11th MEU Marines - 190729-M-MI961-1026 CAMP BUEHRING, Kuwait (July 29, 2019) Marines with Lima Company, Battalion Landing Team 3/5, 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU), fires an AT-4 on a range during live-fire training. The Boxer Amphibious Ready Group and the 11th MEU are deployed to the U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations in support of naval operations to ensure maritime stability and security in the Central Region, connecting the Mediterranean and the Pacific through the Western Indian Ocean and three strategic choke points. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Jared Sabins/Released)

Marines with the tank platoon, Battalion Landing Team 2nd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, part of the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit, fire the M256 smoothbore gun of four M1A1 Abrams tanks during a live-fire training exercise at Camp Roberts, Calif., March 20. Realistic Urban Training Marine Expeditionary Unit Exercise 14-1 allows the Marines and sailors of the 11th MEU the opportunity to employ techniques and tactics applicable to their future deployment. RUTMEUEX incorporates the majority of the ground combat element, aviation combat element, logistics combat element and command element of the MEU for the first time in the predeployment cycle. - Marines with the tank platoon, Battalion Landing Team 2nd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, part of the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit, fire the M256 smoothbore gun of four M1A1 Abrams tanks during a live-fire training exercise at Camp Roberts, Calif., March 20. Realistic Urban Training Marine Expeditionary Unit Exercise 14-1 allows the Marines and sailors of the 11th MEU the opportunity to employ techniques and tactics applicable to their future deployment. RUTMEUEX incorporates the majority of the ground combat element, aviation combat element, logistics combat element and command element of the MEU for the first time in the predeployment cycle.

Marines and sailors with the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit transport a prefabricated bridge over a creek during a community outreach project near Fort Hunter Liggett, Calif., March 22. Chaplains with the 11th MEU coordinated volunteers from the unit’s major subordinate elements to help beautify a walking path belonging to Mission San Antonio. Since the mission is located just outside of the base, it served as an optimal volunteer opportunity while the unit executed pre-deployment training as part of Realistic Urban Training Marine Expeditionary Unit Exercise (RUTMEUEX) 14-1. - Marines and sailors with the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit transport a prefabricated bridge over a creek during a community outreach project near Fort Hunter Liggett, Calif., March 22. Chaplains with the 11th MEU coordinated volunteers from the unit’s major subordinate elements to help beautify a walking path belonging to Mission San Antonio. Since the mission is located just outside of the base, it served as an optimal volunteer opportunity while the unit executed pre-deployment training as part of Realistic Urban Training Marine Expeditionary Unit Exercise (RUTMEUEX) 14-1.

Marines with the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit's ground combat element use fire and maneuver tactics to move from house to house as part of urban raid training here Feb. 5. This raid was the first of three different raids Marines conducted. This training evolution is one of many to prepare Marines for the MEU's scheduled deployment. - Marines with the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit's ground combat element use fire and maneuver tactics to move from house to house as part of urban raid training here Feb. 5. This raid was the first of three different raids Marines conducted. This training evolution is one of many to prepare Marines for the MEU's scheduled deployment.

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.

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 with the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit apprehend a role-player at a simulated evacuation site here June 18. The exercise prepared 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit members to protect and safely evacuate noncombatants in foreign countries, according to 1st Lt. Ryan D. Betters, Combat Logistics Battalion 11, which provides the unit with logistics and services. Betters, who oversaw the execution of the exercise, serves as the battalion's landing support officer. He hails from Batavia, N.Y. - Marines with the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit apprehend a role-player at a simulated evacuation site here June 18. The exercise prepared 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit members to protect and safely evacuate noncombatants in foreign countries, according to 1st Lt. Ryan D. Betters, Combat Logistics Battalion 11, which provides the unit with logistics and services. Betters, who oversaw the execution of the exercise, serves as the battalion's landing support officer. He hails from Batavia, N.Y.

Marines with Battalion Landing Team 3/1 work together to fit a tactical vehicle into a tracked vehicle for the first time here June 15. The Marines are a part of a field exercise conducted by the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit. - Marines with Battalion Landing Team 3/1 work together to fit a tactical vehicle into a tracked vehicle for the first time here June 15. The Marines are a part of a field exercise conducted by the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit.

Gunnery Sgt. Matthew P. Rea, 34, platoon sergeant with the light armored reconnaissance section, BLT 3/1, 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit, discusses plans for a training raid with his Marines here May 25. The raid is part of a Special Operations Training Group program to prepare the Marines for their upcoming 11th MEU deployment - Gunnery Sgt. Matthew P. Rea, 34, platoon sergeant with the light armored reconnaissance section, BLT 3/1, 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit, discusses plans for a training raid with his Marines here May 25. The raid is part of a Special Operations Training Group program to prepare the Marines for their upcoming 11th MEU deployment

Master Sgt. Ueda Ryuichi, a scout swimmer squad leader with the Japanese Ground Self Defense Force, Western Army Infantry Regiment prepares to simulate securing a beach during combat rubber raiding craft training here Feb. 10. The soldiers are participating in Exercise Iron Fist, a bilateral training exercise conducted with the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit to strengthen the bond between the U.S. and Japanese militaries. - Master Sgt. Ueda Ryuichi, a scout swimmer squad leader with the Japanese Ground Self Defense Force, Western Army Infantry Regiment prepares to simulate securing a beach during combat rubber raiding craft training here Feb. 10. The soldiers are participating in Exercise Iron Fist, a bilateral training exercise conducted with the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit to strengthen the bond between the U.S. and Japanese militaries.