One of the purposes of TFB’s Photo Of The Day is to broaden the audience for the excellent work done by combat photographers around the world. Today we’re somewhere in the Indian Ocean, where Lance Cpl. Sergio Escalante, rifleman, 2nd Battalion, 4th Marines, 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU), stands an armed watch during a straits transit. He’s working aboard the amphibious assault ship USS Makin Island (LHD 8). The USS Makin Island is a Wasp-class amphibious assault ship. Its main task is to embark, deploy, and land elements of a Marine Corps landing force in case of an amphibious assault by helicopters, landing craft, and amphibious vehicles.

Below: Marines are required to stand armed watches alongside naval counterparts as an integrated ship’s self-defense force. The Makin Island Amphibious Ready Group, comprised of the amphibious assault ship USS Makin Island (LHD 8) and amphibious transport dock USS Anchorage (LPD 23) and USS John P. Murtha (LPD 26), is operating in the U.S. 7th Fleet area of operations with the embarked 13th MEU to enhance interoperability with Allies and partners and serve as a ready-response force to defend peace and maintain stability in the Indo-Pacific region.

Aerographer’s Mate 2nd Class Estephany Bermudez observes temperature using a pocket weather tracker during a straits transit aboard amphibious assault ship USS Makin Island (LHD 8), Dec. 14, 2022. Aerographer’s Mates collect weather information, such as temperature, cloud coverage and other weather conditions that may obstruct visibility.

Captions and photos by Petty Officer 3rd Class Eloise Johnson, USS Makin Island (LHD 8).