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USS IWO JIMA, Mediterranean Sea (Nov. 30, 2012) - Staff Sgt. Aaron Davis, a Benton, Ark., native with the Command Element, 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit, demonstrates the basic stance of an M9 pistol during a combat marksmanship class aboard USS Iwo Jima, Nov. 30, 2012. Combat marksmanship training is a continuous part of life for Marines, no matter what their military occupational specialty is, and regardless of whether they're stateside or deployed on a ship. The 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit is deployed with the Iwo Jima Amphibious Ready Group in the 6th Fleet area of responsibility serving as an expeditionary crisis response force capable of a variety of missions, from full-scale combat to evacuations and humanitarian assistance. 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 Lance Cpl. Tucker S. Wolf/Released) - USS IWO JIMA, Mediterranean Sea (Nov. 30, 2012) - Staff Sgt. Aaron Davis, a Benton, Ark., native with the Command Element, 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit, demonstrates the basic stance of an M9 pistol during a combat marksmanship class aboard USS Iwo Jima, Nov. 30, 2012. Combat marksmanship training is a continuous part of life for Marines, no matter what their military occupational specialty is, and regardless of whether they're stateside or deployed on a ship. The 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit is deployed with the Iwo Jima Amphibious Ready Group in the 6th Fleet area of responsibility serving as an expeditionary crisis response force capable of a variety of missions, from full-scale combat to evacuations and humanitarian assistance. 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 Lance Cpl. Tucker S. Wolf/Released)

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)

DJIBOUTI (Oct. 1, 2012) - Marines with Bravo Company, Battalion Landing Team 1st Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit, conduct function checks on PRC-150 tactical radios while training in Djibouti, Oct. 1, 2012. The training was part of a three-week exercise comprising basic infantry skills and desert survival techniques. The 24th MEU is deployed with the Iwo Jima Amphibious Ready Group as a theater reserve and crisis response force in U.S. Central Command and the Navy's 5th Fleet area of responsibility. (Photo by Staff Sgt. Robert L. Fisher III) - DJIBOUTI (Oct. 1, 2012) - Marines with Bravo Company, Battalion Landing Team 1st Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit, conduct function checks on PRC-150 tactical radios while training in Djibouti, Oct. 1, 2012. The training was part of a three-week exercise comprising basic infantry skills and desert survival techniques. The 24th MEU is deployed with the Iwo Jima Amphibious Ready Group as a theater reserve and crisis response force in U.S. Central Command and the Navy's 5th Fleet area of responsibility. (Photo by Staff Sgt. Robert L. Fisher III)

DJIBOUTI (Oct. 7, 2012) - Petty Officer 3rd Class Charlie D. Murphy, 22, a hospital corpsman with Combat Logistics Battalion 24, 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit, and McMinnville, Tenn., native, holds security on a patrol while training in the coastal mountains of Djibouti, Oct. 7, 2012. Non-infantry Marines like Murphy, with CLB-24, trained alongside their infantry brethren from Bravo Company, Battalion Landing Team 1st Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, 24th MEU, during a three-week training package to gain a shared understanding of each other's roles in the Marine Corps Air Ground Task Force. The 24th MEU is deployed with the Iwo Jima Amphibious Ready Group as a theater reserve and crisis response force for U.S. Central Command and the U.S. Navy's 5th Fleet area of responsibility. (Photo by Staff Sgt. Robert L. Fisher III) - DJIBOUTI (Oct. 7, 2012) - Petty Officer 3rd Class Charlie D. Murphy, 22, a hospital corpsman with Combat Logistics Battalion 24, 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit, and McMinnville, Tenn., native, holds security on a patrol while training in the coastal mountains of Djibouti, Oct. 7, 2012. Non-infantry Marines like Murphy, with CLB-24, trained alongside their infantry brethren from Bravo Company, Battalion Landing Team 1st Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, 24th MEU, during a three-week training package to gain a shared understanding of each other's roles in the Marine Corps Air Ground Task Force. The 24th MEU is deployed with the Iwo Jima Amphibious Ready Group as a theater reserve and crisis response force for U.S. Central Command and the U.S. Navy's 5th Fleet area of responsibility. (Photo by Staff Sgt. Robert L. Fisher III)

USS GUNSTON HALL, Gulf of Oman (Oct. 5, 2012) - Marines with Combat Logistics Battalion 24, 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit, fire M-9 Beretta pistols during sustainment training on the flight deck of the USS Gunston Hall in the Gulf of Oman, Oct. 5, 2012. The 24th MEU is deployed with the Iwo Jima Amphibious Ready Group as a theater reserve and crisis response force for U.S. Central Command in the U.S. Navy's 5th Fleet area of responsibility. - USS GUNSTON HALL, Gulf of Oman (Oct. 5, 2012) - Marines with Combat Logistics Battalion 24, 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit, fire M-9 Beretta pistols during sustainment training on the flight deck of the USS Gunston Hall in the Gulf of Oman, Oct. 5, 2012. The 24th MEU is deployed with the Iwo Jima Amphibious Ready Group as a theater reserve and crisis response force for U.S. Central Command in the U.S. Navy's 5th Fleet area of responsibility.

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) - 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)