U.S. Marines and Sailors with the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) returned from their successful, eight-month deployment to the Indo-Pacific, Middle East, Mediterranean and Horn of Africa regions, February 28, 2019. Throughout deployment, the Navy’s Essex Amphibious Ready Group and 13th MEU team participated in a variety of exercises with partners throughout the Indo-Pacific, Middle East, Mediterranean and Horn of Africa regions, which strengthened partnerships and increased combat readiness, amphibious and crisis-response capabilities and interoperability between U.S. and partner nation forces. Simultaneous, the Navy/Marine Corps force supported Operation Inherent Resolve and Operation Freedom Sentinel. In addition, the end of this deployment is uniquely significant, as it was the inaugural combat deployment of the Marine Corps F-35B Lightning II. (U. S. Marine Corps video by Francisco J. Diaz Jr./Released)