Company I Marines prepare for a training raid

A CH-53E Sea Stallion with Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 268 (Reinforced) carrying Marines departs USS Makin Island Oct. 6 to conduct a training raid. The Marines are with Company I, Battalion Landing Team 3/1, which serves as the ground combat element for the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit. The unit embarked USS Makin Island, USS New Orleans and USS Pearl Harbor in San Diego Sept. 28 and is participating in its final exercise before deploying in Novembe

Marines with Company I, Battalion Landing Team 3/1, board a CH-53E Sea Stallion with Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 268 (Reinforced) before conducting a training raid Oct. 6. The battalion serves as the ground combat element for the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit, which embarked USS Makin Island, USS New Orleans and USS Pearl Harbor in San Diego Sept. 28 and is participating in its final exercise before deploying in November.

Marines with Company I, Battalion Landing Team 3/1, wait to board a CH-53E Sea Stallion with Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 268 (Reinforced) before conducting a training raid Oct. 6. The battalion serves as the ground combat element for the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit, which embarked USS Makin Island, USS New Orleans and USS Pearl Harbor in San Diego Sept. 28 and is participating in its final exercise before deploying in November.

Cpl. Scott Mackie waits to board a CH-53E Sea Stallion with Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 268 (Reinforced) in the amphibious assault ship USS Makin Island’s hangar Oct. 6 before conducting a training raid. Mackie, 22, is from Huntington Beach, Calif., and serves with Company I, Battalion Landing Team 3/1. The battalion serves as the ground combat element for the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit, which embarked USS Makin Island, USS New Orleans and USS Pearl Harbor in San Diego Sept. 28 and is participating in its final exercise before deploying in November.