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Photo Information

Sgt. Michael Cox, a Brighton Ill., native with the Command Element, 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit, is promoted to his current rank of Sergeant in the US Marine Corps by Col. Frank Donovan, commanding officer of the 24th MEU during a ceremony aboard the USS Iwo Jima (LHD 7), Oct 1, 2012. The 24th MEU is deployed with the Iwo Jima Amphibious Ready Group as a theater reserve force for U.S. Central Command and is providing support for maritime security operations and theater security cooperation efforts in the U.S. Navy's 5th Fleet area of responsibility. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Gunnery Sgt. Chad R. Kiehl)

Photo by Gunnery Sgt. Chad R Kiehl

U.S. Marines get promoted while deployed at sea

1 Oct 2012 | Capt. Robert Shuford 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit

On the first of each month the U.S. Marine Corps authorizes a certain number of promotions for different ranks and job fields.  For Marines deployed with the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit being deployed at sea doesn’t keep them from moving up to the next rank.  On Oct. 1, 2012, a number of promotions took place aboard the three ships of the Iwo Jima Amphibious Ready Group – USS Iwo Jima, USS New York and USS Gunston Hall – the ships that the 2,300 Marines of 24th MEU are embarked on.  The 24th MEU and Iwo Jima ARG are currently deployed to U.S. Central Command in the U.S. Navy’s 5th Fleet area of responsibility where they are serving as a theater reserve and crisis response force capable of supporting a variety of missions from combat to humanitarian assistance.  Since deploying in March, 24th MEU has participated in a number of theater security cooperation events and training exercises, which included African Lion 12 in Morocco, the largest training exercise in U.S. Africa Command, and Eager Lion 12 in Jordan, the largest exercise in CENTCOM.