USS IWO JIMA, U.S. 5th Fleet Area of Responsibility -- Marines with Battalion Landing Team 1st Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit, conducted a multiple target, live-fire training on the flight deck of USS Iwo Jima, Aug 19, 2012. Marines are constantly training whether on land or sea and executing live-fire ranges at sea is commonplace for Marine Expeditionary Units. 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. “It is important that we as the ground combat element for the 24 MEU maintain our shooting proficiency, no matter the environment. It does not matter if we are firing ranges on shore or at sea, it is paramount to ensure that shoots are creative, challenging, and keep our Marines’ warfighting edge sharp,” said Capt. Jeremy Wilkinson, operations officer, BLT 1/2.