U.S. Sailors with the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit, and a U.S. Soldier with Golf Company, 5th Battalion, 159th Aviation Regiment load a simulated casualty onto an HH-60M helicopter during a joint-service casualty evacuation class at Camp Buehring, Kuwait. The Boxer Amphibious Ready Group and the 11th MEU are deployed to the U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations in support of naval operations to ensure maritime stability and security in the Central Region, connecting the Mediterranean and the Pacific through the Western Indian Ocean and three strategic choke points. - U.S. Sailors with the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit, and a U.S. Soldier with Golf Company, 5th Battalion, 159th Aviation Regiment load a simulated casualty onto an HH-60M helicopter during a joint-service casualty evacuation class at Camp Buehring, Kuwait. The Boxer Amphibious Ready Group and the 11th MEU are deployed to the U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations in support of naval operations to ensure maritime stability and security in the Central Region, connecting the Mediterranean and the Pacific through the Western Indian Ocean and three strategic choke points.

Marines with 1st Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment and 3d Assault Amphibian Battalion,1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force, check their communication connections during a scenario-based, battalion-sized amphibious landing exercise for Exercise Iron Fist 2016, Feb. 26, 2016. Iron Fist is an annual, bilateral amphibious training exercise designed to improve USMC and JGSDF’s ability to plan, communicate and conduct combined amphibious operations at the platoon, company and battalion levels. - Marines with 1st Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment and 3d Assault Amphibian Battalion,1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force, check their communication connections during a scenario-based, battalion-sized amphibious landing exercise for Exercise Iron Fist 2016, Feb. 26, 2016. Iron Fist is an annual, bilateral amphibious training exercise designed to improve USMC and JGSDF’s ability to plan, communicate and conduct combined amphibious operations at the platoon, company and battalion levels.

Lance Cpl. Christian Frohlich, a radio operator with 1st Air Naval Gunfire Liasion Company, I Marine Expeditionary Force Headquarters Group, relays coordinates to the objective area of a naval gunfire bombing range on San Clemente Island, Feb. 21, 2016, during the supporting arms coordination center exercise (SACCEX) portion of Exercise Iron Fist 2016. The SACCEX provides U.S. and Japanese forces with hands-on experience in tactics proven to be effective in securing enemy-occupied shorelines during large-scale amphibious assaults. - Lance Cpl. Christian Frohlich, a radio operator with 1st Air Naval Gunfire Liasion Company, I Marine Expeditionary Force Headquarters Group, relays coordinates to the objective area of a naval gunfire bombing range on San Clemente Island, Feb. 21, 2016, during the supporting arms coordination center exercise (SACCEX) portion of Exercise Iron Fist 2016. The SACCEX provides U.S. and Japanese forces with hands-on experience in tactics proven to be effective in securing enemy-occupied shorelines during large-scale amphibious assaults.

Cpl. Andrew J. Citriniti, a military policeman with the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU), and Sauquoit, New York native, practices close quarter tactics aboard the USS Makin Island (LHD 8), Oct. 11. The Makin Island Amphibious Ready Group (ARG) and the embarked 11th MEU are deployed in support of maritime security operations and theater security cooperation efforts in the U.S. 5th Fleet area of responsibility. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Laura Y. Raga/ RELEASED) - Cpl. Andrew J. Citriniti, a military policeman with the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU), and Sauquoit, New York native, practices close quarter tactics aboard the USS Makin Island (LHD 8), Oct. 11. The Makin Island Amphibious Ready Group (ARG) and the embarked 11th MEU are deployed in support of maritime security operations and theater security cooperation efforts in the U.S. 5th Fleet area of responsibility. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Laura Y. Raga/ RELEASED)