Keywords: US Navy 100918-N-8335D-500 Marines assigned to the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (31st MEU) fast rope from a CH-46 Sea Knight helicopter onto the.jpg en PHILIPPINE SEA Sept 18 2010 Marines assigned to the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit 31st MEU embarked aboard the amphibious assault ship USS Essex LHD 2 fast rope from a CH-46 Sea Knight helicopter onto the Military Sealift Command dry cargo and ammunition ship USNS Alan Shepard T-AKE 3 during a visit board search and seizure exercise Essex is on patrol in the western Pacific Ocean and is part of the permanently forward-deployed Essex Amphibious Ready Group participating in Valiant Shield 2010 an integrated joint-training exercise designed to enhance interoperability between U S forces U S Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Richard Doolin/Released 2010-09-18 100918-N-8335D-500 Navy http //www navy mil/view_image asp id 91884 U S Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Richard Doolin PD-USGov-Military-Navy Aboard USS Essex LHD-2 Fast roping CH-46 US Marine Corps Valiant Shield 2010 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit |