A U.S. Navy enlisted crew pilots a Landing Craft Air Cushion to the beach during an amphibious landing on June 15, 1996, as part of RIMPAC '96. The amphibious assault at Pacific Missile Range Facility, Barking Sands, Hawaii, is being conducted by 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit, Camp Pendleton, Calif., and involves Navy and Marine air, ground and sea forces for training as a combined amphibious assault force. More than 44 ships, 200 aircraft and 30,000 soldiers, sailors, Marines, airmen and Coast Guardsmen are involved in the exercise. The purpose of RIMPAC '96 is to improve coordination and interoperability of combined and joint forces in maritime tactical and theater operations. Australia, Canada, Chile, Japan, the Republic of Korea and the U.S. are participating in the exercise.