A loud chorus of gunfire echoed throughout the ship as Marines from the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU), Special Operations Capable (SOC) participated in a small-arms live fire exercises.

Coast of Okinawa, Japan (Jan. 22, 2003) A loud chorus of gunfire echoed throughout the ship as Marines from the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU), Special Operations Capable (SOC) participated in a small-arms live fire exercises aboard the amphibious assault ship USS Essex (LHD 2). Essex is the Navy's only forward deployed amphibious assault ship, and is steaming independently off the coast of Okinawa, Japan conducting biannual training in an Urban Environment Exercise. U.S. Navy photo by Photographer's Mate Airman Apprentice Marvin Thompson. File# 030122-N-2970T-002