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DJIBOUTI (Oct. 1, 2012) - Marines with Bravo Company, Battalion Landing Team 1st Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit, conduct function checks on PRC-150 tactical radios while training in Djibouti, Oct. 1, 2012. The training was part of a three-week exercise comprising basic infantry skills and desert survival techniques. The 24th MEU is deployed with the Iwo Jima Amphibious Ready Group as a theater reserve and crisis response force in U.S. Central Command and the Navy's 5th Fleet area of responsibility. (Photo by Staff Sgt. Robert L. Fisher III) - DJIBOUTI (Oct. 1, 2012) - Marines with Bravo Company, Battalion Landing Team 1st Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit, conduct function checks on PRC-150 tactical radios while training in Djibouti, Oct. 1, 2012. The training was part of a three-week exercise comprising basic infantry skills and desert survival techniques. The 24th MEU is deployed with the Iwo Jima Amphibious Ready Group as a theater reserve and crisis response force in U.S. Central Command and the Navy's 5th Fleet area of responsibility. (Photo by Staff Sgt. Robert L. Fisher III)

DJIBOUTI (Oct. 7, 2012) - Petty Officer 3rd Class Charlie D. Murphy, 22, a hospital corpsman with Combat Logistics Battalion 24, 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit, and McMinnville, Tenn., native, holds security on a patrol while training in the coastal mountains of Djibouti, Oct. 7, 2012. Non-infantry Marines like Murphy, with CLB-24, trained alongside their infantry brethren from Bravo Company, Battalion Landing Team 1st Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, 24th MEU, during a three-week training package to gain a shared understanding of each other's roles in the Marine Corps Air Ground Task Force. The 24th MEU is deployed with the Iwo Jima Amphibious Ready Group as a theater reserve and crisis response force for U.S. Central Command and the U.S. Navy's 5th Fleet area of responsibility. (Photo by Staff Sgt. Robert L. Fisher III) - DJIBOUTI (Oct. 7, 2012) - Petty Officer 3rd Class Charlie D. Murphy, 22, a hospital corpsman with Combat Logistics Battalion 24, 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit, and McMinnville, Tenn., native, holds security on a patrol while training in the coastal mountains of Djibouti, Oct. 7, 2012. Non-infantry Marines like Murphy, with CLB-24, trained alongside their infantry brethren from Bravo Company, Battalion Landing Team 1st Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, 24th MEU, during a three-week training package to gain a shared understanding of each other's roles in the Marine Corps Air Ground Task Force. The 24th MEU is deployed with the Iwo Jima Amphibious Ready Group as a theater reserve and crisis response force for U.S. Central Command and the U.S. Navy's 5th Fleet area of responsibility. (Photo by Staff Sgt. Robert L. Fisher III)

USS GUNSTON HALL, Gulf of Oman (Oct. 5, 2012) - Marines with Combat Logistics Battalion 24, 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit, fire M-9 Beretta pistols during sustainment training on the flight deck of the USS Gunston Hall in the Gulf of Oman, Oct. 5, 2012. The 24th MEU is deployed with the Iwo Jima Amphibious Ready Group as a theater reserve and crisis response force for U.S. Central Command in the U.S. Navy's 5th Fleet area of responsibility. - USS GUNSTON HALL, Gulf of Oman (Oct. 5, 2012) - Marines with Combat Logistics Battalion 24, 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit, fire M-9 Beretta pistols during sustainment training on the flight deck of the USS Gunston Hall in the Gulf of Oman, Oct. 5, 2012. The 24th MEU is deployed with the Iwo Jima Amphibious Ready Group as a theater reserve and crisis response force for U.S. Central Command in the U.S. Navy's 5th Fleet area of responsibility.

Sgt. Michael Cox, a Brighton Ill., native with the Command Element, 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit, is promoted to his current rank of Sergeant in the US Marine Corps by Col. Frank Donovan, commanding officer of the 24th MEU during a ceremony aboard the USS Iwo Jima (LHD 7), Oct 1, 2012. 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. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Gunnery Sgt. Chad R. Kiehl) - Sgt. Michael Cox, a Brighton Ill., native with the Command Element, 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit, is promoted to his current rank of Sergeant in the US Marine Corps by Col. Frank Donovan, commanding officer of the 24th MEU during a ceremony aboard the USS Iwo Jima (LHD 7), Oct 1, 2012. 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. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Gunnery Sgt. Chad R. Kiehl)

5th FLEET AREA OF RESPONSIBILITY (Sept. 11, 2012) - Aviation maintenance Marines with Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 261 (Reinforced), 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit, perform maintenance on an MV-22B Osprey on the flight deck of USS Iwo Jima, Sept. 11, 2012. Maintenance crews are constantly working on the various aircraft belonging to the 24th MEU to ensure they are mission ready whenever called on. The 24th MEU is deployed with the Iwo Jima Amphibious Ready Group as a theater reserve and crisis response force in U.S. Central Command and the Navy's 5th Fleet area of responsibility. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Capt. Robert Shuford) - 5th FLEET AREA OF RESPONSIBILITY (Sept. 11, 2012) - Aviation maintenance Marines with Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 261 (Reinforced), 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit, perform maintenance on an MV-22B Osprey on the flight deck of USS Iwo Jima, Sept. 11, 2012. Maintenance crews are constantly working on the various aircraft belonging to the 24th MEU to ensure they are mission ready whenever called on. The 24th MEU is deployed with the Iwo Jima Amphibious Ready Group as a theater reserve and crisis response force in U.S. Central Command and the Navy's 5th Fleet area of responsibility. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Capt. Robert Shuford)

An MV-22B Osprey connects to the refueling hose of a KC-130J Hercules, during aerial refueling training Sept. 23, 2012. Both aircraft are with Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 261 (Reinforced), the aviation combat element for the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit, and conducted aerial refueling training to practice the skills needed for long-range flight operations. The 24th MEU is deployed with the Iwo Jima Amphibious Ready Group as a theater reserve and crisis response force for U.S. Central Command in the U.S. Navy's 5th Fleet area of responsibility. - An MV-22B Osprey connects to the refueling hose of a KC-130J Hercules, during aerial refueling training Sept. 23, 2012. Both aircraft are with Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 261 (Reinforced), the aviation combat element for the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit, and conducted aerial refueling training to practice the skills needed for long-range flight operations. The 24th MEU is deployed with the Iwo Jima Amphibious Ready Group as a theater reserve and crisis response force for U.S. Central Command in the U.S. Navy's 5th Fleet area of responsibility.

USS GUNSTON HALL, Gulf of Aden, (Sept. 22, 2012) - Cpl. Joshua Brooks, a Petoskey, Mich., native and machine gun section leader with Charlie Company, Battalion Landing Team 1st Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit, receives his diploma during a Corporal's Course graduation ceremony aboard the USS Gunston Hall in the Gulf of Aden, Sept. 22, 2012. Brooks was the honor graduate of the course, which took place both ashore in Kuwait and aboard the ship. 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. (Official Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Richard Blumenstein) - USS GUNSTON HALL, Gulf of Aden, (Sept. 22, 2012) - Cpl. Joshua Brooks, a Petoskey, Mich., native and machine gun section leader with Charlie Company, Battalion Landing Team 1st Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit, receives his diploma during a Corporal's Course graduation ceremony aboard the USS Gunston Hall in the Gulf of Aden, Sept. 22, 2012. Brooks was the honor graduate of the course, which took place both ashore in Kuwait and aboard the ship. 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. (Official Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Richard Blumenstein)

Marines with 1st Platoon, Bravo Company, Battalion Landing Team 1st Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit, lift medical stretchers as part of a relay race while competing in the Training Force Challenge in Djibouti, Sep. 16, 2012. The competition was the culminating event of a three-week training package that was focused on the application of infantry skills in rugged mountain terrain. The 24th MEU is deployed with the Iwo Jima Amphibious Ready Group as a theater reserve and crisis response force throughout U.S. Central Command and the Navy's 5th Fleet area of responsibility. - Marines with 1st Platoon, Bravo Company, Battalion Landing Team 1st Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit, lift medical stretchers as part of a relay race while competing in the Training Force Challenge in Djibouti, Sep. 16, 2012. The competition was the culminating event of a three-week training package that was focused on the application of infantry skills in rugged mountain terrain. The 24th MEU is deployed with the Iwo Jima Amphibious Ready Group as a theater reserve and crisis response force throughout U.S. Central Command and the Navy's 5th Fleet area of responsibility.

USS GUNSTON HALL, Arabian Gulf (Sept. 11. 2012) -Master Sgt. James Clark, a Louisville, Ky., native and maintenance chief for Combat Logistics Battalion 24, 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit, reenlists in the Marine Corps Sept. 11, on the flight deck of the USS Gunston Hall in the Arabian Gulf. The 24th MEU is deployed with the Iwo Jima ARG 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. (Official Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Richard Blumenstein) - USS GUNSTON HALL, Arabian Gulf (Sept. 11. 2012) -Master Sgt. James Clark, a Louisville, Ky., native and maintenance chief for Combat Logistics Battalion 24, 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit, reenlists in the Marine Corps Sept. 11, on the flight deck of the USS Gunston Hall in the Arabian Gulf. The 24th MEU is deployed with the Iwo Jima ARG 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. (Official Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Richard Blumenstein)

Lance Cpl. Kevin Midgley, a Westlake, Ohio, native and team leader with Bravo Company, Battalion Landing Team 1st Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit, climbs a rope as part of a water obstacle course in Djibouti, Aug. 30, 2012. The course is a part of a Training Force, or T-Force, package focused on primitive infantry skills. The 24th MEU is deployed with the Iwo Jima Amphibious Ready Group as a theater reserve and crisis response force throughout the U.S. Central Command in the Navy's 5th Fleet area of responsibility. - Lance Cpl. Kevin Midgley, a Westlake, Ohio, native and team leader with Bravo Company, Battalion Landing Team 1st Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit, climbs a rope as part of a water obstacle course in Djibouti, Aug. 30, 2012. The course is a part of a Training Force, or T-Force, package focused on primitive infantry skills. The 24th MEU is deployed with the Iwo Jima Amphibious Ready Group as a theater reserve and crisis response force throughout the U.S. Central Command in the Navy's 5th Fleet area of responsibility.