Cpl. David Vargas-Merlo waits calmly in the darkness

Cpl. David Vargas-Merlo waits calmly in the darkness of an amphibious assault vehicle before rushing into an attack, Oct. 26, 2015, on Okinawa, Japan, during Blue Chromite 2016. Blue Chromite is a large-scale, cost-effective on-island exercise led by 4th Marine Regiment. Each element of III Marine Expeditionary Force is represented in Blue Chromite. The training gives Navy and Marine units the opportunity to complete high-level, cost-effective training in a realistic, expeditionary environment. Vargas- Merlo, from Lakeland, Florida, is a combat engineer with Combat Assault Battalion, 3rd Marine Division, III Marine Expeditionary Force. (U.S. Marine Corps Photo by Pfc. Jorge A. Rosales/Released)