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U.S. Marine Corps Sgt. Chase Nichols, right, a squad leader, and Lance Cpl. Miguel Lopez Jr., a rifleman, both assigned to 2nd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit, observe flight operations in an MV-22B Osprey attached to Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron (VMM) 164 (Reinforced), 15th MEU, during pickup zone drills aboard Wasp-class amphibious assault ship USS Essex (LHD 2) in the Pacific Ocean, June 16, 2026, in preparation for Exercise Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) 2026. Thirty nations, over 30 surface ships, five submarines, 15 national land forces, more than 206 aircraft and 30,000 personnel are participating in RIMPAC in and around the Hawaiian Islands, June 24 to July 31. The world's largest international maritime exercise, RIMPAC provides a unique training opportunity while fostering and sustaining cooperative relationships among participants critical to ensuring the safety of sea lanes and security on the world's oceans. RIMPAC 2026 is the 30th exercise in the series that began in 1971. Nichols is a native of Oklahoma, and Lopez Jr. is a native of South Carolina. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Staff Sgt. Ezekieljay Correa)
| Date Taken: | 06.16.2026 |
| Date Posted: | 06.24.2026 16:38 |
| Photo ID: | 9768998 |
| VIRIN: | 260615-M-LU593-1064 |
| Resolution: | 4324x6486 |
| Size: | 5.78 MB |
| Location: | PACIFIC OCEAN |
| Web Views: | 5 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
This work, VMM-164 and 2nd Bn., 7th Marines conduct pickup zone drills aboard USS Essex [Image 5 of 5], by SSgt Ezekieljay Correa, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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