U.S. Marines and Philippine Marines with the 17th Marine Corps Field Artillery Battalion, pose for a group photo - U.S. Marines with Alpha Battery, Battalion Landing Team 3/5, 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit, and Philippine Marines with the 17th Marine Corps Field Artillery Battalion, pose for a group photo at Colonel Ernesto Ravina Air Base, Philippines, during exercise KAMANDAG 3, Oct. 13, 2019. KAMANDAG helps participating forces maintain a high level of readiness and responsiveness, and enhances combined military-to-military relations, interoperability, and multinational coordination. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Staff Sgt. Donald Holbert)

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)

Lt. Col. Jason Holden, Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 163 commanding officer, listens to a brief during a simulated exercise as part of the staff planning course for the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit and Amphibious Squadron Five here Jan. 24. The two-weeklong training evolution focused senior leaders on the rapid response planning process, or R2P2, and developed skills pivotal to planning the missions anticipated during their future deployment. - Lt. Col. Jason Holden, Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 163 commanding officer, listens to a brief during a simulated exercise as part of the staff planning course for the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit and Amphibious Squadron Five here Jan. 24. The two-weeklong training evolution focused senior leaders on the rapid response planning process, or R2P2, and developed skills pivotal to planning the missions anticipated during their future deployment.

Marines with 81mm mortar platoon, Weapons Company, Battalion Landing Team 3/1, conduct gun drills here Sept. 11 to prepare for a live-fire exercise. The battalion is the ground combat element for the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit, which is conducting its second sea-based exercise since becoming a complete Marine air-ground-task force in May. - Marines with 81mm mortar platoon, Weapons Company, Battalion Landing Team 3/1, conduct gun drills here Sept. 11 to prepare for a live-fire exercise. The battalion is the ground combat element for the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit, which is conducting its second sea-based exercise since becoming a complete Marine air-ground-task force in May.

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.

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

Sgt. Anthony Jacks emplaces a Claymore mine during a live-fire exercise here Sept. 20. Jacks and other Marines from Reconnaissance Platoon, Battalion Landing Team 2/4, 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit, practiced insertion methods and conducted live-fire weapon shoots Sept. 17-22 for final training before deploying with the MEU Sept. 24. - Sgt. Anthony Jacks emplaces a Claymore mine during a live-fire exercise here Sept. 20. Jacks and other Marines from Reconnaissance Platoon, Battalion Landing Team 2/4, 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit, practiced insertion methods and conducted live-fire weapon shoots Sept. 17-22 for final training before deploying with the MEU Sept. 24.

A machine gunner with Company E, Battalion Landing Team 2/4, fires an M-249 squad automatic weapon during a heliborne raid here Aug. 2. The long-range helicopter raid was the last training evolution the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit conducted during its second at-sea training period. The MEU has one exercise left before deploying later this year. - A machine gunner with Company E, Battalion Landing Team 2/4, fires an M-249 squad automatic weapon during a heliborne raid here Aug. 2. The long-range helicopter raid was the last training evolution the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit conducted during its second at-sea training period. The MEU has one exercise left before deploying later this year.

First Reconnaissance Battalion Marines, right, rehearse boat operations on rigid raider craft from the stern gate of USS Bonhomme Richard June 30 during the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit’s first pre-deployment exercise at sea. Lt. Dwayne Williams, the ship’s assistant first lieutenant, center, supervises the deck operations. The Marines are attached to Battalion Landing Team 2/4, the MEU’s ground combat element. The MEU and its Navy counterpart, Amphibious Squadron 7, are testing interoperability before a certification exercise later this summer. - First Reconnaissance Battalion Marines, right, rehearse boat operations on rigid raider craft from the stern gate of USS Bonhomme Richard June 30 during the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit’s first pre-deployment exercise at sea. Lt. Dwayne Williams, the ship’s assistant first lieutenant, center, supervises the deck operations. The Marines are attached to Battalion Landing Team 2/4, the MEU’s ground combat element. The MEU and its Navy counterpart, Amphibious Squadron 7, are testing interoperability before a certification exercise later this summer.

Marines with Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 166 (Reinforced), take turns firing a .50 caliber heavy machine gun from a CH-53E Sea Stallion helicopter as part of their training during the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit's Marine Air Ground Task Force Exercise here March 29, 2009. The MAGTFEX is preparing Marines and sailors for their deployment later this year. - Marines with Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 166 (Reinforced), take turns firing a .50 caliber heavy machine gun from a CH-53E Sea Stallion helicopter as part of their training during the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit's Marine Air Ground Task Force Exercise here March 29, 2009. The MAGTFEX is preparing Marines and sailors for their deployment later this year.