OKINAWA, Japan - Aviation boatswain's mates watch from vulture's row as an AV-8B Harrier with Marine Attack Squadron 214 lands on the flight deck of the forward-deployed amphibious assault ship USS Essex (LHD 2). USS Essex is part of the forward deployed Essex Amphibious Ready Group and is conducting operations in the Western Pacific. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Eva-Marie Ramsaran/Released)