Stories

The Chaplain Religious Enrichment Development Operation (CREDO) holds three to four marriage retreats per month in the Camp Lejeune/New River area for military couples. (Courtesy graphic by CREDO Camp Lejeune/Released) - The Chaplain Religious Enrichment Development Operation (CREDO) holds three to four marriage retreats per month in the Camp Lejeune/New River area for military couples. (Courtesy graphic by CREDO Camp Lejeune/Released)

A French air force Mirage 2000 fighter jet with Fighter Squadron 03/011 Corsica taxis to a runway at French Airbase 188 during an air-to-air combat exercise with AV-8B Harriers from Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron (VMM) 263 (Reinforced), 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU). The 22nd MEU is deployed with the Bataan Amphibious Ready Group as a theater reserve and crisis response force throughout U.S. Central Command and the U.S. 5th Fleet area of responsibility. - A French air force Mirage 2000 fighter jet with Fighter Squadron 03/011 Corsica taxis to a runway at French Airbase 188 during an air-to-air combat exercise with AV-8B Harriers from Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron (VMM) 263 (Reinforced), 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU). The 22nd MEU is deployed with the Bataan Amphibious Ready Group as a theater reserve and crisis response force throughout U.S. Central Command and the U.S. 5th Fleet area of responsibility.

U.S. Marines sort through more than 4,200 pounds of mail aboard the USS Bataan (LHD 5) after a replenishment at sea with the USNS Richard E. Byrd (T-AKE 4) dry cargo/ammunition ship. The 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit is deployed with the Bataan Amphibious Ready Group as a theater reserve and crisis response force throughout U.S. Central Command and the U.S. 5th Fleet area of responsibility. - U.S. Marines sort through more than 4,200 pounds of mail aboard the USS Bataan (LHD 5) after a replenishment at sea with the USNS Richard E. Byrd (T-AKE 4) dry cargo/ammunition ship. The 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit is deployed with the Bataan Amphibious Ready Group as a theater reserve and crisis response force throughout U.S. Central Command and the U.S. 5th Fleet area of responsibility.

U.S. Marines with Battalion Landing Team 1st Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU), exit a U.S. Marine Corps MV-22 Osprey aircraft with Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron (VMM) 263 (Reinforced), at a training range in Sierra del Retín, Spain, during Spanish Amphibious Bilateral Exercise (PHIBLEX) 2014 Feb. 24, 2014. Spanish PHIBLEX is an annual exercise designed to improve interoperability, increase readiness and develop professional and personal relationships between U.S. forces and participating nations. The MEU is deployed to the U.S. 6th Fleet area of responsibility with the Bataan Amphibious Ready Group as a sea-based, expeditionary crisis response force capable of conducting amphibious missions across the full range of military operations. - U.S. Marines with Battalion Landing Team 1st Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU), exit a U.S. Marine Corps MV-22 Osprey aircraft with Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron (VMM) 263 (Reinforced), at a training range in Sierra del Retín, Spain, during Spanish Amphibious Bilateral Exercise (PHIBLEX) 2014 Feb. 24, 2014. Spanish PHIBLEX is an annual exercise designed to improve interoperability, increase readiness and develop professional and personal relationships between U.S. forces and participating nations. The MEU is deployed to the U.S. 6th Fleet area of responsibility with the Bataan Amphibious Ready Group as a sea-based, expeditionary crisis response force capable of conducting amphibious missions across the full range of military operations.

U.S. Marine Corps Sgt. Tyler Deckard, Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron (VMM) 263 (Reinforced), 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU), corrosion control noncommissioned officer in charge and native of Bartlesville, Okla., touches up some chips and scratches in the paint of an MV-22 Osprey aircraft to protect the aircraft from corrosion aboard the USS Bataan (LHD 5). Many of the aircraft’s markings were hand painted or custom created by Deckard and other MEU Marines, including the squadron’s logo on the tail of the Ospreys. The MEU is deployed to the U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations with the Bataan Amphibious Ready Group as a sea-based, expeditionary crisis response force capable of conducting amphibious missions across the full range of military operations. - U.S. Marine Corps Sgt. Tyler Deckard, Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron (VMM) 263 (Reinforced), 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU), corrosion control noncommissioned officer in charge and native of Bartlesville, Okla., touches up some chips and scratches in the paint of an MV-22 Osprey aircraft to protect the aircraft from corrosion aboard the USS Bataan (LHD 5). Many of the aircraft’s markings were hand painted or custom created by Deckard and other MEU Marines, including the squadron’s logo on the tail of the Ospreys. The MEU is deployed to the U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations with the Bataan Amphibious Ready Group as a sea-based, expeditionary crisis response force capable of conducting amphibious missions across the full range of military operations.

A U.S. Navy MH-60S Sea Hawk helicopter with Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 22 air lifts supplies from the USNS Robert E. Peary (T-AKE 5) dry cargo/ammunition ship to the USS Bataan (LHD 5) during a replenishment at sea off the East Coast Nov. 6, 2013. The 22nd MEU is currently taking part in the Amphibious Ready Group (ARG)/MEU Exercise in preparation for its scheduled 2014 deployment to the U.S. 5th and 6th Fleet areas of responsibility with the Bataan ARG as a sea-based, expeditionary crisis response force capable of conducting amphibious missions across the full range of military operations. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Austin Hazard/Released) - A U.S. Navy MH-60S Sea Hawk helicopter with Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 22 air lifts supplies from the USNS Robert E. Peary (T-AKE 5) dry cargo/ammunition ship to the USS Bataan (LHD 5) during a replenishment at sea off the East Coast Nov. 6, 2013. The 22nd MEU is currently taking part in the Amphibious Ready Group (ARG)/MEU Exercise in preparation for its scheduled 2014 deployment to the U.S. 5th and 6th Fleet areas of responsibility with the Bataan ARG as a sea-based, expeditionary crisis response force capable of conducting amphibious missions across the full range of military operations. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Austin Hazard/Released)

U.S. Marine Corps Capt. Chad Rudisill, left, Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron (VMM) 263 (Reinforced), 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU), AH-1W Super Cobra pilot and native of Killeen, Texas, and Capt. Brett Collins, Super Cobra pilot and native of Portland, Ore., take off in support of the MEU’s Realistic Urban Training exercise at Fort Pickett, Va., Sept. 3, 2013. The MEU is scheduled to deploy in early 2014 to the U.S. 5th and 6th Fleet areas of responsibility with the Bataan Amphibious Ready Group as a sea-based, expeditionary crisis response force capable of conducting amphibious missions across the full range of military operations. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Austin Hazard/Released) - U.S. Marine Corps Capt. Chad Rudisill, left, Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron (VMM) 263 (Reinforced), 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU), AH-1W Super Cobra pilot and native of Killeen, Texas, and Capt. Brett Collins, Super Cobra pilot and native of Portland, Ore., take off in support of the MEU’s Realistic Urban Training exercise at Fort Pickett, Va., Sept. 3, 2013. The MEU is scheduled to deploy in early 2014 to the U.S. 5th and 6th Fleet areas of responsibility with the Bataan Amphibious Ready Group as a sea-based, expeditionary crisis response force capable of conducting amphibious missions across the full range of military operations. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Austin Hazard/Released)

Battalion Landing Team 1st Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU), Marines scale a rock wall at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, N.C., July 16, 2013. More than 20 battalion Marines completed the rigorous six-week assault climbers course, which culminated in three weeks of mountainous-terrain training at Camp Dawson, W.Va. The MEU is scheduled to deploy in early 2014 to the U.S. 5th and 6th Fleet areas of responsibility with the Bataan Amphibious Ready Group as a sea-based, expeditionary crisis response force capable of conducting amphibious missions across the full range of military operations. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Austin Hazard/Released) - Battalion Landing Team 1st Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU), Marines scale a rock wall at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, N.C., July 16, 2013. More than 20 battalion Marines completed the rigorous six-week assault climbers course, which culminated in three weeks of mountainous-terrain training at Camp Dawson, W.Va. The MEU is scheduled to deploy in early 2014 to the U.S. 5th and 6th Fleet areas of responsibility with the Bataan Amphibious Ready Group as a sea-based, expeditionary crisis response force capable of conducting amphibious missions across the full range of military operations. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Austin Hazard/Released)