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Marines and Sailors with the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit and Iwo Jima Amphibious Ready Group dig a drainage ditch at the Bethany Orphanage here, April 24, 2012, as part of a community relations project. Sixty Marines and Sailors from the USS Gunston Hall sacrificed time off during a port visit to help the orphanage. The 24th MEU and Iwo Jima ARG are currently deployed as a theater reserve and crisis response force capable of a variety of missions from full-scale combat operations to humanitarian assistance and disaster relief. - Marines and Sailors with the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit and Iwo Jima Amphibious Ready Group dig a drainage ditch at the Bethany Orphanage here, April 24, 2012, as part of a community relations project. Sixty Marines and Sailors from the USS Gunston Hall sacrificed time off during a port visit to help the orphanage. The 24th MEU and Iwo Jima ARG are currently deployed as a theater reserve and crisis response force capable of a variety of missions from full-scale combat operations to humanitarian assistance and disaster relief.

Marines with the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit and Spanish Marine Corps switch squad automatic weapons April 16, here, during bi-lateral tactics training between the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit and the Spanish Marine Corps. The 24th MEU, partnered with the Navy's Iwo Jima Amphibious Ready Group, is deployed to the European and Central Command theaters of operation to serve as a theater reserve and crisis response force capable of a variety of missions from full-scale combat operations to humanitarian assistance and disaster relief. - Marines with the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit and Spanish Marine Corps switch squad automatic weapons April 16, here, during bi-lateral tactics training between the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit and the Spanish Marine Corps. The 24th MEU, partnered with the Navy's Iwo Jima Amphibious Ready Group, is deployed to the European and Central Command theaters of operation to serve as a theater reserve and crisis response force capable of a variety of missions from full-scale combat operations to humanitarian assistance and disaster relief.

Col. Frank Donovan, far left, the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit commanding officer, discusses the amphibious capabilities of his MEU to Ambassador Sam Kaplan, the U.S. ambassador to the Kingdom of Morocco, during a visit aboard the ship here, April 16, 2012, in the final days of Exercise African Lion 12. African Lion is a bi-lateral training exercise between U.S. forces, including the 24th MEU, and Royal Moroccan Armed Forces to promote partnership and mutual understanding between each nation’s militaries. The 24th MEU, along with the Iwo Jima Amphibious Ready Group, is currently deployed as a theater security and crisis response force capable of a variety of missions from full-scale combat to humanitarian assistance and disaster relief. - Col. Frank Donovan, far left, the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit commanding officer, discusses the amphibious capabilities of his MEU to Ambassador Sam Kaplan, the U.S. ambassador to the Kingdom of Morocco, during a visit aboard the ship here, April 16, 2012, in the final days of Exercise African Lion 12. African Lion is a bi-lateral training exercise between U.S. forces, including the 24th MEU, and Royal Moroccan Armed Forces to promote partnership and mutual understanding between each nation’s militaries. The 24th MEU, along with the Iwo Jima Amphibious Ready Group, is currently deployed as a theater security and crisis response force capable of a variety of missions from full-scale combat to humanitarian assistance and disaster relief.

Col. Frank Donovan, the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit's commanding officer, speaks to all in attendance during the MEU's activation ceremony at W.P.T. Hill Field, Camp Lejeune, N.C., Sept. 29. The ceremony served as an opportunity for Donovan to address the Marines and sailors of his command and their families. The ceremony was held to officially composite the 24th MEU with its subordinate units Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 261, Battalion Landing Team 1st Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, and Combat Logistics Battalion 24. - Col. Frank Donovan, the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit's commanding officer, speaks to all in attendance during the MEU's activation ceremony at W.P.T. Hill Field, Camp Lejeune, N.C., Sept. 29. The ceremony served as an opportunity for Donovan to address the Marines and sailors of his command and their families. The ceremony was held to officially composite the 24th MEU with its subordinate units Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 261, Battalion Landing Team 1st Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, and Combat Logistics Battalion 24.

Marines with Charlie Company, 1st Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, prepare a 60 mm M-224 Mortar System for firing the next mission during a live-fire range on Camp Lejeune, N.C., Aug. 18, 2011. The training served as an opportunity to maintain the unit’s new mortarmen's skills. The unit is currently scheduled to attach to the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit. - Marines with Charlie Company, 1st Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, prepare a 60 mm M-224 Mortar System for firing the next mission during a live-fire range on Camp Lejeune, N.C., Aug. 18, 2011. The training served as an opportunity to maintain the unit’s new mortarmen's skills. The unit is currently scheduled to attach to the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit.

Reconnaissance Marines prepare to patrol an area near Onslow Beach while training to conduct amphibious clandestine operations Aug. 17. The 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit’s Force Reconnaissance Platoon conducted dive operations Aug. 14-17, to maintain their skills and prepare for their upcoming deployment. - Reconnaissance Marines prepare to patrol an area near Onslow Beach while training to conduct amphibious clandestine operations Aug. 17. The 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit’s Force Reconnaissance Platoon conducted dive operations Aug. 14-17, to maintain their skills and prepare for their upcoming deployment.

A Marine rappels out of a UH-1N Huey during the Helicopter Rope Suspension Training Masters Course at Landing Zone Vulture on Stone Bay, Aug. 2. The majority of students in the course were from units scheduled to attach and deploy with the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit in September. - A Marine rappels out of a UH-1N Huey during the Helicopter Rope Suspension Training Masters Course at Landing Zone Vulture on Stone Bay, Aug. 2. The majority of students in the course were from units scheduled to attach and deploy with the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit in September.

Colonel Frank Donovan takes command of the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit from Lt. Col. Jason Waldron during an assumption of command ceremony in front of II Marine Expeditionary Force Headquarters on Camp Lejeune, N.C. May 6, 2011. - Colonel Frank Donovan takes command of the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit from Lt. Col. Jason Waldron during an assumption of command ceremony in front of II Marine Expeditionary Force Headquarters on Camp Lejeune, N.C. May 6, 2011.

U.S. Marines and Sailors from the 24th MEU and USS Nassau pose for a photo with Japanese service members after they played a softball game against each other on Camp Lemonier, Djibouti, April 20, 2010. (Official U.S. Marine Corps photo by MSgt. James Frank) - U.S. Marines and Sailors from the 24th MEU and USS Nassau pose for a photo with Japanese service members after they played a softball game against each other on Camp Lemonier, Djibouti, April 20, 2010. (Official U.S. Marine Corps photo by MSgt. James Frank)