Sailors and Marines from the amphibious transport dock USS Arlington (LPD 24) conducted an amphibious landing at Pinheiro da Cruz training range alongside Portuguese Marines from the 2nd Fuzeleiros Battalion as part of Trident Juncture 2015 on Oct. 20, 2015.

The landing was conducted jointly between the two nations utilizing landing craft air cushions (LCACs) from Assault Craft Unit (ACU) 4 and CH-53E Super Stallion helicopters from the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU).

"It is amazing to watch two nation's Marine forces operate so seamlessly together. The shared professionalism and commitment to mission between the U.S. Marines and the Portuguese Fuzeleiros easily overcomes any language barriers or differences in equipment or experience. The ability to conduct large scale exercises such as Trident Juncture 2015, to help refine our ability to operate together, is one of the great strengths of NATO and one that assures the alliance's viability."
-Capt. Sean Bailey, commanding officer, USS Arlington (LPD 24)

Quick Facts:
*Arlington embarked 120 personnel from 2nd Fuzeleiros Battalion to participate in the landing at Pinheiro da Cruz.

*Naval Striking and Support Forces NATO (STRIKFORNATO), based in Lisbon, Portugal, provided command and control of the forces involved in the landing.

*Trident Juncture is a NATO-led exercise is designed to certify NATO response forces and develop interoperability among participating NATO and partner nations.

*This is the maiden deployment for the USS Arlington which was commissioned on April 6, 2013. Amphibious transport dock ships are warships that embark, transport, and land elements of a landing force for a variety of expeditionary warfare missions.

*Arlington is named in commemoration of Arlington County and the 184 men and women that lost their lives in the attack on the Pentagon Sept. 11, 2001.

*U.S. 6th Fleet, headquartered in Naples, Italy, conducts the full spectrum of joint and naval operations, often in concert with allied, joint, and interagency partners, in order to advance U.S. national interests and security and stability in Europe and Africa.

For more news from Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Europe and Africa/U.S. 6th Fleet, visit www.navy.mil/.