MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. – Sgt. Jose Alvarez, a motor transportation mechanic with Charlie Company, Battalion Landing Team 1st Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit to return home from deployment on Camp Lejeune, Dec. 16, 2012. The 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit has returned to the U.S. after completing nearly nine months deployed as an expeditionary crisis response force with the Iwo Jima Amphibious Ready Group. Approximately 2,300 Marines and Sailors of the 24th MEU will be offloading over the next few days from amphibious assault ships USS Iwo Jima, USS New York and USS Gunston Hall. (Official U.S. Marine Corps Photo by Sgt. Richard Blumenstein) - MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. – Sgt. Jose Alvarez, a motor transportation mechanic with Charlie Company, Battalion Landing Team 1st Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit to return home from deployment on Camp Lejeune, Dec. 16, 2012. The 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit has returned to the U.S. after completing nearly nine months deployed as an expeditionary crisis response force with the Iwo Jima Amphibious Ready Group. Approximately 2,300 Marines and Sailors of the 24th MEU will be offloading over the next few days from amphibious assault ships USS Iwo Jima, USS New York and USS Gunston Hall. (Official U.S. Marine Corps Photo by Sgt. Richard Blumenstein)

First Sgt. Gregory Mitchell, the battery 1st sergeant for India Battery, Battalion Landing Team 1st Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit, speaks to his Marines during reintegration training aboard the USS New York, Dec. 11, 2012. The 24th MEU is returning home in time for the holidays after spending most of 2012 deployed in the U.S. Navy's 5th and 6th Fleet areas of responsibility as an expeditionary crisis response force, maintaining presence aboard the ships of the Iwo Jima Amphibious Ready Group within the U.S. Central, European and Africa Commands. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Michael Petersheim) - First Sgt. Gregory Mitchell, the battery 1st sergeant for India Battery, Battalion Landing Team 1st Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit, speaks to his Marines during reintegration training aboard the USS New York, Dec. 11, 2012. The 24th MEU is returning home in time for the holidays after spending most of 2012 deployed in the U.S. Navy's 5th and 6th Fleet areas of responsibility as an expeditionary crisis response force, maintaining presence aboard the ships of the Iwo Jima Amphibious Ready Group within the U.S. Central, European and Africa Commands. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Michael Petersheim)

Petty Officer 3rd Class Steve A. Barnes, a hospital corpsman with Alpha Company, Battalion Landing Team 1st Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit, poses for a photo in the hospital bay of the USS New York, Dec. 10, 2012. Barnes has spent the last nine months deployed with the 24th MEU, which is currently returning home after completing a successful deployment as an expeditionary crisis response force in the Navy's 5th and 6th Fleet areas of responsibility. - Petty Officer 3rd Class Steve A. Barnes, a hospital corpsman with Alpha Company, Battalion Landing Team 1st Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit, poses for a photo in the hospital bay of the USS New York, Dec. 10, 2012. Barnes has spent the last nine months deployed with the 24th MEU, which is currently returning home after completing a successful deployment as an expeditionary crisis response force in the Navy's 5th and 6th Fleet areas of responsibility.

Marines with the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit practice sword manual during Corporals Course Class 014-13 aboard the USS New York, Dec. 4, 2012. The 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit is deployed with the Iwo Jima Amphibious Ready Group in the 6th Fleet area of responsibility serving as an expeditionary crisis response force capable of a variety of missions from full-scale combat to evacuations and humanitarian assistance. - Marines with the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit practice sword manual during Corporals Course Class 014-13 aboard the USS New York, Dec. 4, 2012. The 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit is deployed with the Iwo Jima Amphibious Ready Group in the 6th Fleet area of responsibility serving as an expeditionary crisis response force capable of a variety of missions from full-scale combat to evacuations and humanitarian assistance.

USS IWO JIMA, Mediterranean Sea (Nov. 30, 2012) - Staff Sgt. Aaron Davis, a Benton, Ark., native with the Command Element, 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit, demonstrates the basic stance of an M9 pistol during a combat marksmanship class aboard USS Iwo Jima, Nov. 30, 2012. Combat marksmanship training is a continuous part of life for Marines, no matter what their military occupational specialty is, and regardless of whether they're stateside or deployed on a ship. The 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit is deployed with the Iwo Jima Amphibious Ready Group in the 6th Fleet area of responsibility serving as an expeditionary crisis response force capable of a variety of missions, from full-scale combat to evacuations and humanitarian assistance. Since deploying in March, they have supported a variety of missions in the U.S. Central, Africa and European Commands, assisted the Navy in safeguarding sea lanes, and conducted various bilateral and unilateral training events in several countries in the Middle East and Africa. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Tucker S. Wolf/Released) - USS IWO JIMA, Mediterranean Sea (Nov. 30, 2012) - Staff Sgt. Aaron Davis, a Benton, Ark., native with the Command Element, 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit, demonstrates the basic stance of an M9 pistol during a combat marksmanship class aboard USS Iwo Jima, Nov. 30, 2012. Combat marksmanship training is a continuous part of life for Marines, no matter what their military occupational specialty is, and regardless of whether they're stateside or deployed on a ship. The 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit is deployed with the Iwo Jima Amphibious Ready Group in the 6th Fleet area of responsibility serving as an expeditionary crisis response force capable of a variety of missions, from full-scale combat to evacuations and humanitarian assistance. Since deploying in March, they have supported a variety of missions in the U.S. Central, Africa and European Commands, assisted the Navy in safeguarding sea lanes, and conducted various bilateral and unilateral training events in several countries in the Middle East and Africa. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Tucker S. Wolf/Released)