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.

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.

An M777A2 howitzer, with Kilo Battery, Battalion Landing Team 3/1, is concealed under camouflage netting during a field exercise with the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit here June 15. The purpose of the exercise is to prepare the unit for its upcoming deployment. - An M777A2 howitzer, with Kilo Battery, Battalion Landing Team 3/1, is concealed under camouflage netting during a field exercise with the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit here June 15. The purpose of the exercise is to prepare the unit for its upcoming 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 - 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

Members of one of the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit’s fire control teams establish an observation post prior to calling in close-air support during a live-fire exercise here March 29. The FCT from 1st Air Naval Gunfire Liaison Company, or Anglico, set up its post by establishing communication with multiple entities, getting the direction and distance to targets at the range and verifying their own location. The MEU’s 18-man Anglico detachment can direct and control fixed or rotary wing aircraft or call in indirect fire from artillery batteries, naval guns and mortar teams. The training was part of the MEU’s larger Marine air-ground task force exercise that runs through April 9. - Members of one of the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit’s fire control teams establish an observation post prior to calling in close-air support during a live-fire exercise here March 29. The FCT from 1st Air Naval Gunfire Liaison Company, or Anglico, set up its post by establishing communication with multiple entities, getting the direction and distance to targets at the range and verifying their own location. The MEU’s 18-man Anglico detachment can direct and control fixed or rotary wing aircraft or call in indirect fire from artillery batteries, naval guns and mortar teams. The training was part of the MEU’s larger Marine air-ground task force exercise that runs through April 9.