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Marines

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The colors are presented during the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit's activation ceremony at Camp Lejeune's W.P.T. Hill Field, Sept. 29. The ceremony was held to officially composite the 24th MEU with its subordinate units: Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 261, Battalion Landing Team 1st Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, and Combat Logistics Battalion 24. Col. Frank Donovan, the commanding officer of the 24th MEU, took the opportunity to address the Marines and sailors of his command and their families.

The colors are presented during the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit's activation ceremony at Camp Lejeune's W.P.T. Hill Field, Sept. 29. The ceremony was held to officially composite the 24th MEU with its subordinate units: Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 261, Battalion Landing Team 1st Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, and Combat Logistics Battalion 24. Col. Frank Donovan, the commanding officer of the 24th MEU, took the opportunity to address the Marines and sailors of his command and their families.

Photo by Lance Cpl. Michael Petersheim

Sgt. Maj. Octaviano Gallegos Jr., the command Sgt. Maj. for the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit, gives the command "March on the Colors" during the MEU's activation ceremony at W.P.T. Hill Field, Camp Lejeune, N.C., Sept. 29. The ceremony was held to officially composite the 24th MEU with its subordinate units: Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 261, Battalion Landing Team 1st Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, and Combat Logistics Battalion 24.

Sgt. Maj. Octaviano Gallegos Jr., the command Sgt. Maj. for the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit, gives the command "March on the Colors" during the MEU's activation ceremony at W.P.T. Hill Field, Camp Lejeune, N.C., Sept. 29. The ceremony was held to officially composite the 24th MEU with its subordinate units: Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 261, Battalion Landing Team 1st Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, and Combat Logistics Battalion 24.

Photo by Lance Cpl. Michael Petersheim

Col. Francis Donovan, the commanding officer of the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit, concludes a relief and appointment ceremony Sept. 28, at the II Marine Expeditionary Force Headquarters Building. During the ceremony Sgt. Maj. John McGovern relinquished his position as the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit’s sergeant major to Sgt. Maj. Octaviano Gallegos. (Official Marine Corps Photo Illustration by Sgt. Richard Blumenstein)

Col. Francis Donovan, the commanding officer of the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit, concludes a relief and appointment ceremony Sept. 28, at the II Marine Expeditionary Force Headquarters Building. During the ceremony Sgt. Maj. John McGovern relinquished his position as the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit’s sergeant major to Sgt. Maj. Octaviano Gallegos. (Official Marine Corps Photo Illustration by Sgt. Richard Blumenstein)

Photo by Sgt. Richard Blumenstein

Sgt. Maj. Octaviano Gallegos speaks to all in attendance during a relief and appointment ceremony Sept. 28, at the II Marine Expeditionary Force Headquarters Building. During the ceremony Sgt. Maj. John McGovern relinquished his position as the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit’s sergeant major to Gallegos.

Sgt. Maj. Octaviano Gallegos speaks to all in attendance during a relief and appointment ceremony Sept. 28, at the II Marine Expeditionary Force Headquarters Building. During the ceremony Sgt. Maj. John McGovern relinquished his position as the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit’s sergeant major to Gallegos.

Photo by Lance Cpl. Michael Petersheim

Sgt. Maj. John McGovern speaks to all in attendance during a relief and appointment ceremony Sept. 28, at the II Marine Expeditionary Force Headquarters Building. During the ceremony McGovern relinquished his position as the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit’s sergeant major to Sgt. Maj. Octaviano Gallegos.

Sgt. Maj. John McGovern speaks to all in attendance during a relief and appointment ceremony Sept. 28, at the II Marine Expeditionary Force Headquarters Building. During the ceremony McGovern relinquished his position as the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit’s sergeant major to Sgt. Maj. Octaviano Gallegos.

Photo by Lance Cpl. Michael Petersheim

Sgt. Maj. John McGovern passes his sword to Col. Francis Donovan, the commanding officer of the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit, during a relief and appointment ceremony Sept. 28, at the II Marine Expeditionary Force Headquarters Building. During the ceremony McGovern relinquished his position as the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit’s sergeant major to Sgt. Maj. Octaviano Gallegos.

Sgt. Maj. John McGovern passes his sword to Col. Francis Donovan, the commanding officer of the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit, during a relief and appointment ceremony Sept. 28, at the II Marine Expeditionary Force Headquarters Building. During the ceremony McGovern relinquished his position as the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit’s sergeant major to Sgt. Maj. Octaviano Gallegos.

Photo by Lance Cpl. Michael Petersheim

Marines from Bravo Company, 1st Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, exit an MV-22 Osprey before conducting a simulated raid on Fort Pickett's Cherry Villiage, Va., Sep. 19, 2011. More than 900 Marines and Sailors are taking part in the Deployment for Training exercise at Fort Pickett, Sept. 6-23. The battalion is scheduled to attach to the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit as its Battalion Landing Team a few days after the training.

Marines from Bravo Company, 1st Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, exit an MV-22 Osprey before conducting a simulated raid on Fort Pickett's Cherry Villiage, Va., Sep. 19, 2011. More than 900 Marines and Sailors are taking part in the Deployment for Training exercise at Fort Pickett, Sept. 6-23. The battalion is scheduled to attach to the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit as its Battalion Landing Team a few days after the training.

Photo by Sgt. Richard Blumenstein

Private First Class Cassius Johnson, a rifleman with Bravo Company, 1st Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, and Summit, Miss., native, posts security as an MV-22 Osprey lands near Fort Pickett's Cherry Villiage, Va., Sep. 19, 2011. More than 900 Marines and Sailors are taking part in the Deployment for Training exercise at Fort Pickett, Sept. 6-23. The battalion is scheduled to attach to the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit as its Battalion Landing Team a few days after the training.

Private First Class Cassius Johnson, a rifleman with Bravo Company, 1st Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, and Summit, Miss., native, posts security as an MV-22 Osprey lands near Fort Pickett's Cherry Villiage, Va., Sep. 19, 2011. More than 900 Marines and Sailors are taking part in the Deployment for Training exercise at Fort Pickett, Sept. 6-23. The battalion is scheduled to attach to the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit as its Battalion Landing Team a few days after the training.

Photo by Sgt. Richard Blumenstein

Marines from Bravo Company, 1st Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, exit an MV-22 Osprey before conducting a simulated raid on Fort Pickett's Cherry Villiage, Va., Sep. 19, 2011. More than 900 Marines and Sailors are taking part in the Deployment for Training exercise at Fort Pickett, Sept. 6-23. The battalion is scheduled to attach to the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit as its Battalion Landing Team a few days after the training.

Marines from Bravo Company, 1st Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, exit an MV-22 Osprey before conducting a simulated raid on Fort Pickett's Cherry Villiage, Va., Sep. 19, 2011. More than 900 Marines and Sailors are taking part in the Deployment for Training exercise at Fort Pickett, Sept. 6-23. The battalion is scheduled to attach to the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit as its Battalion Landing Team a few days after the training.

Photo by Sgt. Richard Blumenstein

Marines from Bravo Company, 1st Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, post security an MV-22 Osprey lands near Fort Pickett's Cherry Villiage, Va., Sep. 19, 2011. More than 900 Marines and Sailors are taking part in the Deployment for Training exercise at Fort Pickett, Sept. 6-23. The battalion is scheduled to attach to the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit as its Battalion Landing Team a few days after the training.

Marines from Bravo Company, 1st Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, post security an MV-22 Osprey lands near Fort Pickett's Cherry Villiage, Va., Sep. 19, 2011. More than 900 Marines and Sailors are taking part in the Deployment for Training exercise at Fort Pickett, Sept. 6-23. The battalion is scheduled to attach to the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit as its Battalion Landing Team a few days after the training.

Photo by Sgt. Richard Blumenstein

Marines from Bravo Company, 1st Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, post security while rushing onto a MV-22 Osprey after conducting a simulated raid on Fort Pickett's Cherry Villiage, Va., Sep. 19, 2011. More than 900 Marines and Sailors are taking part in the Deployment for Training exercise at Fort Pickett, Sept. 6-23. The battalion is scheduled to attach to the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit as its Battalion Landing Team a few days after the training.

Marines from Bravo Company, 1st Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, post security while rushing onto a MV-22 Osprey after conducting a simulated raid on Fort Pickett's Cherry Villiage, Va., Sep. 19, 2011. More than 900 Marines and Sailors are taking part in the Deployment for Training exercise at Fort Pickett, Sept. 6-23. The battalion is scheduled to attach to the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit as its Battalion Landing Team a few days after the training.

Photo by Sgt. Richard Blumenstein

Marines from Bravo Company, 1st Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, collect information on a simulated enemy target during a raid on Fort Pickett's Cherry Villiage, Va., Sep. 19, 2011. More than 900 Marines and Sailors are taking part in the Deployment for Training exercise at Fort Pickett, Sept. 6-23. The battalion is scheduled to attach to the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit as its Battalion Landing Team a few days after the training

Marines from Bravo Company, 1st Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, collect information on a simulated enemy target during a raid on Fort Pickett's Cherry Villiage, Va., Sep. 19, 2011. More than 900 Marines and Sailors are taking part in the Deployment for Training exercise at Fort Pickett, Sept. 6-23. The battalion is scheduled to attach to the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit as its Battalion Landing Team a few days after the training

Photo by Sgt. Richard Blumenstein

Lance Cpl. Carlos Wentt, a water support technician with Combat Logistics Battalion 24, Combat Logistics Regiment 27, 2nd Marine Logistics Group, activates pumps to a Tactical Water Purification System, on Fort Pickett, Va., Sep. 18, 2011. More than 900 Marines and Sailors are taking part in the Deployment for Training exercise at Fort Pickett, Sept. 6-23. The battalion is scheduled to attach to the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit as its Battalion Landing Team a few days after the training. (Official USMC Photo by: Lance Cpl. Michael Petersheim/Released)

Lance Cpl. Carlos Wentt, a water support technician with Combat Logistics Battalion 24, Combat Logistics Regiment 27, 2nd Marine Logistics Group, activates pumps to a Tactical Water Purification System, on Fort Pickett, Va., Sep. 18, 2011. More than 900 Marines and Sailors are taking part in the Deployment for Training exercise at Fort Pickett, Sept. 6-23. The battalion is scheduled to attach to the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit as its Battalion Landing Team a few days after the training. (Official USMC Photo by: Lance Cpl. Michael Petersheim/Released)

Photo by Lance Cpl. Michael Petersheim

Seaman Derrick Reddick, a hospital corpsman with Combat Logistics Battalion 24, Combat Logistics Regiment 27, 2nd Marine Logistics Group, tests water from a Tactical Water Purification System, on Fort Pickett, Va., Sep. 18, 2011. More than 900 Marines and Sailors are taking part in the Deployment for Training exercise at Fort Pickett, Sept. 6-23. The battalion is scheduled to attach to the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit as its Battalion Landing Team a few days after the training. (Official USMC Photo by: Lance Cpl. Michael Petersheim/Released)

Seaman Derrick Reddick, a hospital corpsman with Combat Logistics Battalion 24, Combat Logistics Regiment 27, 2nd Marine Logistics Group, tests water from a Tactical Water Purification System, on Fort Pickett, Va., Sep. 18, 2011. More than 900 Marines and Sailors are taking part in the Deployment for Training exercise at Fort Pickett, Sept. 6-23. The battalion is scheduled to attach to the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit as its Battalion Landing Team a few days after the training. (Official USMC Photo by: Lance Cpl. Michael Petersheim/Released)

Photo by Lance Cpl. Michael Petersheim

Amtraks with the Assault Amphibious Vehicle Platoon attached to Alpha Company, 1st Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, travel drive on Fort Pickett, Va., Sept. 18. More than 900 Marines and sailors are taking part in the Deployment for Training exercise at Fort Pickett, Sept. 6-23. The battalion is scheduled to attach to the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit as its Battalion Landing Team a few days after the training.

Amtraks with the Assault Amphibious Vehicle Platoon attached to Alpha Company, 1st Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, travel drive on Fort Pickett, Va., Sept. 18. More than 900 Marines and sailors are taking part in the Deployment for Training exercise at Fort Pickett, Sept. 6-23. The battalion is scheduled to attach to the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit as its Battalion Landing Team a few days after the training.

Photo by Lance Cpl. Michael Petersheim

Sgt. Matthew Michaelree, a combat engineer with Combat Logistics Battalion 24, Combat Logistics Regiment 27, 2nd Marine Logistics Group, and St. Louis, Mo., native acts like a simulated casualty hit by an improvised explosive device during an IED lane training exercise on Fort Pickett, Va., Sept. 18, 2011. More than 900 Marines and sailors are taking part in the Deployment for Training exercise at Fort Pickett, Sept. 6-23. The battalion is scheduled to attach to the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit as its battalion landing team a few days after the training.

Sgt. Matthew Michaelree, a combat engineer with Combat Logistics Battalion 24, Combat Logistics Regiment 27, 2nd Marine Logistics Group, and St. Louis, Mo., native acts like a simulated casualty hit by an improvised explosive device during an IED lane training exercise on Fort Pickett, Va., Sept. 18, 2011. More than 900 Marines and sailors are taking part in the Deployment for Training exercise at Fort Pickett, Sept. 6-23. The battalion is scheduled to attach to the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit as its battalion landing team a few days after the training.

Photo by Sgt. Richard Blumenstein

Cpl. Matthew Bear, a motor transportation operator with Combat Logistics Battalion 24, Combat Logistics Regiment 27, 2nd Marine Logistics Group, and El Paso, Texas, native points out an improvised explosive device during an IED lane training exercise on Fort Pickett, Va., Sept. 18, 2011. More than 900 Marines and sailors are taking part in the Deployment for Training exercise at Fort Pickett, Sept. 6-23. The battalion is scheduled to attach to the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit as its battalion landing team a few days after the training.

Cpl. Matthew Bear, a motor transportation operator with Combat Logistics Battalion 24, Combat Logistics Regiment 27, 2nd Marine Logistics Group, and El Paso, Texas, native points out an improvised explosive device during an IED lane training exercise on Fort Pickett, Va., Sept. 18, 2011. More than 900 Marines and sailors are taking part in the Deployment for Training exercise at Fort Pickett, Sept. 6-23. The battalion is scheduled to attach to the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit as its battalion landing team a few days after the training.

Photo by Sgt. Richard Blumenstein

A Amtrak with the Assault Amphibious Vehicle Platoon attached to Alpha Company, 1st Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment crosses a swamp on Fort Pickett, Va., Sept. 18. More than 900 Marines and sailors are taking part in the Deployment for Training exercise at Fort Pickett, Sept. 6-23. The battalion is scheduled to attach to the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit as its Battalion Landing Team a few days after the training.

A Amtrak with the Assault Amphibious Vehicle Platoon attached to Alpha Company, 1st Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment crosses a swamp on Fort Pickett, Va., Sept. 18. More than 900 Marines and sailors are taking part in the Deployment for Training exercise at Fort Pickett, Sept. 6-23. The battalion is scheduled to attach to the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit as its Battalion Landing Team a few days after the training.

Photo by Lance Cpl. Michael Petersheim

A Amtrak with the Assault Amphibious Vehicle Platoon attached to Alpha Company, 1st Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment crosses a swamp on Fort Pickett, Va., Sept. 18. More than 900 Marines and sailors are taking part in the Deployment for Training exercise at Fort Pickett, Sept. 6-23. The battalion is scheduled to attach to the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit as its Battalion Landing Team a few days after the training.

A Amtrak with the Assault Amphibious Vehicle Platoon attached to Alpha Company, 1st Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment crosses a swamp on Fort Pickett, Va., Sept. 18. More than 900 Marines and sailors are taking part in the Deployment for Training exercise at Fort Pickett, Sept. 6-23. The battalion is scheduled to attach to the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit as its Battalion Landing Team a few days after the training.

Photo by Lance Cpl. Michael Petersheim

Petty Officer 2nd Class Alejanrdo Pedroza, a hospital corpsman with Combat Logistics Battalion 24, Combat Logistics Regiment 27, 2nd Marine Logistics Group, applies a tourniquet during a simulated mass casualties exercise on Fort Pickett, Va., Sept. 18, 2011. More than 900 Marines and sailors are taking part in the Deployment for Training exercise at Fort Pickett, Sept. 6-23. The battalion is scheduled to attach to the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit as its battalion landing team a few days after the training.

Petty Officer 2nd Class Alejanrdo Pedroza, a hospital corpsman with Combat Logistics Battalion 24, Combat Logistics Regiment 27, 2nd Marine Logistics Group, applies a tourniquet during a simulated mass casualties exercise on Fort Pickett, Va., Sept. 18, 2011. More than 900 Marines and sailors are taking part in the Deployment for Training exercise at Fort Pickett, Sept. 6-23. The battalion is scheduled to attach to the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit as its battalion landing team a few days after the training.

Photo by Sgt. Richard Blumenstein