English: At sea aboard USS Essex (LHD 2) Sep. 9, 2002 -- Aviation Boatswain's Mate Airman Donny Swanson gives a ‘thumbs up’ signal to indicate a "green deck" for the launch of an AV-8 “Harrier,” a high performance, single-engine, single-seat, Vertical/Short Take-off and Landing (V/STOL) attack aircraft. The Harrier is attached to the Air Combat Element of the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) embarked aboard USS Essex. The Essex and the 13th MEU are participating in a semi-annual Amphibious Ready Group (ARG) exercise in the vicinity of Okinawa, Japan. The exercise is designed to blend the operational capabilities and techniques of the Navy/Marine Corps team into one cohesive force capable of conducting amphibious operations in support of contingencies ranging from humanitarian assistance and disaster relief efforts, to full-scale combat operations. The “Harrier” was first introduced to the Fleet Marine Forces (FMF) after a successful prototype demonstration and full-scale development program in January of 1985. U.S. Navy photo by Photographer’s Mate 3rd Class Clover B. Christensen. (RELEASED)