Marines

Unit HomeNewsNews Article Display

Photo Information

A hovercraft leaves Red Beach here Oct. 11 after delivering vehicles and Marines conducting a training assault during the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit's final exercise before deploying in November.

Photo by Lance Cpl. Ryan Carpenter

Download
Details

MEU conducts final training exercise before deployment

11 Oct 2011 | Public Affairs 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit

PRINT
CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. -- Marines and sailors with the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit conducted an amphibious assault and offload from seagoing vessels here Oct. 11, wrapping up a final exercise before deploying in November.

The MEU's major subordinate elements are Battalion Landing Team 3/1, Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 268 (Reinforced) and Combat Logistics Battalion 11, which participated in the training exercise.

USS Makin Island, along with USS New Orleans, USS Pearl Harbor and Amphibious Squadron 5 form the Makin Island Amphibious Ready Group, the Navy or "blue-side" partner to the Marines' "green-side."

The unit trained to retake seagoing vessels from pirates and conduct amphibious assaults, helicopter-borne raids, personnel recovery, humanitarian aid and noncombatant evacuations.

The mission of the MEU is to provide a rapid-response force capable of conducting conventional amphibious and selected maritime special operations from the sea, by surface or by air.

The 14-day exercise concludes the unit’s six-month workup cycle before a Western Pacific Deployment. 


More Media

A Marine with Company L uses a radio here Oct. 11 during a training assault with the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit. The company is one of three rifle companies with Battalion Landing Team 3/1, the ground-combat element for the unit. The unit embarked USS Makin Island, USS New Orleans and USS Pearl Harbor in Spet. 28 for its final exercise before deploying in November. ::r::::n::

111011-M-EE799-003.JPG

Photo by Lance Cpl. Ryan Carpenter

Staff Sgt. Christopher R. Terrill keeps watch during a security halt before conducting a training raid here Oct. 11. Terrill, 30, is from Redmond, Wash., and serves with Battalion Landing Team 3/1. The reinforced battalion is the ground-combat element for the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit, which conducted its final exercise Sept. 28 to Oct. 12 before deploying in November.

111011-M-IS773-001.jpg

Photo by Cpl. Tommy Huynh

A Marine with Battalion Landing Team 3/1 keeps watch during a security halt before conducting a training raid here Oct. 11. The reinforced battalion is the ground-combat element for the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit, which conducted its final exercise Sept. 28 to Oct. 12 before deploying in November.

111011-M-IS773-002.jpg

Photo by Cpl. Tommy Huynh

Team leader Cpl. Matthew Perry provides security while conducting a training raid here Oct. 11. Perry, 26, is from Fairfield, Calif., and serves with Weapons Company, Battalion Landing Team 3/1. The reinforced battalion is the ground-combat element for the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit, which conducted its final exercise Sept. 28 to Oct. 12 before deploying in November.

111011-M-IS773-003.jpg

Photo by Cpl. Tommy Huynh

Rifleman Pfc. Jared E. Douglas provides security outside a building while conducting a training raid here Oct. 11. Douglas, 19, is from Dilworth, Minn., and serves with Weapons Company, Battalion Landing Team 3/1. The reinforced battalion is the ground-combat element for the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit, which conducted its final exercise Sept. 28 to Oct. 12 before deploying in November.

111011-M-IS773-004.jpg

Photo by Cpl. Tommy Huynh

First Lt. Buck A. Bradley reads a map while conducting a training raid here Oct. 11. Bradley, 29, is from Pomona, Kan., and serves as a platoon commander with Weapons Company, Battalion Landing Team 3/1. The reinforced battalion is the ground-combat element for the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit, which conducted its final exercise Sept. 28 to Oct. 12 before deploying in November.

111011-M-IS773-005.jpg

Photo by Cpl. Tommy Huynh

Marines with Battalion Landing Team 3/1 patrol a beach here in an amphibious assault vehicle Oct. 11 duing a training assault. The battalion serves as the ground-combat element for the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit, which emabarked USS Makin Island, USS New Orleans and USS Pearl Harbor in San Diego Sept. 28 and participated in a final exercise before deploying in November. ::r::::n::

111011-M-OO345-002.JPG

Photo by Sgt. Elyssa Quesada

Marines serving with the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit's Battalion Landing Team 3/1 debark a CH-46E Sea Knight during a raid exercise here Oct. 11. The unit embarked USS Makin Island, USS New Orleans and USS Pearl Harbor Sept. 28 to participate in a final training exercise before deploying in November.::r::::n::

111012-M-CR943-007.JPG

Photo by Cpl. Gene Allen Ainsworth III

Lance Cpl. Jacob R. Obrienflashc, right, and Lance Cpl. Troy R. Townsend halt here Oct. 11 while patrolling during a nighttime training raid with Company K. The rifle company is one of three with Battalion Landing Team 3/1, the ground-combat element for the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit. The unit embarked USS Makin Island, USS New Orleans and USS Pearl Harbor Sept. 28 for a final exercise before deploying in November. Obrienflashc, 19, a machine gunner, hails from Kewaskum, Wisc. Townsend, 21, and infantryman, hails from Kilgore, Texas.

111011-M-YP701-013.JPG

Photo by Lance Cpl. Claudia M. Palacios

Marines and sailors with Company K conduct a nighttime training raid here Oct. 11 during an amphibious assault exercise with the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit. Company K is one of three rifle companies with Battalion Landing Team 3/1, the ground-combat element for the unit. The unit embarked USS Makin Island, USS New Orleans and USS Pearl Harbor Sept. 28 for a final exercise before deploying in November.

111011-M-YP701-017.JPG

Photo by Lance Cpl. Claudia M. Palacios

Marines and sailors with Weapons Platoon load onto a CH-46E Sea Knight helicopter with Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 268 (Reinforced) here Oct. 11 before participating in a nighttime training raid with Company K. The platoon provided casualty-evacuation capabilities and reinforcements for the company during the exercise. Company K is one of three rifle companies with Battalion Landing Team 3/1, the ground-combat element for the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit. The unit embarked USS Makin Island, USS New Orleans and USS Pearl Harbor Sept. 28 for a final exercise before deploying in November.

111011-M-YP701-007.JPG

Photo by Lance Cpl. Claudia M. Palacios

A reconnaissance Marine with the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit walks across the beach here Oct. 11 during a training assault. The unit emabarked USS Makin Island, USS New Orleans and USS Pearl Harbor in San Diego Sept. 28 and participated in a final exercise before deploying in November. ::r::::n::

111011-M-OO345-004.JPG

Photo by Sgt. Elyssa Quesada

Marines serving with the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit's Battalion Landing Team 3/1 practice patrolling during a raid exercise here Oct. 11. The unit embarked USS Makin Island, USS New Orleans and USS Pearl Harbor Sept. 28 to participate in a final training exercise before deploying in November.

111012-M-CR943-018.JPG

Photo by Cpl. Gene Allen Ainsworth III

Marine Corps News

Colonel Thomas M. Siverts
Commanding Officer

Colonel Tom Siverts is a native of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He enlisted in the Marine Corps in August 1989. He achieved a commission as a Second Lieutenant through the Marine Corps Enlisted Commissioning Education Program following his graduation from the University of Virginia in May 1999. Colonel Siverts has deployed in support of Operations DESERT SHIELD, DESERT STORM, IRAQI FREEDOM, and ENDURING FREEDOM. His other operational deployments include serving with Battalion Landing Team (BLT) 2/8, 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU); BLT 3/8, 22d MEU; BLT 2/8, 26th MEU, and Task Force 61/2.

Read Biography

Lieutenant Col. Steven M. Sprigg
Executive Officer

LtCol Sprigg was born in Parkersburg, WV. LtCol Sprigg enlisted in the United States Marine Corps in September 2004 and recruit training at Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island, SC. LtCol Sprigg was selected for the Enlisted Commissioning Program and commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in March 2008. He was designated a Naval Aviator in February 2011 and reported to HMLAT-303 for training as an AH-1W pilot. LtCol Sprigg is currently serving as the Executive Officer for the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit in Camp Pendleton, California.

Read Biography

Sergeant Major Travis L. DeBarr
Sergeant Major

Sergeant Major DeBarr enlisted in the Marine Corps and reported to MCRD San Diego, CA, for recruit training in October 1994.Staff Sergeant DeBarr completed two combat tours in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom from September 2005 to April 2006 and again form March 2007 to September 2007. While serving with 3rd Battalion, 9th Marines, First Sergeant DeBarr completed one combat deployment in support of Operation Enduring Freedom to Helmand Province, Afghanistan, from October 2012 to May 2013. Sergeant Major DeBarr currently serves as the Sergeant Major for the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit.

Read Biography