Marines with the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit prepare to pivot and shoot during Table 3 marksmanship training here Nov. 30. The MEU is conducting annual training as a command element in preparation for an upcoming deployment. - Marines with the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit prepare to pivot and shoot during Table 3 marksmanship training here Nov. 30. The MEU is conducting annual training as a command element in preparation for an upcoming deployment.

Staff Sgt. Sonya T. Hampton, 44, colors a coloring book with Humuma Shaibi, a 5-year-old patient at San Francisco General Hospital and Medical Center Oct. 9. Marines and sailors with the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit visited patients throughout the hospital and passed out stickers and coloring books to the children. The unit's visit was a way to bring Fleet Week San Francisco to those who counldn't make the trip. Hampton is the Combat Logistics Regiment 1 2nd platoon motor transportation chief. Hampton is from Longbranch, N.J. - Staff Sgt. Sonya T. Hampton, 44, colors a coloring book with Humuma Shaibi, a 5-year-old patient at San Francisco General Hospital and Medical Center Oct. 9. Marines and sailors with the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit visited patients throughout the hospital and passed out stickers and coloring books to the children. The unit's visit was a way to bring Fleet Week San Francisco to those who counldn't make the trip. Hampton is the Combat Logistics Regiment 1 2nd platoon motor transportation chief. Hampton is from Longbranch, N.J.

Marines and sailors with the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit and USS Makin Island listen as a firefighter with the San Francisco Fire Dpeartment describes the various tools and their functions found in a rescue environment here Oct. 8. The unit visited the fire department to receive search-and-rescue training. The 11th MEU is the first amphibious landing force to embark Makin Island, which set sail for San Francisco Oct. 1 to participate in the city's 2010 Fleet Week. There the 11th MEU plans to showcase to the public the Marine Corps' men and women, its aircraft and equipment and its ability to conduct missions that span the overlapping spectrums of peace and combat, from disaster relief to war. - Marines and sailors with the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit and USS Makin Island listen as a firefighter with the San Francisco Fire Dpeartment describes the various tools and their functions found in a rescue environment here Oct. 8. The unit visited the fire department to receive search-and-rescue training. The 11th MEU is the first amphibious landing force to embark Makin Island, which set sail for San Francisco Oct. 1 to participate in the city's 2010 Fleet Week. There the 11th MEU plans to showcase to the public the Marine Corps' men and women, its aircraft and equipment and its ability to conduct missions that span the overlapping spectrums of peace and combat, from disaster relief to war.

Staff Sgt. Amos Good, right, a platoon sergeant with 2nd Battalion, 7th Marines, aka 2/7, greets Lance Cpl. Aaron McNally, a rifleman with 2nd Battalion, 6th Marines, aka 2/6, at the Veterans Affairs Hospital here Oct. 7. Amos and nine other service members with 2/7 and USS Makin Island visited wounded Marines at the hospital as a way to bring Fleet Week San Francisco to service members who couldn't make the trip. McNally, a Clear Field, Utah, native, sustained injuries from an improvised explosive device while deployed with 2/6 in Afghanistan. - Staff Sgt. Amos Good, right, a platoon sergeant with 2nd Battalion, 7th Marines, aka 2/7, greets Lance Cpl. Aaron McNally, a rifleman with 2nd Battalion, 6th Marines, aka 2/6, at the Veterans Affairs Hospital here Oct. 7. Amos and nine other service members with 2/7 and USS Makin Island visited wounded Marines at the hospital as a way to bring Fleet Week San Francisco to service members who couldn't make the trip. McNally, a Clear Field, Utah, native, sustained injuries from an improvised explosive device while deployed with 2/6 in Afghanistan.

Marines serving with the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit board USS Makin Island Oct. 1. The 11th MEU is the first amphibious landing force embarked aboard the amphibious assault ship, which set sail for San Francisco Oct. 1, to participate in the city's 2010 Fleet Week. There the 11th MEU plans to showcase to the public the Marine Corps' men and women, its aircraft and equipment and its ability to conduct missions that span the overlapping spectrums of peace and combat, from disaster relief to war. - Marines serving with the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit board USS Makin Island Oct. 1. The 11th MEU is the first amphibious landing force embarked aboard the amphibious assault ship, which set sail for San Francisco Oct. 1, to participate in the city's 2010 Fleet Week. There the 11th MEU plans to showcase to the public the Marine Corps' men and women, its aircraft and equipment and its ability to conduct missions that span the overlapping spectrums of peace and combat, from disaster relief to war.

Col. Michael R. Hudson, commanding officer, left, leads members of the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit’s command element on a hike at the 43 Training Area here during the unit’s latest conditioning march Sept. 23. - Col. Michael R. Hudson, commanding officer, left, leads members of the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit’s command element on a hike at the 43 Training Area here during the unit’s latest conditioning march Sept. 23.

The Chinggis Khaan Equestrian Statue, near the banks of the Toul River, stands 131 feet tall atop the Mongolian steppe. Ten officers and enlisted Marines with the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit visited the country Aug. 27 to Sept. 4 to exchange best warrior practices with the Mongolian military. - The Chinggis Khaan Equestrian Statue, near the banks of the Toul River, stands 131 feet tall atop the Mongolian steppe. Ten officers and enlisted Marines with the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit visited the country Aug. 27 to Sept. 4 to exchange best warrior practices with the Mongolian military.

Master Gunnery Sgt. Roland Salinas, the operations chief for the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit, greets fellow Marines during his retirement ceremony at Camp Pendleton, Calif., Aug. 13, 2010. Master Gunnery Sgt. served 30 years of active duty service as an infantryman. - Master Gunnery Sgt. Roland Salinas, the operations chief for the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit, greets fellow Marines during his retirement ceremony at Camp Pendleton, Calif., Aug. 13, 2010. Master Gunnery Sgt. served 30 years of active duty service as an infantryman.

Brayden Payne, 4, explores an 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit Humvee July 21 at Camp Kindle, a youth camping program for children directly affected by HIV and AIDS. Arriving in two Humvees and a 7-ton truck, six of the unit's service members played with the children and displayed vehicles and equipment. - Brayden Payne, 4, explores an 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit Humvee July 21 at Camp Kindle, a youth camping program for children directly affected by HIV and AIDS. Arriving in two Humvees and a 7-ton truck, six of the unit's service members played with the children and displayed vehicles and equipment.

Marines, loaded with packs and weapons, stay aligned in formation while hiking at the Edson Range Complex here June 25. The six-mile hike was the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit's first since returning from a sea deployment in April. - Marines, loaded with packs and weapons, stay aligned in formation while hiking at the Edson Range Complex here June 25. The six-mile hike was the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit's first since returning from a sea deployment in April.