1st Lt. Austin Finnell (left) and Cpl. Jon Philips peer through an opening while conducting a raid during the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit’s Combined Arms Exercise at Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms, Calif., June 12, 2016. A raid is an operation, usually small scale, involving a swift penetration of hostile territory to secure information, confuse the enemy, or to destroy his installations. MEUCAX is conducted to maintain a high level of combat readiness prior to the 11th MEU’s Western Pacific 16-2 deployment later this year. Finnell is an infantry officer and Philips is a light armored vehicle repairer; both are with LAR Company, Battalion Landing Team 1st Bn., 4th Marines, 11th MEU. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Zachery Laning/Released) - 1st Lt. Austin Finnell (left) and Cpl. Jon Philips peer through an opening while conducting a raid during the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit’s Combined Arms Exercise at Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms, Calif., June 12, 2016. A raid is an operation, usually small scale, involving a swift penetration of hostile territory to secure information, confuse the enemy, or to destroy his installations. MEUCAX is conducted to maintain a high level of combat readiness prior to the 11th MEU’s Western Pacific 16-2 deployment later this year. Finnell is an infantry officer and Philips is a light armored vehicle repairer; both are with LAR Company, Battalion Landing Team 1st Bn., 4th Marines, 11th MEU. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Zachery Laning/Released)

CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. (September 13, 2016) – Marines and sailors with Combat Logistics Detachment 113, Combat Logistics Battalion 11, 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit, carry boxes of food for a Foreign Humanitarian Assistance training mission during the Makin Island Amphibious Ready Group/11th MEU’s Certification Exercise Sept. 13, 2016. An FHA can include provision of food water, clothing, beds and bedding, temporary shelter and housing, medical material, medical and technical services, and essential service restoration. CERTEX is the last exercise in the MEU’s six-month pre-deployment training cycle in which the ARG/MEU team will be tested then certified as deployable prior to their WestPac 16-2 deployment to the Western Pacific and Central commands’ areas of operations. (US Marine Corps photo by Cpl. April L. Price/Released) - CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. (September 13, 2016) – Marines and sailors with Combat Logistics Detachment 113, Combat Logistics Battalion 11, 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit, carry boxes of food for a Foreign Humanitarian Assistance training mission during the Makin Island Amphibious Ready Group/11th MEU’s Certification Exercise Sept. 13, 2016. An FHA can include provision of food water, clothing, beds and bedding, temporary shelter and housing, medical material, medical and technical services, and essential service restoration. CERTEX is the last exercise in the MEU’s six-month pre-deployment training cycle in which the ARG/MEU team will be tested then certified as deployable prior to their WestPac 16-2 deployment to the Western Pacific and Central commands’ areas of operations. (US Marine Corps photo by Cpl. April L. Price/Released)

USS COMSTOCK, at sea – Marines and sailors use a 60- ton crane to hoist the cover for an engine of an Amphibious Assault Vehicle aboard the USS Comstock during Amphibious Squadron (PHIBRON 5) – Marine Expeditionary Unit Integration (PMINT), July 13, 2016. After a piston within the engine broke during training, the AAV was recovered from sea and repaired within 48 hours. The vehicle was fixed just in time to begin the next training event. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. April L. Price/Released) - USS COMSTOCK, at sea – Marines and sailors use a 60- ton crane to hoist the cover for an engine of an Amphibious Assault Vehicle aboard the USS Comstock during Amphibious Squadron (PHIBRON 5) – Marine Expeditionary Unit Integration (PMINT), July 13, 2016. After a piston within the engine broke during training, the AAV was recovered from sea and repaired within 48 hours. The vehicle was fixed just in time to begin the next training event. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. April L. Price/Released)

Reconnaissance Marines with Maritime Raid Force, 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit, prepare to aerially insert from a C-130 Hercules aircraft onto a specified objective area located in Southern Calif., June 13, 2016, as part of a reconnaissance and surveillance mission. The mission was conducted during the MEU’s Realistic Urban Training exercise, which is held in preparation for the MEU’s upcoming Western Pacific 16-2 deployment to the Pacific and Central Commands’ areas of operation. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Devan K. Gowans) - Reconnaissance Marines with Maritime Raid Force, 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit, prepare to aerially insert from a C-130 Hercules aircraft onto a specified objective area located in Southern Calif., June 13, 2016, as part of a reconnaissance and surveillance mission. The mission was conducted during the MEU’s Realistic Urban Training exercise, which is held in preparation for the MEU’s upcoming Western Pacific 16-2 deployment to the Pacific and Central Commands’ areas of operation. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Devan K. Gowans)

Marines with the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit fly to their objective in an MV-22B Osprey with Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron (VMM) 163 (Reinforced) on Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Calif., May 17. Marines with VMM-163 (Rein) supplied four MV-22B Ospreys, two AH-1W Cobras, two UH-1Y Hueys and one CH-53E Super Stallion to support a simulated raid. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Harley Robinson/Released) - Marines with the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit fly to their objective in an MV-22B Osprey with Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron (VMM) 163 (Reinforced) on Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Calif., May 17. Marines with VMM-163 (Rein) supplied four MV-22B Ospreys, two AH-1W Cobras, two UH-1Y Hueys and one CH-53E Super Stallion to support a simulated raid. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Harley Robinson/Released)

Marines fuel an MV-22 Osprey at a Forward Armament and Refueling Point during an 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit field exercise aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Calif., May 11, 2016. The mission of a FARP mission is to provide fuel and ordnance necessary for highly mobile and flexible helicopter and fixed-wing operations. The Marines are bulk fuel specialists and Osprey crew chiefs with Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 163 (reinforced), 11th MEU. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Gunnery Sgt. Robert Brown/Released) - Marines fuel an MV-22 Osprey at a Forward Armament and Refueling Point during an 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit field exercise aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Calif., May 11, 2016. The mission of a FARP mission is to provide fuel and ordnance necessary for highly mobile and flexible helicopter and fixed-wing operations. The Marines are bulk fuel specialists and Osprey crew chiefs with Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 163 (reinforced), 11th MEU. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Gunnery Sgt. Robert Brown/Released)

The graphic depicts the Rapid Response Planning Process, which is a time-constrained version of of the Marine Corps Planning Process. The R2P2 enables the MEU to plan and begin execution of certain tasks within six hours and is highly dependent on the use of standing operating procedures. Leaders from the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit and Amphibious Squadron Five attended the Expeditionary Warfare Staff Planners course (R2P2) aboard Naval Amphibious Base Coronado and aboard the USS Makin Island (LHD8) while in port at Naval Base San Diego, Calif., April 12-22, 2016.(U.S. Marine Corps graphic illustration by GySgt. Rome Lazarus) - The graphic depicts the Rapid Response Planning Process, which is a time-constrained version of of the Marine Corps Planning Process. The R2P2 enables the MEU to plan and begin execution of certain tasks within six hours and is highly dependent on the use of standing operating procedures. Leaders from the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit and Amphibious Squadron Five attended the Expeditionary Warfare Staff Planners course (R2P2) aboard Naval Amphibious Base Coronado and aboard the USS Makin Island (LHD8) while in port at Naval Base San Diego, Calif., April 12-22, 2016. (U.S. Marine Corps graphic illustration by GySgt. Rome Lazarus)

Marines gather for the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit’s composite ceremony at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California, April 8, 2016. The ceremony marked the joining of the ground combat element, air combat element and logistics combat element into the MEU’s Marine Air-Ground Task Force before the MEU begins its intensive six-month training and certification period prior to their upcoming Western Pacific 16-2 deployment. - Marines gather for the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit’s composite ceremony at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California, April 8, 2016. The ceremony marked the joining of the ground combat element, air combat element and logistics combat element into the MEU’s Marine Air-Ground Task Force before the MEU begins its intensive six-month training and certification period prior to their upcoming Western Pacific 16-2 deployment.

Matt Macon, a satellite communications operator contractor, shows field radio operators with the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit how to use a satellite communications dish during a communications exercise (COMMEX) aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Calif., March 23, 2016. The COMMEX familiarizes Marines with the 11th MEU’s standing operating procedures regarding communications as they prepare to begin training or “work-ups” leading to the upcoming deployment. - Matt Macon, a satellite communications operator contractor, shows field radio operators with the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit how to use a satellite communications dish during a communications exercise (COMMEX) aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Calif., March 23, 2016. The COMMEX familiarizes Marines with the 11th MEU’s standing operating procedures regarding communications as they prepare to begin training or “work-ups” leading to the upcoming deployment.

U.S. Marines and Japanese Ground Self-Defense Force soldiers dine together during the closing ceremony of exercise Iron Fist 2016 at Camp Pendleton, March 1, 2016. Exercise Iron Fist brought together Marines and JGSDF soldiers to hone their ability to conduct combined amphibious operations to help preserve peace and prevent conflict in the Asia-Pacific Region. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. April Price) - U.S. Marines and Japanese Ground Self-Defense Force soldiers dine together during the closing ceremony of exercise Iron Fist 2016 at Camp Pendleton, March 1, 2016. Exercise Iron Fist brought together Marines and JGSDF soldiers to hone their ability to conduct combined amphibious operations to help preserve peace and prevent conflict in the Asia-Pacific Region. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. April Price)