31st and 11th MEU's in action...

U.S. Marines with Echo Company, 2nd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, Battalion Landing Team, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (31st MEU), provide security while conducting loading exercises with the Internally Transportable Vehicle (ITV) on a CH-53 Super Stallion with Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 265 (HMM-265, REIN), Air Combat Element, 31st MEU, during training events at Landing Zone Swan. The 31st MEU is the only continuously forward-deployed MEU and remains the nation's expeditionary force in readiness in the Asia-Pacific Region.  Photo by LCpl Acuff.

U.S. Marines with Echo Company, 2nd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, Battalion Landing Team, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (31st MEU), conduct loading exercises with the Internally Transportable Vehicle (ITV) on a CH-53 Super Stallion with Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 265 (HMM-265, REIN), Air Combat Element, 31st MEU, during training events at Landing Zone Swan. The 31st MEU is the only continuously forward-deployed MEU and remains the nation's expeditionary force in readiness in the Asia-Pacific Region. Photo by LCpl Acuff.

An AH-1Z Viper approaches the amphibious assault ship Makin Island during a sea-based exercise here Sept. 1. The attack helicopter belongs to a detachment of skid-landing helicopters attached to Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 268 (Reinforced), the aviation combat element of the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit. The unit embarked Makin Island and the amphibious transport dock New Orleans in San Diego to begin its second seagoing exercise since becoming a complete Marine air-ground task force in May.  Photo by Sgt. Quesada

Marines with Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 268 (Reinforced) disembark a CH-53E Sea Stallion on USS Makin Island during a sea-based exercise here Sept. 1. The squadron is the aviation combat element for the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit, which is scheduled to deploy this fall.  Photo by Sgt. Quesada