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U.S. 7th Fleet Vice Adm. Bill Merz and Commanding General, III Marine Expeditionary Force Lt. Gen. H. Stacy Clardy met to discuss naval integration aboard the 7th Fleet flagship USS Blue Ridge (LCC 19) in the South China Sea. The focus of naval integration is to ensure the Navy and Marine Corps are aligned with the National Defense Strategy, which requires shifting from traditional power projection to meeting the new challenges associated with maintaining a persistent naval forward presence.