Marines with the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit, unload their personal gear off the USS Nassau at Morehead City Port, NC Aug. 12. The Marines are returning from a seven-month deployment from Haiti, the Mediterranean and the Middle East. - Marines with the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit, unload their personal gear off the USS Nassau at Morehead City Port, NC Aug. 12. The Marines are returning from a seven-month deployment from Haiti, the Mediterranean and the Middle East.

Corporals of the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit perform a Vessel Board Search and Seizure exercise as their culminating field operation during a Corporal's Course aboard USS Nassau, Aug. 6. The course began July 12, and will end Aug. 9. This was an effort to maintain the field training operations implemented in a Corporal's Course. Due to the lack of ability to go to the field this was the best way for them to get the training. These Marines embarked upon USS Nassau approximately seven months ago and will be arriving home shortly. This course will send them back to their parent commands well prepared and ready to take on the next level as a Marine. - Corporals of the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit perform a Vessel Board Search and Seizure exercise as their culminating field operation during a Corporal's Course aboard USS Nassau, Aug. 6. The course began July 12, and will end Aug. 9. This was an effort to maintain the field training operations implemented in a Corporal's Course. Due to the lack of ability to go to the field this was the best way for them to get the training. These Marines embarked upon USS Nassau approximately seven months ago and will be arriving home shortly. This course will send them back to their parent commands well prepared and ready to take on the next level as a Marine.

USS Nassau anchors off the east coast of Mahe Island, Seychelles, during a liberty port call June 25-28, 2010. Marines from the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit and sailors assigned to the ship and Amphibious Squadron 8 participated in the liberty stop after 159 days at sea. (Official U.S. Marine Corps photo by Maj Keith Parrella) - USS Nassau anchors off the east coast of Mahe Island, Seychelles, during a liberty port call June 25-28, 2010. Marines from the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit and sailors assigned to the ship and Amphibious Squadron 8 participated in the liberty stop after 159 days at sea. (Official U.S. Marine Corps photo by Maj Keith Parrella)

1st Platoon, Charlie Company, Battalion Landing Team 1st Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment poses for a photo with a company of the French Army during a bilateral training exercise in Djibouti, Africa from May 25, 2010. There has been a continued effort to conduct such exercises between units of the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit and the French Army during the 24th MEU's deployment to the Central Command area of operations. The 24th MEU is deployed with the Nassau Amphibious Ready Group as the theater reserve for Central Command. The MEU is an expeditionary force capable of execting a variety of missions from full scale combat operations to humanitarian assistance. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Sean D. Ross.) - 1st Platoon, Charlie Company, Battalion Landing Team 1st Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment poses for a photo with a company of the French Army during a bilateral training exercise in Djibouti, Africa from May 25, 2010. There has been a continued effort to conduct such exercises between units of the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit and the French Army during the 24th MEU's deployment to the Central Command area of operations. The 24th MEU is deployed with the Nassau Amphibious Ready Group as the theater reserve for Central Command. The MEU is an expeditionary force capable of execting a variety of missions from full scale combat operations to humanitarian assistance. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Sean D. Ross.)

Marine Corps cannon crewmen, Bravo Battery, Battalion Landing Team 1st Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment, 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit endure unforgiving heat as they fire more than 200 rounds from their M777 A2 155 mm Howitzers during an artillery live fire range. This is only one of several training exercises the Marines of the 24th MEU have completed during their deployment throughout the Middle East. - Marine Corps cannon crewmen, Bravo Battery, Battalion Landing Team 1st Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment, 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit endure unforgiving heat as they fire more than 200 rounds from their M777 A2 155 mm Howitzers during an artillery live fire range. This is only one of several training exercises the Marines of the 24th MEU have completed during their deployment throughout the Middle East.

Marines attached to Combine Anti-Armor Team Platoon, Team 2, Battalion Landing Team 1st Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment, 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit, get some hands-on training with how to properly apply a tourniquet during a Tactical Combat Casualty Care class May 16. - Marines attached to Combine Anti-Armor Team Platoon, Team 2, Battalion Landing Team 1st Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment, 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit, get some hands-on training with how to properly apply a tourniquet during a Tactical Combat Casualty Care class May 16.

Sgt. Dave Wilson, a team leader with the Force Reconnaissance Platoon from the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit, participates in a pistol firing competition during the 2nd Annual Warrior Competition held at the King Abdullah II Special Operations Training Centre (KASOTC), Jordan, May 8, 2010. The Marine Force Recon team took first place after beating 6 other teams in a variety of events that included shooting competitions, rappelling, and obstacle courses. (Official U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Alex Sauceda) - Sgt. Dave Wilson, a team leader with the Force Reconnaissance Platoon from the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit, participates in a pistol firing competition during the 2nd Annual Warrior Competition held at the King Abdullah II Special Operations Training Centre (KASOTC), Jordan, May 8, 2010. The Marine Force Recon team took first place after beating 6 other teams in a variety of events that included shooting competitions, rappelling, and obstacle courses. (Official U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Alex Sauceda)

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)

Cpl. Will D. Hoover, ammunition technician with Headquarters platoon, Combat Logistics Battalion 24, 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit, safeguards an ammunition load aboard a Landing Craft, Air Cushioned vessel from USS Ashland to shore April 17, 2010. Hoover is currently the only ammo technician serving as an ammunition liaison while it's stored for upcoming training events during the 24th MEU's deployment. The 24th MEU is currently on a seven month deployment, and is the theatre reserve force for Central Command. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Alex C. Sauceda) - Cpl. Will D. Hoover, ammunition technician with Headquarters platoon, Combat Logistics Battalion 24, 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit, safeguards an ammunition load aboard a Landing Craft, Air Cushioned vessel from USS Ashland to shore April 17, 2010. Hoover is currently the only ammo technician serving as an ammunition liaison while it's stored for upcoming training events during the 24th MEU's deployment. The 24th MEU is currently on a seven month deployment, and is the theatre reserve force for Central Command. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Alex C. Sauceda)