The amphibious assault ship USS Kearsarge (LHD 3), and embarked Marines from the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU), arrived in Dubai for a port visit, Dec 23.

Sailors and Marines were visited by General Robert B. Neller, the 37th Commandant of the Marine Corps, and Sergeant Major Ronald L. Green, the 18th Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps as part of their holiday tour to visit military units stationed overseas and forward deployed.

Sailors spent some time off the ship where they were able to participate in a soccer competition at a local school and experience the culture of the region through community relation events and guided tours.

"The Sailors and Marines were able to go sand boarding, ride camels, ride over the sand dunes, enjoy a night time dinner cruise along the illuminated Dubai skyline," said Brooke Webber, fun boss aboard Kearsarge. "They were also able to go out into the city of Dubai and visit the world's tallest building, take a slip down the world's only indoor ski slope, see the picturesque flower gardens and spend the day shopping in the world's largest mall."

"The 'Modern Dubai City Tour' was an amazing experience," said Yeoman 1st Class April Jackson. "This was a once in a lifetime opportunity that I am glad I was able to be a part of."

Kearsarge is the flagship for the Kearsarge Amphibious Ready Group (ARG) and, with the embarked MEU, is deployed in support of maritime security operations and theater security cooperation efforts in the U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations.

For more news from USS Kearsarge (LHD 3), visit www.navy.mil/local/lhd3/