U.S. Marine Corps Col. Matthew G. Trollinger, right, commanding officer, 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU), and Col. Clay C. Tipton shake hands at the conclusion of a change of command ceremony aboard Camp Pendleton, Calif., July 17. Trollinger relinquished his command of the 11th MEU to Tipton. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Jonathan R. Waldman/Released) - U.S. Marine Corps Col. Matthew G. Trollinger, right, commanding officer, 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU), and Col. Clay C. Tipton shake hands at the conclusion of a change of command ceremony aboard Camp Pendleton, Calif., July 17. Trollinger relinquished his command of the 11th MEU to Tipton. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Jonathan R. Waldman/Released)
Tom Lindsey, left, City of Yorba Linda mayor pro tem, and Col. Matthew Trollinger, 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit commanding officer, exchange gifts during the 11th MEU adoption ceremony in the city of Yorba Linda, Calif. May, 16, 2015. The adoption represents a pledge to support service members and their families when the unit is deployed and at home, and maintains a constant link between Yorba Linda and the military community. The 11the MEU is a flexible, adaptable, and persistent force capable of rapidly responding to crises and contingencies. (U.S. Marine Corps photos by Cpl. Rick Hurtado/Released) - Tom Lindsey, left, City of Yorba Linda mayor pro tem, and Col. Matthew Trollinger, 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit commanding officer, exchange gifts during the 11th MEU adoption ceremony in the city of Yorba Linda, Calif. May, 16, 2015. The adoption represents a pledge to support service members and their families when the unit is deployed and at home, and maintains a constant link between Yorba Linda and the military community. The 11the MEU is a flexible, adaptable, and persistent force capable of rapidly responding to crises and contingencies. (U.S. Marine Corps photos by Cpl. Rick Hurtado/Released)
Marines with the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit's Force Reconnaissance Detachment return to Camp Pendleton, California, Feb. 23. The 11th MEU completed a 7-month deployment to the U.S. 5th and 7th Fleet areas of operation. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Melissa Wenger/Released) - Marines with the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit's Force Reconnaissance Detachment return to Camp Pendleton, California, Feb. 23. The 11th MEU completed a 7-month deployment to the U.S. 5th and 7th Fleet areas of operation. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Melissa Wenger/Released)
Capt. Jon Rogers, the USS Makin Island commanding officer, speaks to the captain of the International Space Station during an amateur radio test aboard the amphibious assault ship USS Makin Island, Feb. 19. With the help of Marine radio operators with the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit, personnel on ship utilized amateur radio equipment to establish direct communication with the International Space Station from the Makin Island. Embarked aboard the three ships of the Makin Island Amphibious Ready Group, the 11th MEU has provided a flexible, sea-based, crisis response force to regional commanders throughout its seven-month Western Pacific deployment. (U.S. Marine Corps photos by Cpl. Demetrius Morgan/Released) - Capt. Jon Rogers, the USS Makin Island commanding officer, speaks to the captain of the International Space Station during an amateur radio test aboard the amphibious assault ship USS Makin Island, Feb. 19. With the help of Marine radio operators with the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit, personnel on ship utilized amateur radio equipment to establish direct communication with the International Space Station from the Makin Island. Embarked aboard the three ships of the Makin Island Amphibious Ready Group, the 11th MEU has provided a flexible, sea-based, crisis response force to regional commanders throughout its seven-month Western Pacific deployment. (U.S. Marine Corps photos by Cpl. Demetrius Morgan/Released)
Marines with Combat Logistics Battalion, 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit, participate in a 5k run as part of a CLB 11 squad competition aboard the amphibious assault ship USS Makin Island, Feb. 1. The Makin Island Amphibious Ready Group and the embarked 11th MEU are deployed in support of maritime security operations and theater security cooperation efforts in the U.S. 7th Fleet area of responsibility. (U.S. Marine Corps photos by Cpl. Demetrius Morgan/Released) - Marines with Combat Logistics Battalion, 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit, participate in a 5k run as part of a CLB 11 squad competition aboard the amphibious assault ship USS Makin Island, Feb. 1. The Makin Island Amphibious Ready Group and the embarked 11th MEU are deployed in support of maritime security operations and theater security cooperation efforts in the U.S. 7th Fleet area of responsibility. (U.S. Marine Corps photos by Cpl. Demetrius Morgan/Released)
U.S. Marine Corps Cpl. Ty-Michael Maes, left, a team leader with the 1st Light Armored Reconnaissance detachment, Battalion Landing Team, 2nd Battalion, 1st Marines, 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit, and native of Lindenhurst, New York, directs his fire team during a bilateral live-fire assault exercise with Saudi Marines as part of exercise Red Reef 15 in Ras Al Khair Saudi Arabia. Red Reef is part of a routine theater security cooperation engagement plan between the U.S. Navy, U.S. Marine Corps and Royal Saudi Naval Forces that serves as an excellent opportunity to strengthen tactical proficiency in critical mission areas and support long-term regional security. (U.S. Marine Corps photos by Gunnery Sgt. Rome M. Lazarus/Released) - U.S. Marine Corps Cpl. Ty-Michael Maes, left, a team leader with the 1st Light Armored Reconnaissance detachment, Battalion Landing Team, 2nd Battalion, 1st Marines, 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit, and native of Lindenhurst, New York, directs his fire team during a bilateral live-fire assault exercise with Saudi Marines as part of exercise Red Reef 15 in Ras Al Khair Saudi Arabia. Red Reef is part of a routine theater security cooperation engagement plan between the U.S. Navy, U.S. Marine Corps and Royal Saudi Naval Forces that serves as an excellent opportunity to strengthen tactical proficiency in critical mission areas and support long-term regional security. (U.S. Marine Corps photos by Gunnery Sgt. Rome M. Lazarus/Released)
Marines with Charlie Battery, Battalion Landing Team, 2nd Battalion, 1st Marines, 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU), move the barrel of an M777 Howitzer in order to conduct quarterly maintenance aboard the amphibious assault ship USS Makin Island (LHD 8), Dec. 18. The Makin Island Amphibious Ready Group (ARG) and the embarked 11th MEU are deployed in support of maritime security operations and theater security cooperation efforts in the U.S. 5th Fleet area of responsibility. (U.S. Marine Corps photos by Cpl. Demetrius Morgan/ Released) - Marines with Charlie Battery, Battalion Landing Team, 2nd Battalion, 1st Marines, 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU), move the barrel of an M777 Howitzer in order to conduct quarterly maintenance aboard the amphibious assault ship USS Makin Island (LHD 8), Dec. 18. The Makin Island Amphibious Ready Group (ARG) and the embarked 11th MEU are deployed in support of maritime security operations and theater security cooperation efforts in the U.S. 5th Fleet area of responsibility. (U.S. Marine Corps photos by Cpl. Demetrius Morgan/ Released)
U.S. Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Max P. Skatrud, a rifleman with Charlie Company, 1st Light Armored Reconnaissance detachment, Battalion Landing Team 2nd Battalion, 1st Marines, 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU), and native of New Richmond, Wis., takes cover behind an LAV-25 light armored vehicle during a live-fire and movement range as part of exercise Red Reef 15 in the U.S. 5th Fleet area of responsibility, Dec. 13, 2014. Red Reef is part of a routine theater security cooperation engagement plan between the U.S. Navy, U.S. Marine Corps and Royal Saudi Naval Forces that serves as an excellent opportunity to strengthen tactical proficiency in critical mission areas and support long-term regional security. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Jonathan R. Waldman/Released) - U.S. Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Max P. Skatrud, a rifleman with Charlie Company, 1st Light Armored Reconnaissance detachment, Battalion Landing Team 2nd Battalion, 1st Marines, 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU), and native of New Richmond, Wis., takes cover behind an LAV-25 light armored vehicle during a live-fire and movement range as part of exercise Red Reef 15 in the U.S. 5th Fleet area of responsibility, Dec. 13, 2014. Red Reef is part of a routine theater security cooperation engagement plan between the U.S. Navy, U.S. Marine Corps and Royal Saudi Naval Forces that serves as an excellent opportunity to strengthen tactical proficiency in critical mission areas and support long-term regional security. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Jonathan R. Waldman/Released)