A Marine with Marine Operational Test and Evaluation

A Marine with Marine Operational Test and Evaluation Squadron 22 (VMX-22), cleans the engine of an MV-22 Osprey aboard the flight deck of the future amphibious assault ship USS America (LHA 6), July 25, 2014. For every flight hour logged, VMX-22 Marines have mandated maintenance hours to perform before an aircraft can be cleared for flight. VMX-22 is currently serving in direct support of Special Purpose Marine Air Ground Task Force South for the ship’s maiden transit, “America Visits the Americas." America is the first of the America-class amphibious assault ships, which represents the Navy-Marine Corps’ emphasis on increasing the aviation capacity of future big-deck amphibious assault ships capable of accommodating the next generation rotary wing and V/STOL (vertical/ short takeoff and landing) aircraft such as the MV-22 Osprey and the F-35B Joint Strike Fighter. The ship is scheduled to be commissioned in San Francisco, Oct. 11. (U.S. Marine Corps Photo by Cpl. Donald Holbert/ Released)