A machine gunner with Golf Company, Battalion Landing Team 2nd Battalion, 1st Marines, 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU), fires an M240B machine gun during a gunners qualification aboard the amphibious assault ship USS Makin Island (LHD 8) on Oct. 19, 2014. The Makin Island Amphibious Ready Group (ARG) and the embarked 11th MEU are deployed in support of maritime security operations and theater security cooperation efforts in the U.S. 5th Fleet area of responsibility. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Laura Y. Raga)