Keywords: US Navy 090411-N-4010S-001 An AV-8B Harrier assigned to Marine Attack Squadron (VMA) 211 is fueled during nighttime flight operations aboard the amphibious assault ship USS Essex (LHD 2) in preparation for exercise Balikatan 09.jpg en SOUTH CHINA SEA April 11 2009 An AV-8B Harrier assigned to Marine Attack Squadron VMA 211 is fueled during nighttime flight operations aboard the amphibious assault ship USS Essex LHD 2 in preparation for exercise Balikatan 09 a bilateral military exercise involving U S military and Armed Forces of the Philippines personnel as well as subject matter experts from Philippine civil defense agencies The annual exercise is the 25th in a series of exercises directed by the Joint Chiefs of Staff and requested by the Government of the Republic of the Philippines U S Navy photo by Chief Mass Communication Specialist Ty Swartz/Released 2009-04-11 090411-N-4010S-001 Navy http //www navy mil/view_image asp id 70506 U S Navy photo by Chief Mass Communication Specialist Ty Swartz PD-USGov-Military-Navy AV-8B Harrier II US Marine Corps Marine Attack Squadron 211 Aboard USS Essex LHD-2 Military activities at night |