Lt. Col. David Sosa, right, commanding officer of Battalion Landing Team 1st Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit, and Jordanian Army Lt. Col. Saif F. Alfanek, commanding officer of Jordan's 40th Mechanized Brigade, discuss the details of an operations brief covering Exercise Eager Lion 12 here, May 8, 2012. Eager Lion is a multinational exercise designed to strengthen military-to-military relationships among partnered nations through scenario-based, realistic modern-day security challenges. The 24th MEU, partnered 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. - Lt. Col. David Sosa, right, commanding officer of Battalion Landing Team 1st Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit, and Jordanian Army Lt. Col. Saif F. Alfanek, commanding officer of Jordan's 40th Mechanized Brigade, discuss the details of an operations brief covering Exercise Eager Lion 12 here, May 8, 2012. Eager Lion is a multinational exercise designed to strengthen military-to-military relationships among partnered nations through scenario-based, realistic modern-day security challenges. The 24th MEU, partnered 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.

An M1A1 Abrams tank with Tank Platoon, Weapons Company, Battalion Landing Team 1st Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit, fires on a target to gain its battle-sight-zero here, May 7, 2012, during bilateral tank training with the Royal Jordanian Army as part of Exercise Eager Lion 12. More than 1,000 Marines and sailors from the 24th MEU are scheduled to participate in various events throughout Jordan to maximize multilateral training opportunities and continue to build relationships with partners throughout the region. Eager Lion 12 is the second major exercise for the 24th MEU and Iwo Jima Amphibious Ready Group after deploying in March to serve as a forward-deployed crisis-response force. - An M1A1 Abrams tank with Tank Platoon, Weapons Company, Battalion Landing Team 1st Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit, fires on a target to gain its battle-sight-zero here, May 7, 2012, during bilateral tank training with the Royal Jordanian Army as part of Exercise Eager Lion 12. More than 1,000 Marines and sailors from the 24th MEU are scheduled to participate in various events throughout Jordan to maximize multilateral training opportunities and continue to build relationships with partners throughout the region. Eager Lion 12 is the second major exercise for the 24th MEU and Iwo Jima Amphibious Ready Group after deploying in March to serve as a forward-deployed crisis-response force.

Lance Cpl. Bryan Planty, a motor transportation mechanic with Combat Logistics Battalion 24, 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit, poses for a picture during a break in replacing a Humvee’s engine here, May 6, 2012, during Exercise Eager Lion 12, the largest recurring exercise in the Central Command area of operations. More than 1,000 Marines and sailors from the 24th MEU are planned to participate in various events ashore throughout Jordan to maximize multilateral training opportunities and continue to build relationships with partners throughout the region. Eager Lion 12 is the second major exercise for the 24th MEU and Iwo Jima Amphibious Ready Group after deploying in March to serve as a forward-deployed crisis response force. - Lance Cpl. Bryan Planty, a motor transportation mechanic with Combat Logistics Battalion 24, 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit, poses for a picture during a break in replacing a Humvee’s engine here, May 6, 2012, during Exercise Eager Lion 12, the largest recurring exercise in the Central Command area of operations. More than 1,000 Marines and sailors from the 24th MEU are planned to participate in various events ashore throughout Jordan to maximize multilateral training opportunities and continue to build relationships with partners throughout the region. Eager Lion 12 is the second major exercise for the 24th MEU and Iwo Jima Amphibious Ready Group after deploying in March to serve as a forward-deployed crisis response force.

Cpl. Marcos Taveras, right, a mortarman with Charlie Company, Battalion Landing Team 1st Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit, adjusts a mortar sight on to an imaginary target during a gun drill here, April 16, 2012, during bi-lateral tactics training between the 24th MEU and the Spanish Marine Corps. The 24th MEU, partnered with the Navy's Iwo Jima Amphibious Ready Group, is currently deployed as a theater reserve and crisis response force capable of a variety of missions from full-scale combat operations to humanitarian assistance and disaster relief. - Cpl. Marcos Taveras, right, a mortarman with Charlie Company, Battalion Landing Team 1st Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit, adjusts a mortar sight on to an imaginary target during a gun drill here, April 16, 2012, during bi-lateral tactics training between the 24th MEU and the Spanish Marine Corps. The 24th MEU, partnered with the Navy's Iwo Jima Amphibious Ready Group, is currently deployed as a theater reserve and crisis response force capable of a variety of missions from full-scale combat operations to humanitarian assistance and disaster relief.