NUMAZU BEACH, Japan (March 9, 2022) Marine Col. Michael Nakonieczny, commanding officer of the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU), center, talks to Numazu Mayor Shuichi Yorishige during a beach landing exercise with landing craft from the forward-deployed amphibious dock landing ship USS Ashland (LSD 48). Ashland, part of the America Amphibious Ready Group, along with the 31st MEU, is operating in the 7th Fleet area of responsibility to enhance interoperability with allies and partners, serving as a ready response force to defend peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region.

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Keywords: 31st, ashland, defense, exercise, landing, lcu, maritime, mdx-ardb, meu, uss