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A U.S. Marine repels down the side of a cliff during an assault climbers course July 22. French and U.S. Marines participated in an assault climbing course in the rugged terrain of the Arta Range July 19 - 30. - A U.S. Marine repels down the side of a cliff during an assault climbers course July 22. French and U.S. Marines participated in an assault climbing course in the rugged terrain of the Arta Range July 19 - 30.

CAMP BUEHRING, Kuwait (July 25, 2012) - Marines with the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit prepare to conduct a sparring match during a Marine Corps Marital Arts Program, or MCMAP, instructor trainer course in Camp Buehring, Kuwait, July 25, 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. (Official Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Richard Blumenstein) - CAMP BUEHRING, Kuwait (July 25, 2012) - Marines with the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit prepare to conduct a sparring match during a Marine Corps Marital Arts Program, or MCMAP, instructor trainer course in Camp Buehring, Kuwait, July 25, 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. (Official Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Richard Blumenstein)

Pfc. Jeffrey Tobash, an Allentown, Pa., native and intelligence specialist with Battalion Landing Team 1st Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit, adds a marker to a terrain model aboard Camp Buehring, Kuwait, July 25, 2012. Tobash, just three weeks passed his 19th birthday, is the youngest Marine in the 24th MEU, 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. - Pfc. Jeffrey Tobash, an Allentown, Pa., native and intelligence specialist with Battalion Landing Team 1st Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit, adds a marker to a terrain model aboard Camp Buehring, Kuwait, July 25, 2012. Tobash, just three weeks passed his 19th birthday, is the youngest Marine in the 24th MEU, 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.

Sgt. Matt Michaelre, a St. Louis, Mo., native and combat engineer with Combat Logistics Battalion 24, 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit, strikes a pad after being sprayed with oleoresin capsicum, or OC spray, during a level one OC spray certification in Kuwait, July 17, 2012. The Marines are in Kuwait conducting a variety of sustainment training exercises that started in early June and will continue throughout the summer months. 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. - Sgt. Matt Michaelre, a St. Louis, Mo., native and combat engineer with Combat Logistics Battalion 24, 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit, strikes a pad after being sprayed with oleoresin capsicum, or OC spray, during a level one OC spray certification in Kuwait, July 17, 2012. The Marines are in Kuwait conducting a variety of sustainment training exercises that started in early June and will continue throughout the summer months. 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, check out to commence their liberty ashore in Bahrain, July 12, 2012. The USS Iwo Jima is portside in Bahrain conducting a resupply, ship maintenance and liberty. The electronic scanning system allows the Marines to maintain accountability of personnel as they leave from, and return to, the ship while in port. 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, check out to commence their liberty ashore in Bahrain, July 12, 2012. The USS Iwo Jima is portside in Bahrain conducting a resupply, ship maintenance and liberty. The electronic scanning system allows the Marines to maintain accountability of personnel as they leave from, and return to, the ship while in port. 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.

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.