Bold Alligator exercise - stock photo

North atlantic ocean, Virginia, USA - January 24, 2012: Two french soldiers from regular army of the Marine Infantry Regiment swim in the direction of the north carolina beach with rifles, they are training with the US Army in the north atlantic ocean during Bold Alligator exercise, morning January 24. It's a multinational littoral warfare exercise hosted by the United States. It has been held annually since 2011. In 2012, it involved 14,000 marines, sailors, airmen and soldiers, encompassing more than 25 ships and involving eleven countries, with Canada, Mexico, UK, France, Netherlands, Spain, Italy, New Zealand, Australia, and other allied nations participating at sea, on land, and in the air, at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina and in Virginia.