Members of the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit and Iwo Jima Amphibious Ready Group participate in a 5K Thanksgiving fun run aboard the amphibious assault ship USS Iwo Jima, Nov. 22, 2012. The fun run is part of the Thanksgiving celebration coordinated by the ships Moral, Recreation and Welfare program for the Marines and Sailors. The 24th MEU is deployed with the Iwo Jima ARG and is currently in the 6th Fleet area of responsibility. Since deploying in March, they have supported a variety of missions in the U.S. Central, Africa and European Commands, assisted the Navy in safeguarding sea lanes, and conducted various bilateral and unilateral training events in several countries in the Middle East and Africa. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Gunnery Sgt. Chad R. Kiehl) - Members of the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit and Iwo Jima Amphibious Ready Group participate in a 5K Thanksgiving fun run aboard the amphibious assault ship USS Iwo Jima, Nov. 22, 2012. The fun run is part of the Thanksgiving celebration coordinated by the ships Moral, Recreation and Welfare program for the Marines and Sailors. The 24th MEU is deployed with the Iwo Jima ARG and is currently in the 6th Fleet area of responsibility. Since deploying in March, they have supported a variety of missions in the U.S. Central, Africa and European Commands, assisted the Navy in safeguarding sea lanes, and conducted various bilateral and unilateral training events in several countries in the Middle East and Africa. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Gunnery Sgt. Chad R. Kiehl)

A Marine with 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit sprays the undercarriage of a Humvee during wash down procedures aboard Naval Station Rota, Spain, Nov. 11, 2012. Marines conducted the wash down to clean dirt and debris from their vehicles and equipment in preparation for their scheduled return to their home bases in North Carolina later this year. The 24th MEU is deployed with the Iwo Jima Amphibious Ready Group and is currently in the 6th Fleet Area of Responsibility as a disaster relief and crisis response force. Since deploying in March, they have supported a variety of missions in the U.S. Central and European Commands, assisted the Navy in safeguarding sea lanes, and conducted various bilateral and unilateral training events in several countries in the Middle East and Africa. - A Marine with 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit sprays the undercarriage of a Humvee during wash down procedures aboard Naval Station Rota, Spain, Nov. 11, 2012. Marines conducted the wash down to clean dirt and debris from their vehicles and equipment in preparation for their scheduled return to their home bases in North Carolina later this year. The 24th MEU is deployed with the Iwo Jima Amphibious Ready Group and is currently in the 6th Fleet Area of Responsibility as a disaster relief and crisis response force. Since deploying in March, they have supported a variety of missions in the U.S. Central and European Commands, assisted the Navy in safeguarding sea lanes, and conducted various bilateral and unilateral training events in several countries in the Middle East and Africa.

Marines and Sailors with the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit and Iwo Jima Amphibious Ready Group bow their heads during the opening prayer of the 237th Marine Corps birthday ceremony on the flight deck of the USS New York, Nov. 10, 2012. This was the first of perhaps many more Marine Corps birthday celebrations aboard the New York, built with seven-and-a-half tons of steel from the World Trade Center, as she sails on her maiden deployment. The 24th MEU is deployed with the Iwo Jima Amphibious Ready Group and is currently in the 6th Fleet Area of Responsibility as a disaster relief and crisis response force. Since deploying in March, they have supported a variety of missions in the U.S. Central and European Commands, assisted the Navy in safeguarding sea lanes, and conducted various bilateral and unilateral training events in several countries in the Middle East and Africa. The 24th MEU is scheduled to return to their home bases in North Carolina later this year. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Michael Petersheim/Released) - Marines and Sailors with the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit and Iwo Jima Amphibious Ready Group bow their heads during the opening prayer of the 237th Marine Corps birthday ceremony on the flight deck of the USS New York, Nov. 10, 2012. This was the first of perhaps many more Marine Corps birthday celebrations aboard the New York, built with seven-and-a-half tons of steel from the World Trade Center, as she sails on her maiden deployment. The 24th MEU is deployed with the Iwo Jima Amphibious Ready Group and is currently in the 6th Fleet Area of Responsibility as a disaster relief and crisis response force. Since deploying in March, they have supported a variety of missions in the U.S. Central and European Commands, assisted the Navy in safeguarding sea lanes, and conducted various bilateral and unilateral training events in several countries in the Middle East and Africa. The 24th MEU is scheduled to return to their home bases in North Carolina later this year. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Michael Petersheim/Released)

USS NEW YORK (Nov. 4, 2012) — A Marine with the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit sprays the inside of an assault amphibious vehicle during wash down procedures aboard the USS New York, Nov. 4, 2012. Marines conducted the wash down inside the ship’s well deck to clean dirt and debris from their vehicles and equipment in preparation for their scheduled return to their home bases in North Carolina later this year. The 24th MEU is deployed with the Iwo Jima Amphibious Ready Group and is currently in the 6th Fleet Area of Responsibility as a disaster relief and crisis response force. Since deploying in March, they have supported a variety of missions in the U.S. Central and European Commands, assisted the Navy in safeguarding sea lanes, and conducted various bilateral and unilateral training events in several countries in the Middle East and Africa. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Staff Sgt. Robert Fisher III/Released) - USS NEW YORK (Nov. 4, 2012) — A Marine with the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit sprays the inside of an assault amphibious vehicle during wash down procedures aboard the USS New York, Nov. 4, 2012. Marines conducted the wash down inside the ship’s well deck to clean dirt and debris from their vehicles and equipment in preparation for their scheduled return to their home bases in North Carolina later this year. The 24th MEU is deployed with the Iwo Jima Amphibious Ready Group and is currently in the 6th Fleet Area of Responsibility as a disaster relief and crisis response force. Since deploying in March, they have supported a variety of missions in the U.S. Central and European Commands, assisted the Navy in safeguarding sea lanes, and conducted various bilateral and unilateral training events in several countries in the Middle East and Africa. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Staff Sgt. Robert Fisher III/Released)

JORDAN (Oct. 3, 2012) U.S. Marines assigned to Marine Engagement Team from 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit, receive a safety brief prior to conducting a live fire training exercise, Oct. 3, 2012. The engagement team is a platoon-sized group of Marines from the 24th MEU who are conducting a variety of unilateral and bilateral training events with the Jordanian Marines in southern Jordan. The 24th MEU is deployed with the Iwo Jima Amphibious Ready Group as a U.S. Central Command theater reserve force, providing support for maritime security operations and theater security cooperation efforts in the U.S. 5th Fleet area of responsibility. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Tucker S. Wolf/Released) - JORDAN (Oct. 3, 2012) U.S. Marines assigned to Marine Engagement Team from 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit, receive a safety brief prior to conducting a live fire training exercise, Oct. 3, 2012. The engagement team is a platoon-sized group of Marines from the 24th MEU who are conducting a variety of unilateral and bilateral training events with the Jordanian Marines in southern Jordan. The 24th MEU is deployed with the Iwo Jima Amphibious Ready Group as a U.S. Central Command theater reserve force, providing support for maritime security operations and theater security cooperation efforts in the U.S. 5th Fleet area of responsibility. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Tucker S. Wolf/Released)