MANDA BAY, Kenya -- The 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable) recently conducted Exercise Edged Mallet in the coastal regions of Kenya. The exercise provided bilateral training opportunities for U.S. Marines and units of the Kenyan Department of Defense. It also consisted of several humanitarian assistance projects, during which local residents were provided medical and dental care. "Exercises like this are a great way to maintain our operational readiness," said Col Richard Mills, the unit's commanding officer. "Beyond that, we're communicating the message that the U.S. is committed to its partners in the region. The Kenyans encountered two very different groups of people last week: terrorists who did not hesitate to kill them and American service members who remain committed to working hand-in-hand with them in a mutually beneficial relationship. That pretty much sums up the current situation, in my mind."