CAMP LEJEUNE , NC, UNITED STATES -- U.S. Marines and Sailors with the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit, will execute Realistic Urban Training exercise throughout Virginia and South Carolina from 7 – 27 January.
RUT is an expeditionary land-based training exercise where over 2,200 Marines and Sailors from the 24th MEU plan and conduct operations they may execute on deployment. The Ground Combat Element, Battalion Landing Team 1/8; and Logistics Combat Element, Combat Logistics Battalion 24, and the Aviation Combat Element, Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 365 comprise the 24th MEU.
As the second Marine Air-Ground Task Force training exercise in the 24th MEU’s deployment work-up cycle, the MEU will execute multiple training missions ranging from raids, tactical recovery of aircraft and personnel, and foreign humanitarian and disaster relief operations.
BLT 1/8 Bravo Company Surface Raid
Photo by Sgt. Elton Taylor
U.S. Marines with Bravo Company, Battalion Landing Team 1/8, 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit, patrol to the simulated surface raid objective during Amphibious Squadron, MEU Integration on Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, Dec. 12, 2023. PMINT is the 24th MEU’s first opportunity in the pre-deployment training cycle to fully integrate with the Wasp Amphibious Ready Group. During PMINT, the Marines and Sailors are tested across required operational capabilities and projected operating environments through a variety of simulated and live events.
The 20-day scenario-driven exercise is controlled and evaluated by Expeditionary Operations Training Group, II Marine Expeditionary Force and will sharpen the 24th MEU’s capabilities to augment, enable, and operate alongside special operation forces and other governmental agencies.
RUT is executed off military installations to position Marines and Sailors in more unfamiliar and urban environments. Residents can expect additional noise in and around the vicinity of Halifax County, VA, Mecklenburg County, VA, Chesterfield County, VA, and Sumter County, SC due to rotary-wing aircraft operations, military vehicle operations, and range operations.
Following RUT, Marines and Sailors with the 24th MEU will embark on the Wasp Amphibious Ready Group and U.S. Navy ships for their culminating deployment certification event, Composite Training Unit Exercise. COMPTUEX is the final deployment certification event for the Wasp ARG and 24th MEU where they will be evaluated on their execution of Mission Essential Tasks to determine certification before deployment.
The 24th MEU serves as a premier crisis response force capable of conducting amphibious operations, crisis response, and limited contingency operations to support geographic combatant commanders’ requirements.