Combat cameraman Cpl. Tripp Ainsworth descends 35 feet down a thick plaited rope rigged to a helicopter parked on the amphibious assault ship Makin Island at sea miles off Southern California’s coast Sept 8. The 23-year-old Jacksonville, Fla., native – who serves with the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit’s command element – practiced insertion techniques with Battalion Landing Team 3/1, the unit’s ground combat element. The unit is conducting a second sea-based exercise since becoming a complete Marine-air ground task force in May. - Combat cameraman Cpl. Tripp Ainsworth descends 35 feet down a thick plaited rope rigged to a helicopter parked on the amphibious assault ship Makin Island at sea miles off Southern California’s coast Sept 8. The 23-year-old Jacksonville, Fla., native – who serves with the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit’s command element – practiced insertion techniques with Battalion Landing Team 3/1, the unit’s ground combat element. The unit is conducting a second sea-based exercise since becoming a complete Marine-air ground task force in May.
An AH-1Z Viper supports a counter-piracy training mission miles from Southern California's San Clemente Island Sept. 7. The attack helicopter is with Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 268 (Reinforced), the aviation combat element for the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit. The unit embarked the amphibious assault ship Makin Island and amphibious transport dock New Orleans in San Diego to begin its second seagoing exercise since becoming a complete Marine air-ground task force in May. - An AH-1Z Viper supports a counter-piracy training mission miles from Southern California's San Clemente Island Sept. 7. The attack helicopter is with Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 268 (Reinforced), the aviation combat element for the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit. The unit embarked the amphibious assault ship Makin Island and amphibious transport dock New Orleans in San Diego to begin its second seagoing exercise since becoming a complete Marine air-ground task force in May.
Marines serving with the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit aboard the amphibious assault ship Makin Island prepare to launch a communications balloon Sept. 4, miles off Southern California’s. The balloon is designed to carry a radio relay up to 80,000 feet above Earth, extending communications to an area 600 miles in diameter, regardless of terrain. The unit embarked the amphibious assault ship Makin Island and the amphibious transport dock New Orleans in San Diego Sept. 1 to begin its second seagoing exercise since becoming a complete Marine air-ground task force in May. - Marines serving with the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit aboard the amphibious assault ship Makin Island prepare to launch a communications balloon Sept. 4, miles off Southern California’s. The balloon is designed to carry a radio relay up to 80,000 feet above Earth, extending communications to an area 600 miles in diameter, regardless of terrain. The unit embarked the amphibious assault ship Makin Island and the amphibious transport dock New Orleans in San Diego Sept. 1 to begin its second seagoing exercise since becoming a complete Marine air-ground task force in May.
Marines serving with the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit’s Battalion Landing Team 3/1 debark CH-46 Sea Knights here Sept. 4. The Marines performed a live-fire, long-range helicopter raid between USS Makin Island and Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms. - Marines serving with the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit’s Battalion Landing Team 3/1 debark CH-46 Sea Knights here Sept. 4. The Marines performed a live-fire, long-range helicopter raid between USS Makin Island and Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms.
Team leader Cpl. Gerrick J. Watkins, right, and fellow squad members rehearse exiting a CH-46E Sea Knight parked on an air-station apron here Aug. 30 during a four-day course in which Company L riflemen learned to recover downed or lost pilots and personnel. Company L is one of three rifle companies in Battalion Landing Team 3/1, the ground-combat element of the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit. Pilots from the unit’s aviation combat element, Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 268 (Reinforced), flew helicopters in support of the course. Watkins is a 21-year-old Dallas native. - Team leader Cpl. Gerrick J. Watkins, right, and fellow squad members rehearse exiting a CH-46E Sea Knight parked on an air-station apron here Aug. 30 during a four-day course in which Company L riflemen learned to recover downed or lost pilots and personnel. Company L is one of three rifle companies in Battalion Landing Team 3/1, the ground-combat element of the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit. Pilots from the unit’s aviation combat element, Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 268 (Reinforced), flew helicopters in support of the course. Watkins is a 21-year-old Dallas native.
A CH-46E Sea Knight lands on USS Makin Island here Sept. 1. The helicopter belongs to Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 268 (Reinforced), the aviation combat element of the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit. The unit embarked Makin Island and the amphibious transport dock New Orleans in San Diego to begin its second seagoing exercise since becoming a complete Marine air-ground task force in May.::r::::n:: - A CH-46E Sea Knight lands on USS Makin Island here Sept. 1. The helicopter belongs to Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 268 (Reinforced), the aviation combat element of the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit. The unit embarked Makin Island and the amphibious transport dock New Orleans in San Diego to begin its second seagoing exercise since becoming a complete Marine air-ground task force in May.::r::::n::
Bulk fuel specialist Lance Cpl. Michael B. McGuiness inspects a fuel sample here Aug. 16 at a desert arming-and-refueling point where Marines serving with Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 268 (Reinforced) refueled helicopters carrying riflemen from an oceangoing ship 200 miles away, allowing a heliborne raid company to press on to its nighttime training objective miles away. Marines serving with the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit’s reinforced helicopter squadron set up and manned the position – operating at night and filling seven helicopters. McGuiness, 20, is from Cromwell, Conn. - Bulk fuel specialist Lance Cpl. Michael B. McGuiness inspects a fuel sample here Aug. 16 at a desert arming-and-refueling point where Marines serving with Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 268 (Reinforced) refueled helicopters carrying riflemen from an oceangoing ship 200 miles away, allowing a heliborne raid company to press on to its nighttime training objective miles away. Marines serving with the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit’s reinforced helicopter squadron set up and manned the position – operating at night and filling seven helicopters. McGuiness, 20, is from Cromwell, Conn.
A Navy boat launched from USS New Orleans Aug. 14 carries maritime raid force members of the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit to a vessel the force’s assault element later boarded during counter-piracy and counter-terrorism training miles from Southern California's San Clemente Island. Four days earlier the unit began its first sea-based exercise since becoming a complete Marine air ground task force in May. - A Navy boat launched from USS New Orleans Aug. 14 carries maritime raid force members of the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit to a vessel the force’s assault element later boarded during counter-piracy and counter-terrorism training miles from Southern California's San Clemente Island. Four days earlier the unit began its first sea-based exercise since becoming a complete Marine air ground task force in May.
Petty Officer 2nd Class Roderick Funiestas, an electrician serving aboard this amphibious transport dock, demonstrates to Company L Marines and sailors how to use an emergency breathing device Aug. 13. The rifle company is one of three in Battalion Landing Team 3/1, which serves as the ground combat element for the unit. The unit is underway with USS Makin Island and New Orleans on its first seagoing exercise since becoming a complete Marine air ground task force in May. - Petty Officer 2nd Class Roderick Funiestas, an electrician serving aboard this amphibious transport dock, demonstrates to Company L Marines and sailors how to use an emergency breathing device Aug. 13. The rifle company is one of three in Battalion Landing Team 3/1, which serves as the ground combat element for the unit. The unit is underway with USS Makin Island and New Orleans on its first seagoing exercise since becoming a complete Marine air ground task force in May.
Marines and sailors march to USS Makin Island’s rails before the ship set sail from this port city Aug. 10. Eleventh Marine Expeditionary Unit Marines and sailors embarked the amphibious assault ship at Naval Base San Diego Aug. 9, preparing to train with the Navy's Amphibious Squadron Five during 12 days at sea. This is Makin Island’s first time sailing with its full complement of Marines - more than 1,000 men and women from West Coast Marine Corps installations. - Marines and sailors march to USS Makin Island’s rails before the ship set sail from this port city Aug. 10. Eleventh Marine Expeditionary Unit Marines and sailors embarked the amphibious assault ship at Naval Base San Diego Aug. 9, preparing to train with the Navy's Amphibious Squadron Five during 12 days at sea. This is Makin Island’s first time sailing with its full complement of Marines - more than 1,000 men and women from West Coast Marine Corps installations.