Maj. Brent Johnson (left) and Capt. Jonathan Marang (right) coordinate target information prior to calling in close-air support during an exercise here March 29. A detachment of Marines from 1st Air Naval Gunfire Liaison Company to the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit direct and control air support and can call in indirect fire from artillery, naval guns and mortars. Johnson is the MEU’s air officer and Marang is the team leader of one of the MEU’s two fire control teams. - Maj. Brent Johnson (left) and Capt. Jonathan Marang (right) coordinate target information prior to calling in close-air support during an exercise here March 29. A detachment of Marines from 1st Air Naval Gunfire Liaison Company to the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit direct and control air support and can call in indirect fire from artillery, naval guns and mortars. Johnson is the MEU’s air officer and Marang is the team leader of one of the MEU’s two fire control teams.
An AV-8B Harrier, piloted by Capt. Daniel S. Fiust of Marine Attack Squadron 513, takes in fuel March 28 while training above Fort Hunter Liggett, seen below. A KC-130J Hercules turboprop aircraft from San Diego-based Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron 352 circled dozens of times, 22,000 feet above the remote Army post, and refueled the Harrier three times, pumping 15,000 pounds of fuel in total. Fiust conducted surveillance, reconnaissance and simulated guided-munitions strikes as part of an 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit air-ground task force exercise. The Harrier flew from the squadron’s home station in Yuma, Ariz., stopping once at Naval Air Station North Island in San Diego. Six of the squadron’s jets will reinforce the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit’s aviation combat element, Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 166 (Reinforced) when they deploy. - An AV-8B Harrier, piloted by Capt. Daniel S. Fiust of Marine Attack Squadron 513, takes in fuel March 28 while training above Fort Hunter Liggett, seen below. A KC-130J Hercules turboprop aircraft from San Diego-based Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron 352 circled dozens of times, 22,000 feet above the remote Army post, and refueled the Harrier three times, pumping 15,000 pounds of fuel in total. Fiust conducted surveillance, reconnaissance and simulated guided-munitions strikes as part of an 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit air-ground task force exercise. The Harrier flew from the squadron’s home station in Yuma, Ariz., stopping once at Naval Air Station North Island in San Diego. Six of the squadron’s jets will reinforce the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit’s aviation combat element, Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 166 (Reinforced) when they deploy.
A Marine with Company E, Battalion Landing Team 2nd Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, lies on the ground as he fires his weapon down range and communicates with his squad leader here March 27. During the rushes Marines found communicating difficult through hilly terrain and gun fire. The live fire exercises were part of a month-long exercise the Marines are conducting away from Camp Pendleton during their workups for their deployment with the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit later this year. - A Marine with Company E, Battalion Landing Team 2nd Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, lies on the ground as he fires his weapon down range and communicates with his squad leader here March 27. During the rushes Marines found communicating difficult through hilly terrain and gun fire. The live fire exercises were part of a month-long exercise the Marines are conducting away from Camp Pendleton during their workups for their deployment with the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit later this year.
Cpl. Quentin Hamilton (left), Sgt. Galen Scott (center), and Lance Cpl. Steven Rocha, mortar men with Weapons Company, 2nd Battalion, 4th Marines, set coordinates into their GPS devices prior to leaving for a simulated Tactical Recovery of Aircraft and Personnel (TRAP) mission here March 26, 2009. The GPS coordinates along with traditional map and compass aid the Marines in finding their objective. The TRAP mission was a part of Marine Air Ground Task Force Exercise. MAGTFEX is an exercise in which the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit and its major subordinate elements plan and execute training missions together. - Cpl. Quentin Hamilton (left), Sgt. Galen Scott (center), and Lance Cpl. Steven Rocha, mortar men with Weapons Company, 2nd Battalion, 4th Marines, set coordinates into their GPS devices prior to leaving for a simulated Tactical Recovery of Aircraft and Personnel (TRAP) mission here March 26, 2009. The GPS coordinates along with traditional map and compass aid the Marines in finding their objective. The TRAP mission was a part of Marine Air Ground Task Force Exercise. MAGTFEX is an exercise in which the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit and its major subordinate elements plan and execute training missions together.
Pfc. John E. Hoban, 20, from Los Angeles, second in his team's stack, prepares to clear a building during a live fire grenade exercise here March 26. During the exercise Marines with Company E, Battalion Landing Team 2nd Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, cleared half a building using hand grenades and the other half with rifle fire. This was the first time the Marines conducted this type of live fire exercise during their workups for their deployment with the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit later this year. The live fire exercises were part of a month-long exercise the Marines are conducting away from Camp Pendleton, their home station. - Pfc. John E. Hoban, 20, from Los Angeles, second in his team's stack, prepares to clear a building during a live fire grenade exercise here March 26. During the exercise Marines with Company E, Battalion Landing Team 2nd Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, cleared half a building using hand grenades and the other half with rifle fire. This was the first time the Marines conducted this type of live fire exercise during their workups for their deployment with the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit later this year. The live fire exercises were part of a month-long exercise the Marines are conducting away from Camp Pendleton, their home station.
Petty Officer 3rd Class Jeremy Young, right, and other members of the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit's personal security detachment, practice escorting a principle during PSD training here March 17. The detachments from Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 166, Combat Logistics Battalion 11 and the command element of the 11th MEU took part in a two-week course to prepare them for an upcoming deployment later this year. - Petty Officer 3rd Class Jeremy Young, right, and other members of the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit's personal security detachment, practice escorting a principle during PSD training here March 17. The detachments from Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 166, Combat Logistics Battalion 11 and the command element of the 11th MEU took part in a two-week course to prepare them for an upcoming deployment later this year.
Marines with the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit hike up a hill during a seven mile hike here March 18. The hike was the fifth that the command element conducted in recent months. - Marines with the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit hike up a hill during a seven mile hike here March 18. The hike was the fifth that the command element conducted in recent months.
Lieutenant Col. James Hensien discusses the security posture with a Marine from Combat Logistics Battalion 11 during a humanitarian aid and disaster relief exercise here March 5. CLB-11, the combat service support element of the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit, took part in a 3-day training scenario where they provided food, water and medical care to a village in need. Hensien is the commanding officer of CLB-11. - Lieutenant Col. James Hensien discusses the security posture with a Marine from Combat Logistics Battalion 11 during a humanitarian aid and disaster relief exercise here March 5. CLB-11, the combat service support element of the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit, took part in a 3-day training scenario where they provided food, water and medical care to a village in need. Hensien is the commanding officer of CLB-11.
Cpl. Justin Davis peers over the barrel of a MK-19 40mm grenade launcher during a practice raid here March 4. Davis and other infantry Marines from 2nd Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, conducted training missions March 2-6 as part of 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit exercise, which focuses on Marine Air Ground Task Force planning and execution. - Cpl. Justin Davis peers over the barrel of a MK-19 40mm grenade launcher during a practice raid here March 4. Davis and other infantry Marines from 2nd Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, conducted training missions March 2-6 as part of 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit exercise, which focuses on Marine Air Ground Task Force planning and execution.
Marines with Company E, 2nd Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, advance up a hill while receiving simulated fire from enemy forces during an exercise here March 4. The Marines conducted helicopter raid training here March 2-6 in preparation for an upcoming deployment with the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit later this year. - Marines with Company E, 2nd Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, advance up a hill while receiving simulated fire from enemy forces during an exercise here March 4. The Marines conducted helicopter raid training here March 2-6 in preparation for an upcoming deployment with the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit later this year.