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Lance Cpl. Jason Connelly, a Bournemouth, Dorset County, England, native and rifleman with 2nd Platoon, Alpha Company, Battalion Landing Team 1st Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit, poses for a photograph, July 15, 2012. The 24th MEU is deployed with the Iwo Jima Amphibious Ready Group as a U.S. Central Command theater reserve force providing support for maritime security operations and theater security cooperation efforts in the U.S. 5th Fleet area of responsibility. - Lance Cpl. Jason Connelly, a Bournemouth, Dorset County, England, native and rifleman with 2nd Platoon, Alpha Company, Battalion Landing Team 1st Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit, poses for a photograph, July 15, 2012. The 24th MEU is deployed with the Iwo Jima Amphibious Ready Group as a U.S. Central Command theater reserve force providing support for maritime security operations and theater security cooperation efforts in the U.S. 5th Fleet area of responsibility.

Marines with 1st Platoon, Alpha Company, Battalion Landing Team 1st Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit, prepare to clear a room, July 9, 2012, during a vertical assault training operation at Landing Zone Gerber in Kuwait. The 24th MEU is deployed with the Iwo Jima Amphibious Ready Group as a U.S. Central Command theater reserve force providing support for maritime security operations and theater security cooperation efforts in the U.S. 5th Fleet area of responsibility. - Marines with 1st Platoon, Alpha Company, Battalion Landing Team 1st Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit, prepare to clear a room, July 9, 2012, during a vertical assault training operation at Landing Zone Gerber in Kuwait. The 24th MEU is deployed with the Iwo Jima Amphibious Ready Group as a U.S. Central Command theater reserve force providing support for maritime security operations and theater security cooperation efforts in the U.S. 5th Fleet area of responsibility.

Maj. Thomas Elders, left, takes a picture with his sister, Cmdr. Teresa Elders, on the USS Sampson during a visit together as their ships passed each other in the Red Sea, May 24, 2012. Maj. Elders is the assistant operations officer for the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit currently deployed on the amphibious assault ship USS Iwo Jima, and was able to fly over to visit his sister with other Marines and sailors touring the USS Sampson where Cmdr. Elders is serving as the executive officer. The Swedesboro, N.J., natives are on regularly scheduled deployments with their respective ships to the U.S. 5th Fleet Area of Responsibility. - Maj. Thomas Elders, left, takes a picture with his sister, Cmdr. Teresa Elders, on the USS Sampson during a visit together as their ships passed each other in the Red Sea, May 24, 2012. Maj. Elders is the assistant operations officer for the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit currently deployed on the amphibious assault ship USS Iwo Jima, and was able to fly over to visit his sister with other Marines and sailors touring the USS Sampson where Cmdr. Elders is serving as the executive officer. The Swedesboro, N.J., natives are on regularly scheduled deployments with their respective ships to the U.S. 5th Fleet Area of Responsibility.

An MV-22 Osprey with Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 261 (Reinforced), 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit, lifts off at Udairi Range in Kuwait, July 29, 2012, as part of a live-fire event showcasing the Osprey's Defensive Weapon System. VMM-261 (Rein) is in Kuwait as part of a 24th MEU sustainment training package. The 24th MEU is deployed with the Iwo Jima Amphibious Ready Group as a U.S. Central Command theater reserve force providing support for maritime security operations and theater security cooperation efforts in the U.S. 5th Fleet area of responsibility. - An MV-22 Osprey with Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 261 (Reinforced), 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit, lifts off at Udairi Range in Kuwait, July 29, 2012, as part of a live-fire event showcasing the Osprey's Defensive Weapon System. VMM-261 (Rein) is in Kuwait as part of a 24th MEU sustainment training package. The 24th MEU is deployed with the Iwo Jima Amphibious Ready Group as a U.S. Central Command theater reserve force providing support for maritime security operations and theater security cooperation efforts in the U.S. 5th Fleet area of responsibility.

Marines with the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit participate in various games in the hangar of USS Iwo Jima in celebration of the 4th of July while deployed at sea. The 24th MEU is deployed with the Iwo Jima Amphibious Ready Group as a theater reserve force for U.S. Central Command. The group is providing support for maritime security operations and theater security cooperation efforts in the U.S. Navy's 5th Fleet area of responsibility. - Marines with the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit participate in various games in the hangar of USS Iwo Jima in celebration of the 4th of July while deployed at sea. The 24th MEU is deployed with the Iwo Jima Amphibious Ready Group as a theater reserve force for U.S. Central Command. The group is providing support for maritime security operations and theater security cooperation efforts in the U.S. Navy's 5th Fleet area of responsibility.

Sgt. Christopher Schneider, left, an artillery mechanic and section leader with Combat Logistics Battalion 24, 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit, and Lance Cpl. Alejandro Torrez, an artillery mechanic with India Battery, Battalion Landing Team 1st Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, 24th MEU, work together to fix a part for a 120 mm towed mortar system while ashore, June 24, 2012. The 24th MEU, along with the Iwo Jima Amphibious Ready Group, is currently deployed to the U.S. Central Command area of operations as a theater reserve and crisis response force. The group is providing support for maritime security operations and theater security cooperation efforts in the U.S. Navy’s 5th Fleet area of operations. - Sgt. Christopher Schneider, left, an artillery mechanic and section leader with Combat Logistics Battalion 24, 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit, and Lance Cpl. Alejandro Torrez, an artillery mechanic with India Battery, Battalion Landing Team 1st Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, 24th MEU, work together to fix a part for a 120 mm towed mortar system while ashore, June 24, 2012. The 24th MEU, along with the Iwo Jima Amphibious Ready Group, is currently deployed to the U.S. Central Command area of operations as a theater reserve and crisis response force. The group is providing support for maritime security operations and theater security cooperation efforts in the U.S. Navy’s 5th Fleet area of operations.

Staff Sgt. Jeffrey Perry, a Middlesex, N.J., native and the motor transportation chief with Motor Transportation Platoon, Combat Logistics Battalion 24, 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit, poses for a picture in front of a 7 ton truck in the USS Gunston Hall's well deck, June 17, 2012. The 24th MEU, along with the Iwo Jima Amphibious Ready Group, is currently deployed to the U.S Central Command area of operations as a theater reserve and crisis response force. The group is providing support for maritime security operations and theater security cooperation efforts in the U.S. Navy's 5th Fleet area of responsibility. - Staff Sgt. Jeffrey Perry, a Middlesex, N.J., native and the motor transportation chief with Motor Transportation Platoon, Combat Logistics Battalion 24, 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit, poses for a picture in front of a 7 ton truck in the USS Gunston Hall's well deck, June 17, 2012. The 24th MEU, along with the Iwo Jima Amphibious Ready Group, is currently deployed to the U.S Central Command area of operations as a theater reserve and crisis response force. The group is providing support for maritime security operations and theater security cooperation efforts in the U.S. Navy's 5th Fleet area of responsibility.

Petty Officer 1st Class Logan Viers, a hospital corpsman from the shock and trauma platoon with Combat Logistics Battalion 24, 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit, fills his plate with food during a celebration of the 114th birthday of the U.S. Navy Hospital Corps aboard the USS New York, June 17, 2012. The 24th MEU, along with the Iwo Jima Amphibious Ready Group, is currently deployed to the U.S Central Command area of operations as a theater reserve and crisis response force. The group is providing support for maritime security operations and theater security cooperation efforts in the U.S. Navy's 5th Fleet area of responsibility. - Petty Officer 1st Class Logan Viers, a hospital corpsman from the shock and trauma platoon with Combat Logistics Battalion 24, 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit, fills his plate with food during a celebration of the 114th birthday of the U.S. Navy Hospital Corps aboard the USS New York, June 17, 2012. The 24th MEU, along with the Iwo Jima Amphibious Ready Group, is currently deployed to the U.S Central Command area of operations as a theater reserve and crisis response force. The group is providing support for maritime security operations and theater security cooperation efforts in the U.S. Navy's 5th Fleet area of responsibility.

MSgt. Anthony Goodwater, left, a Charleston, S.C., native and combat engineer with Battalion Landing Team, 1st Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit, poses for a photo with 1st Lt. Martin Orech, of the Ugandan Army, during a training mission in Uganda, June 15, 2012. Goodwater previously trained Orech at the Marine Corps' Combat Engineer Officer Course in 2010 and was reunited with Orech unexpectedly when he was sent to Uganda to assist in training Ugandan soldiers. - MSgt. Anthony Goodwater, left, a Charleston, S.C., native and combat engineer with Battalion Landing Team, 1st Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit, poses for a photo with 1st Lt. Martin Orech, of the Ugandan Army, during a training mission in Uganda, June 15, 2012. Goodwater previously trained Orech at the Marine Corps' Combat Engineer Officer Course in 2010 and was reunited with Orech unexpectedly when he was sent to Uganda to assist in training Ugandan soldiers.