A U.S. Navy landing craft, air cushion from Assault Craft Unit 4 prepares to enter the well deck of the multipurpose amphibious assault ship USS Bataan (LHD 5) during Exercise Bright Star 2009 in the Mediterranean Sea on Oct. 12, 2009. Bright Star is a biennial, multinational exercise designed to improve readiness, interoperability and the military and professional relationships among U.S., Egyptian and other participating forces.