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.

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.

An AV-8B Harrier with Marine Attack Squadron 513 Detachment A, currently attached to Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 166 (Rein), approaches the flight deck of USS Cleveland during deck landing qualifications July 26. Six Harrier pilots with HMM-166, the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit’s aviation combat element, qualified in landing on the small amphibious ship so they can execute planned and emergency operations if needed. - An AV-8B Harrier with Marine Attack Squadron 513 Detachment A, currently attached to Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 166 (Rein), approaches the flight deck of USS Cleveland during deck landing qualifications July 26. Six Harrier pilots with HMM-166, the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit’s aviation combat element, qualified in landing on the small amphibious ship so they can execute planned and emergency operations if needed.

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.

Marines with Company E, 2nd Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, advance up a hill while receiving simulated fire from enemy forces during an exercise here March 4. The Marines conducted helicopter raid training here March 2-6 in preparation for an upcoming deployment with the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit later this year. - Marines with Company E, 2nd Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, advance up a hill while receiving simulated fire from enemy forces during an exercise here March 4. The Marines conducted helicopter raid training here March 2-6 in preparation for an upcoming deployment with the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit later this year.