U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Josue Marquez ()

U.S. Marine Cpl. Jonathan Gardner, a crew chief with 4th Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division, carries MK 19 grenade launcher rounds during an assault amphibious vehicle crew-served weapons range on Camp Hansen, Okinawa, Japan, Aug. 20, 2019. “The impact feels a lot different than the target practice rounds,” said Gardner, a native of Bristol, Virginia. “With the high explosive rounds, you can feel the ‘boom’ when it hits the ground.” The company traversed more than 22 kilometers over land and sea, the longest trek of any AAV unit in Okinawa in the past 20 years, to get from the unit location to the live fire range. Continuous amphibious assault training is designed to maximize the Marine Corps’ combat skills and the unit’s readiness for future operations within the region.