participating in the 30th annual Cobra Gold 2011, a multi-national strategic training exercise co-sponsored by the U.S. and Thailand. (U.S. Navy photo by MC3 Bryan Blair)

HAT YAO, Kingdom of Thailand (Feb. 10, 2011) - Royal Thailand Marines, along with infantry Marines with the Battalion Landing Team, 2nd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, 3rd Marine Expeditionary Brigade Forward, III Marine Expeditionary Force, assault the beachhead here in an amphibious assault raid during Exercise Cobra Gold 2011. It is a regularly scheduled multinational training exercise designed to improve partner nation interoperability. (U.S. Marine photo by Pfc. Mark W. Stroud)

HAT YAO, Kingdom of Thailand (Feb. 10, 2011) - Royal Thailand Marines provide security as an amphibious assault vehicle is driven onto the beachhead in a amphibious assault raid during Exercise Cobra Gold 2011. Cobra Gold is a regularly scheduled multinational training exercise designed to improve partner nation interoperability. (Official U.S. Marine photo by Pfc. Mark W. Stroud)

GULF OF THAILAND (Feb. 07, 2011) - Landing Craft Air Cushion (LCAC) 10 and 29 transit the Gulf of Thailand to transport 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) gear and armories during Cobra Gold (CG) 2011. CG11 is a regularly scheduled multinational exercise and is the latest in the continuing series of U.S. - Thai military exercises designed to ensure regional peace and stability. (U.S. Navy photo by MC1 Geronimo C. Aquino)

GULF OF THAILAND (Feb. 07, 2011) - Sailors launch amphibious assault vehicles (AAV) embarked to USS Denver (LPD 9) for amphibious training operation during Cobra Gold (CG) 2011. CG11 is a regularly scheduled multinational exercise and is the latest in the continuing series of U.S. - Thai military exercises designed to ensure regional peace and stability. (U.S. Navy photo by MC1 Geronimo C. Aquino)

AMPHIBIOUS ASSAULT VEHICLE CAMP, Kingdom of Thailand (Feb. 6, 2011) – Marines with 2nd Amphibious Assault Battalion, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force demonstrate the amphibious assault vehicle’s capabilities during Exercise Cobra Gold 2011. The battalion is currently assigned to the Unit Deployment Program Combat Assault Battalion, 3rd MarDiv, III MEF. (Official U.S. Marine photo by Staff Sgt. Leo A. Salinas)

PACIFIC OCEAN (Feb 6, 2011) - The amphibious assault ship USS Essex (LHD 2) steams along in the Western Pacific ocean with the embarked 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) and the Amphibious Squadron 11. Essex, commanded by Capt. David Fluker, is the lead ship of the Essex Amphibious Ready Group. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Geronimo C. Aquino)