More than 500 U.S. Sailors and embarked elements of the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) aboard the USS Ashland (LSD-48) arrived in Bunbury, Australia, June 25.
In addition to rest and relaxation, crew members will volunteer at a community service event at the Bunbury Wildlife Park where service members will help with preservation at the facility.
More than 20 Sailors and Marines will take part in the community service project.
After the visit, Ashland service members will return to sea to conduct Talisman Saber, a month-long exercise for U.S and Australian forces to conduct joint operations to test interoperability and refine cooperative procedures.
Ashland is assigned to the Bonhomme Richard Expeditionary Strike Group and is on patrol in the U.S. 7th Fleet area of operations.
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Image: US Navy