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.

Sgt. Maj. John McGovern passes his sword to Col. Francis Donovan, the commanding officer of the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit, during a relief and appointment ceremony Sept. 28, at the II Marine Expeditionary Force Headquarters Building. During the ceremony McGovern relinquished his position as the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit’s sergeant major to Sgt. Maj. Octaviano Gallegos. - Sgt. Maj. John McGovern passes his sword to Col. Francis Donovan, the commanding officer of the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit, during a relief and appointment ceremony Sept. 28, at the II Marine Expeditionary Force Headquarters Building. During the ceremony McGovern relinquished his position as the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit’s sergeant major to Sgt. Maj. Octaviano Gallegos.

Lance Cpl. Tommy Bahr, a rifleman with Bravo Company, 1st Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, scans over his sights while posting security Military Operations in Urban Terrain training at the Urban Assault Course on Fort Pickett, Va., Sep. 11, 2011. More than 900 Marines and Sailors will take part in the Deployment for Training exercise at Fort Pickett, Sept. 6-23. The battalion is scheduled to attach to the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit a few days after the training. - Lance Cpl. Tommy Bahr, a rifleman with Bravo Company, 1st Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, scans over his sights while posting security Military Operations in Urban Terrain training at the Urban Assault Course on Fort Pickett, Va., Sep. 11, 2011. More than 900 Marines and Sailors will take part in the Deployment for Training exercise at Fort Pickett, Sept. 6-23. The battalion is scheduled to attach to the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit a few days after the training.

Pfc. Eric Solon, a machine gunner with Weapons Platoon, Charlie Company, 1st Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, overcomes an obstacle while conducting a leadership training exercise at the Leadership Reaction Course on Fort Pickett, Va., Sep. 14, 2011. More than 900 Marines and Sailors are taking part in the Deployment for Training exercise at Fort Pickett, Sept. 6-23. The battalion is scheduled to attach to the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit as its Battalion Landing Team a few days after the training. - Pfc. Eric Solon, a machine gunner with Weapons Platoon, Charlie Company, 1st Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, overcomes an obstacle while conducting a leadership training exercise at the Leadership Reaction Course on Fort Pickett, Va., Sep. 14, 2011. More than 900 Marines and Sailors are taking part in the Deployment for Training exercise at Fort Pickett, Sept. 6-23. The battalion is scheduled to attach to the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit as its Battalion Landing Team a few days after the training.

Pfc. Jingyi Sun, an assaultman with Weapons Platoon, Charlie Company, 1st Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, climbs down a ladder after clearing the roof of a building during Military Operations in Urban Terrain training at the Urban Assault Course on Fort Pickett, Va., Sep. 12, 2011. More than 900 Marines and Sailors are taking part in the Deployment for Training exercise at Fort Pickett, Sept. 6-23. The battalion is scheduled to attach to the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit a few days after the training. - Pfc. Jingyi Sun, an assaultman with Weapons Platoon, Charlie Company, 1st Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, climbs down a ladder after clearing the roof of a building during Military Operations in Urban Terrain training at the Urban Assault Course on Fort Pickett, Va., Sep. 12, 2011. More than 900 Marines and Sailors are taking part in the Deployment for Training exercise at Fort Pickett, Sept. 6-23. The battalion is scheduled to attach to the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit a few days after the training.

Lance Cpl. Joshua Schinlaub, a fireteam leader, with 1st Platoon, Charlie Company, 1st Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, prepares to maneuver to his next objective during Military Operations in Urban Terrain training at the Urban Assault Course on Fort Pickett, Va., Sep. 13, 2011. More than 900 Marines and Sailors are taking part in the Deployment for Training exercise at Fort Pickett, Sept. 6-23. The battalion is scheduled to attach to the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit as its Battalion Landing Team a few days after the training. - Lance Cpl. Joshua Schinlaub, a fireteam leader, with 1st Platoon, Charlie Company, 1st Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, prepares to maneuver to his next objective during Military Operations in Urban Terrain training at the Urban Assault Course on Fort Pickett, Va., Sep. 13, 2011. More than 900 Marines and Sailors are taking part in the Deployment for Training exercise at Fort Pickett, Sept. 6-23. The battalion is scheduled to attach to the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit as its Battalion Landing Team a few days after the training.

Seaman Marcus Fluke, a hospital corpsman with Bravo Company, 1st Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, scans over his sights while posting security during Military Operations in Urban Terrain training at the Urban Assault Course on Fort Pickett, Va., Sep. 11, 2011. More than 900 Marines and sailors will take part in the Deployment for Training exercise at Fort Pickett, Sept. 6-23. The battalion is scheduled to attach to the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit a few days after the training. - Seaman Marcus Fluke, a hospital corpsman with Bravo Company, 1st Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, scans over his sights while posting security during Military Operations in Urban Terrain training at the Urban Assault Course on Fort Pickett, Va., Sep. 11, 2011. More than 900 Marines and sailors will take part in the Deployment for Training exercise at Fort Pickett, Sept. 6-23. The battalion is scheduled to attach to the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit a few days after the training.

Lance Cpl. Joseph Gonzales, the section leader of the Mortar Section, Weapons Platoon, Alpha Company, 1st Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment leads his section in running notional Direct Fire Control drills Sept. 9 on Fort Pickett. - Lance Cpl. Joseph Gonzales, the section leader of the Mortar Section, Weapons Platoon, Alpha Company, 1st Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment leads his section in running notional Direct Fire Control drills Sept. 9 on Fort Pickett.

Pfc. Vincent Russo, an antitank missile-man with Weapons Company, 1st Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, poses for a picture after arriving to Fort Pickett, Sept. 8. - Pfc. Vincent Russo, an antitank missile-man with Weapons Company, 1st Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, poses for a picture after arriving to Fort Pickett, Sept. 8.

Cpl. Liji Sui, a field artillery cannoneer with 1st Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, holds a SQU.ID Aug. 25 at the Harriet B. Smith Library. A SQU.ID is an electronic device that translates English to another language audibly. Marines, primarily from units scheduled to attach to the 24th MEU, spent the week training on the Escalation of Force Mission Modules. The EoF-MM is comprised of a plethora of nonlethal-centric weapons systems and enhances Marines ability to reduce casualties. - Cpl. Liji Sui, a field artillery cannoneer with 1st Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, holds a SQU.ID Aug. 25 at the Harriet B. Smith Library. A SQU.ID is an electronic device that translates English to another language audibly. Marines, primarily from units scheduled to attach to the 24th MEU, spent the week training on the Escalation of Force Mission Modules. The EoF-MM is comprised of a plethora of nonlethal-centric weapons systems and enhances Marines ability to reduce casualties.