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5th FLEET AREA OF RESPONSIBILITY (Sept. 11, 2012) - Aviation maintenance Marines with Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 261 (Reinforced), 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit, perform maintenance on an MV-22B Osprey on the flight deck of USS Iwo Jima, Sept. 11, 2012. Maintenance crews are constantly working on the various aircraft belonging to the 24th MEU to ensure they are mission ready whenever called on. 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. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Capt. Robert Shuford) - 5th FLEET AREA OF RESPONSIBILITY (Sept. 11, 2012) - Aviation maintenance Marines with Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 261 (Reinforced), 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit, perform maintenance on an MV-22B Osprey on the flight deck of USS Iwo Jima, Sept. 11, 2012. Maintenance crews are constantly working on the various aircraft belonging to the 24th MEU to ensure they are mission ready whenever called on. 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. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Capt. Robert Shuford)

An MV-22B Osprey connects to the refueling hose of a KC-130J Hercules, during aerial refueling training Sept. 23, 2012. Both aircraft are with Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 261 (Reinforced), the aviation combat element for the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit, and conducted aerial refueling training to practice the skills needed for long-range flight operations. 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. - An MV-22B Osprey connects to the refueling hose of a KC-130J Hercules, during aerial refueling training Sept. 23, 2012. Both aircraft are with Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 261 (Reinforced), the aviation combat element for the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit, and conducted aerial refueling training to practice the skills needed for long-range flight operations. 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 Aden, (Sept. 22, 2012) - Cpl. Joshua Brooks, a Petoskey, Mich., native and machine gun section leader with Charlie Company, Battalion Landing Team 1st Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit, receives his diploma during a Corporal's Course graduation ceremony aboard the USS Gunston Hall in the Gulf of Aden, Sept. 22, 2012. Brooks was the honor graduate of the course, which took place both ashore in Kuwait and aboard the ship. 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. (Official Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Richard Blumenstein) - USS GUNSTON HALL, Gulf of Aden, (Sept. 22, 2012) - Cpl. Joshua Brooks, a Petoskey, Mich., native and machine gun section leader with Charlie Company, Battalion Landing Team 1st Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit, receives his diploma during a Corporal's Course graduation ceremony aboard the USS Gunston Hall in the Gulf of Aden, Sept. 22, 2012. Brooks was the honor graduate of the course, which took place both ashore in Kuwait and aboard the ship. 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. (Official Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Richard Blumenstein)

Marines with 1st Platoon, Bravo Company, Battalion Landing Team 1st Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit, lift medical stretchers as part of a relay race while competing in the Training Force Challenge in Djibouti, Sep. 16, 2012. The competition was the culminating event of a three-week training package that was focused on the application of infantry skills in rugged mountain terrain. The 24th MEU is deployed with the Iwo Jima Amphibious Ready Group as a theater reserve and crisis response force throughout U.S. Central Command and the Navy's 5th Fleet area of responsibility. - Marines with 1st Platoon, Bravo Company, Battalion Landing Team 1st Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit, lift medical stretchers as part of a relay race while competing in the Training Force Challenge in Djibouti, Sep. 16, 2012. The competition was the culminating event of a three-week training package that was focused on the application of infantry skills in rugged mountain terrain. The 24th MEU is deployed with the Iwo Jima Amphibious Ready Group as a theater reserve and crisis response force throughout U.S. Central Command and the Navy's 5th Fleet area of responsibility.

USS GUNSTON HALL, Arabian Gulf (Sept. 11. 2012) -Master Sgt. James Clark, a Louisville, Ky., native and maintenance chief for Combat Logistics Battalion 24, 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit, reenlists in the Marine Corps Sept. 11, on the flight deck of the USS Gunston Hall in the Arabian Gulf. The 24th MEU is deployed with the Iwo Jima ARG 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. (Official Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Richard Blumenstein) - USS GUNSTON HALL, Arabian Gulf (Sept. 11. 2012) -Master Sgt. James Clark, a Louisville, Ky., native and maintenance chief for Combat Logistics Battalion 24, 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit, reenlists in the Marine Corps Sept. 11, on the flight deck of the USS Gunston Hall in the Arabian Gulf. The 24th MEU is deployed with the Iwo Jima ARG 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. (Official Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Richard Blumenstein)

Lance Cpl. Kevin Midgley, a Westlake, Ohio, native and team leader with Bravo Company, Battalion Landing Team 1st Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit, climbs a rope as part of a water obstacle course in Djibouti, Aug. 30, 2012. The course is a part of a Training Force, or T-Force, package focused on primitive infantry skills. The 24th MEU is deployed with the Iwo Jima Amphibious Ready Group as a theater reserve and crisis response force throughout the U.S. Central Command in the Navy's 5th Fleet area of responsibility. - Lance Cpl. Kevin Midgley, a Westlake, Ohio, native and team leader with Bravo Company, Battalion Landing Team 1st Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit, climbs a rope as part of a water obstacle course in Djibouti, Aug. 30, 2012. The course is a part of a Training Force, or T-Force, package focused on primitive infantry skills. The 24th MEU is deployed with the Iwo Jima Amphibious Ready Group as a theater reserve and crisis response force throughout the U.S. Central Command in the Navy's 5th Fleet area of responsibility.

Lance Cpl. Aaron Waters, a Camdler, N.C., native and Lance Cpl. Michael Schineider, a Cleveland native, both with the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit, work together carrying fresh fruits, vegetables and dry goods during a replenishment at sea detail aboard the USS Iwo Jima, Aug. 29, 2012. During the RAS the USS Iwo Jima took on fuel, food supplies and mail to sustain the ship through the next few weeks. 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. - Lance Cpl. Aaron Waters, a Camdler, N.C., native and Lance Cpl. Michael Schineider, a Cleveland native, both with the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit, work together carrying fresh fruits, vegetables and dry goods during a replenishment at sea detail aboard the USS Iwo Jima, Aug. 29, 2012. During the RAS the USS Iwo Jima took on fuel, food supplies and mail to sustain the ship through the next few weeks. 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.

Marines with the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit's Light Armored Reconnaissance platoon, Battalion Landing Team 1st Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, hand over a simulated enemy combatant to French Marines during a bilateral training raid in Djibouti, Aug. 27, 2012. A small contingent of the 24th MEU is currently ashore in Djibouti conducting various unilateral, bilateral and joint exercises. 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 U.S. 5th Fleet area of responsibility. - Marines with the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit's Light Armored Reconnaissance platoon, Battalion Landing Team 1st Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, hand over a simulated enemy combatant to French Marines during a bilateral training raid in Djibouti, Aug. 27, 2012. A small contingent of the 24th MEU is currently ashore in Djibouti conducting various unilateral, bilateral and joint exercises. 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 U.S. 5th Fleet area of responsibility.

DJIBOUTI (Aug. 27, 2012) – French Marines fire RT-F1 120 mm rifled towed mortars during a live-fire exercise while training with India Battery, Battalion Landing Team 1st Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit in Djibouti, Aug. 27, 2012. Both nations spent Aug. 25-27 strengthening alliances and discussing tactics and procedures for the U.S. Marine Corps version of the French mortar, the M-327 120 mm Expeditionary Fire Support System, or EFSS. The 24th MEU, along with the Iwo Jima Amphibious Ready Group, is currently deployed to the U.S. Central Command and 5th Fleet areas of responsibility serving as a theater reserve providing support for maritime security operations and theater security cooperation efforts. (Courtesy photo by U.S. Marine Corps) - DJIBOUTI (Aug. 27, 2012) – French Marines fire RT-F1 120 mm rifled towed mortars during a live-fire exercise while training with India Battery, Battalion Landing Team 1st Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit in Djibouti, Aug. 27, 2012. Both nations spent Aug. 25-27 strengthening alliances and discussing tactics and procedures for the U.S. Marine Corps version of the French mortar, the M-327 120 mm Expeditionary Fire Support System, or EFSS. The 24th MEU, along with the Iwo Jima Amphibious Ready Group, is currently deployed to the U.S. Central Command and 5th Fleet areas of responsibility serving as a theater reserve providing support for maritime security operations and theater security cooperation efforts. (Courtesy photo by U.S. Marine Corps)

USS IWO JIMA (June 9, 2012) - 1st Lt. Thomas Smith, a Lexington, S.C., Native with the Command Element, 24th MEU, pose for a family photo prior to talking with his wife and children, through a video teleconference aboard the USS Iwo Jima, June 9, 2012. 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. (Official Marine Corps photo by Gunnery Sgt. Chad R. Kiehl) - USS IWO JIMA (June 9, 2012) - 1st Lt. Thomas Smith, a Lexington, S.C., Native with the Command Element, 24th MEU, pose for a family photo prior to talking with his wife and children, through a video teleconference aboard the USS Iwo Jima, June 9, 2012. 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. (Official Marine Corps photo by Gunnery Sgt. Chad R. Kiehl)