Official websites use .mil
Secure .mil websites use HTTPS
Capt. Ken Ward, left, commanding officer of the forward-deployed amphibious assault ship USS America (LHA 6), shakes hands with Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force Rear Adm. Takuhiro Hiragi, commander, Fleet Air Wing 31, on the ship’s flight deck during a port visit to Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni. America, lead ship of the America Amphibious Ready Group, is operating in the U.S. 7th Fleet area of responsibility to enhance interoperability with allies and partners and serve as a ready response force to defend peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region.