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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

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MEU conducts final training exercise before deployment

11 Oct 2011 | Public Affairs 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit

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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. 


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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::

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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::

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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::

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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::

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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.

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Photo by Cpl. Gene Allen Ainsworth III

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