A Marine with Battalion Landing Team 3rd Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit, descends a rope from an MV-22B Osprey from Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 365 (Reinforced), 24th MEU, during Fast Rope Insertion Extraction System qualification at Camp Lejeune, N.C., August 22, 2014. Marines spent two days fast-roping from a tower and an MV-22B Osprey in preparation for their scheduled deployment at the end of the year. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Devin Nichols) - A Marine with Battalion Landing Team 3rd Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit, descends a rope from an MV-22B Osprey from Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 365 (Reinforced), 24th MEU, during Fast Rope Insertion Extraction System qualification at Camp Lejeune, N.C., August 22, 2014. Marines spent two days fast-roping from a tower and an MV-22B Osprey in preparation for their scheduled deployment at the end of the year. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Devin Nichols)

A Marine with Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 365 (Reinforced), 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit rinses an AH-1W Cobra on the flight deck of the USS Iwo Jima, August 8, 2014. The 24th MEU is taking part in Amphibious Squadron/ Marine Expeditionary Unit Integration, or PMINT, the 24th MEU’s second major pre-deployment training exercise. PMINT is designed to bring Marines and Sailors from the 24th MEU and Amphibious Squadron 8 together for the first time aboard the ships of the Iwo Jima Amphibious Ready Group. (U.S. Marine Corps Photo by Cpl. Todd F. Michalek) - A Marine with Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 365 (Reinforced), 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit rinses an AH-1W Cobra on the flight deck of the USS Iwo Jima, August 8, 2014. The 24th MEU is taking part in Amphibious Squadron/ Marine Expeditionary Unit Integration, or PMINT, the 24th MEU’s second major pre-deployment training exercise. PMINT is designed to bring Marines and Sailors from the 24th MEU and Amphibious Squadron 8 together for the first time aboard the ships of the Iwo Jima Amphibious Ready Group. (U.S. Marine Corps Photo by Cpl. Todd F. Michalek)

A mortarman with the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit’s Ground Combat Element, Battalion Landing Team 3rd Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, drops an 81mm high-explosive mortar in the tube of an M-252 81mm Mortar System during a live-fire exercise at Camp Lejeune, N.C., July 23, 2014. The 24th MEU is currently conducting a Realistic Urban Training exercise, their first major pre-deployment training event in preparation for their deployment at the end of the year. - A mortarman with the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit’s Ground Combat Element, Battalion Landing Team 3rd Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, drops an 81mm high-explosive mortar in the tube of an M-252 81mm Mortar System during a live-fire exercise at Camp Lejeune, N.C., July 23, 2014. The 24th MEU is currently conducting a Realistic Urban Training exercise, their first major pre-deployment training event in preparation for their deployment at the end of the year.

Corporal Peyton L. Simmons, a scout sniper with the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit’s Ground Combat Element, Battalion Landing Team 3rd Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, and Tacoma, Wash., native, sites through an M-110 Semi-Automatic Sniper System, or SASS, during a Visit, Board, Search and Seizure exercise at Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Va., July 17, 2014. During the exercise, scout snipers used the Hueys, from Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 365 (Reinforced), to provide cover for the assault force. The exercise was part of Realistic Urban Training, the first major pre-deployment training exercise for the 24th MEU in preparation for their deployment later this year. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Dani A. Zunun) - Corporal Peyton L. Simmons, a scout sniper with the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit’s Ground Combat Element, Battalion Landing Team 3rd Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, and Tacoma, Wash., native, sites through an M-110 Semi-Automatic Sniper System, or SASS, during a Visit, Board, Search and Seizure exercise at Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Va., July 17, 2014. During the exercise, scout snipers used the Hueys, from Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 365 (Reinforced), to provide cover for the assault force. The exercise was part of Realistic Urban Training, the first major pre-deployment training exercise for the 24th MEU in preparation for their deployment later this year. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Dani A. Zunun)

Marines with Kilo Company, Battalion Landing Team 3rd Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit, prepare to load onto amphibious assault vehicles to conduct a mechanized amphibious raid on Combat Town at Camp Lejeune, N.C., June 9, 2014. The training was part of Kilo Company’s mechanized raid package in preparation for the unit’s deployment with the 24th MEU at the end of the year. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Joey Mendez) - Marines with Kilo Company, Battalion Landing Team 3rd Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit, prepare to load onto amphibious assault vehicles to conduct a mechanized amphibious raid on Combat Town at Camp Lejeune, N.C., June 9, 2014. The training was part of Kilo Company’s mechanized raid package in preparation for the unit’s deployment with the 24th MEU at the end of the year. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Joey Mendez)

Master Sgt. Donald W. Johnson, right, a low altitude air defense gunner with Marine Air Control Group 28, attached to Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 365 (Reinforced), 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit, and native of Rush City, Minn., lands a kick on his opponent’s leg during a mixed martial arts fight in Havelock, N.C., June 21, 2014. Johnson won by knockout in 48 seconds and advanced his record to 2-0. He is scheduled to deploy with the 24th MEU at the end of the year. (U.S. Marine Corps by Lance Cpl. Austin A. Lewis) - Master Sgt. Donald W. Johnson, right, a low altitude air defense gunner with Marine Air Control Group 28, attached to Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 365 (Reinforced), 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit, and native of Rush City, Minn., lands a kick on his opponent’s leg during a mixed martial arts fight in Havelock, N.C., June 21, 2014. Johnson won by knockout in 48 seconds and advanced his record to 2-0. He is scheduled to deploy with the 24th MEU at the end of the year. (U.S. Marine Corps by Lance Cpl. Austin A. Lewis)

A MV-22B Osprey from Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 365 (Reinforced) takes off after dropping off Marines with Battalion Landing Team 3rd Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit, at Camp Lejeune, N.C., June 5, 2014. The two major subordinate elements were supporting Combat Logistics Battalion 24, in a simulated non-combatant evacuation operation to better prepare for the upcoming 24th MEU deployment later this year. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Devin Nichols) - A MV-22B Osprey from Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 365 (Reinforced) takes off after dropping off Marines with Battalion Landing Team 3rd Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit, at Camp Lejeune, N.C., June 5, 2014. The two major subordinate elements were supporting Combat Logistics Battalion 24, in a simulated non-combatant evacuation operation to better prepare for the upcoming 24th MEU deployment later this year. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Devin Nichols)

Sgt. Maj. Octaviano Gallegos Jr. relinquishes his duties as the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit sergeant major to Sgt. Maj. Lanette N. Wright, March 14, 2014, aboard Camp Lejeune, N.C. Gallegos, a Las Cruces, N.M., native, left the 24th MEU after 2 deployments and will assume the role of sergeant major for the 2nd Marine Expeditionary Brigade, March 17, 2014. - Sgt. Maj. Octaviano Gallegos Jr. relinquishes his duties as the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit sergeant major to Sgt. Maj. Lanette N. Wright, March 14, 2014, aboard Camp Lejeune, N.C. Gallegos, a Las Cruces, N.M., native, left the 24th MEU after 2 deployments and will assume the role of sergeant major for the 2nd Marine Expeditionary Brigade, March 17, 2014.

Col. Scott F. Benedict, center, the commanding officer of the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit, delivers a unit gift to Sgt. Maj. Octaviano Gallegos Jr., the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit sergeant major, March 14, 2014, after a unit physical training event at Camp Lejeune, N.C. Gallegos' relinquished duties as 24th MEU sergeant major later in the day to Sgt. Maj. Lanette N. Wright, who will be the first female MEU sergeant major. - Col. Scott F. Benedict, center, the commanding officer of the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit, delivers a unit gift to Sgt. Maj. Octaviano Gallegos Jr., the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit sergeant major, March 14, 2014, after a unit physical training event at Camp Lejeune, N.C. Gallegos' relinquished duties as 24th MEU sergeant major later in the day to Sgt. Maj. Lanette N. Wright, who will be the first female MEU sergeant major.