USS Bataan pushes away from the Morehead City State Port, March 28, 2011. The 22nd MEU is currently conducting pre-deployment training exercises with Amphibious Squadron 6, and is embarked aboard the USS BATAAN Amphibious Ready Group. The 22nd MEU is a multi-mission capable Marine Air Ground Task Force comprised of Aviation Combat Element, Marine Medium Tilt Rotor Squadron 263 (Reinforced); Logistics Combat Element, Combat Logistics Battalion 22; Ground Combat Element, Battalion Landing Team, 2nd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment; and its command element. - USS Bataan pushes away from the Morehead City State Port, March 28, 2011. The 22nd MEU is currently conducting pre-deployment training exercises with Amphibious Squadron 6, and is embarked aboard the USS BATAAN Amphibious Ready Group. The 22nd MEU is a multi-mission capable Marine Air Ground Task Force comprised of Aviation Combat Element, Marine Medium Tilt Rotor Squadron 263 (Reinforced); Logistics Combat Element, Combat Logistics Battalion 22; Ground Combat Element, Battalion Landing Team, 2nd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment; and its command element.

Lieutenant General John M. Paxton, commanding general, II Marine Expeditionary Force, center, salutes U.S. Navy ceremonial sideboys while boarding USS Bataan during a visit to the ship, April 4, 2011. The Marines and sailors of the 22nd MEU are currently deployed with Amphibious Squadron 6 aboard the USS Bataan Amphibious Ready Group and will continue to train and test the MEU’s ability to operate as a cohesive and effective Marine Air Ground Task Force. The 22nd MEU is a multi-mission capable Marine Air Ground Task Force comprised of Aviation Combat Element, Marine Medium Tilt Rotor Squadron 263 (Reinforced); Logistics Combat Element, Combat Logistics Battalion 22; Ground Combat Element, Battalion Landing Team, 2nd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment; and its command element. - Lieutenant General John M. Paxton, commanding general, II Marine Expeditionary Force, center, salutes U.S. Navy ceremonial sideboys while boarding USS Bataan during a visit to the ship, April 4, 2011. The Marines and sailors of the 22nd MEU are currently deployed with Amphibious Squadron 6 aboard the USS Bataan Amphibious Ready Group and will continue to train and test the MEU’s ability to operate as a cohesive and effective Marine Air Ground Task Force. The 22nd MEU is a multi-mission capable Marine Air Ground Task Force comprised of Aviation Combat Element, Marine Medium Tilt Rotor Squadron 263 (Reinforced); Logistics Combat Element, Combat Logistics Battalion 22; Ground Combat Element, Battalion Landing Team, 2nd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment; and its command element.

Landing Craft Air Cushion 25 prepares to land aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune’s Onslow Beach during a training exercise with the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit, March 11, 2011. The Marines and sailors of the 22nd MEU are currently deployed with Amphibious Squadron 6 aboard USS Bataan Amphibious Ready Group and will continue to conduct a series of progressively complex exercises designed to train and test the MEU’s ability to operate as a cohesive and effective Marine Air Ground Task Force. - Landing Craft Air Cushion 25 prepares to land aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune’s Onslow Beach during a training exercise with the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit, March 11, 2011. The Marines and sailors of the 22nd MEU are currently deployed with Amphibious Squadron 6 aboard USS Bataan Amphibious Ready Group and will continue to conduct a series of progressively complex exercises designed to train and test the MEU’s ability to operate as a cohesive and effective Marine Air Ground Task Force.

Marines and sailors with the 22nd Expeditionary Unit play Bingo aboard USS Bataan April 21, 2011. Morale, Welfare and Recreation features multiple events like bingo to keep Marines and sailors entertained, motivated, and build camaraderie during deployment. The Marines and sailors of the 22nd MEU are currently deployed with Amphibious Squadron 6 aboard the USS Bataan Amphibious Ready Group and will continue to train and improve the MEU’s ability to operate as a cohesive and effective Marine Air Ground Task Force. The 22nd MEU is a multi-mission, capable force, commanded by Col. Eric J. Steidl and comprised of Aviation Combat Element, Marine Medium Tilt Rotor Squadron 263 (Reinforced); Logistics Combat Element, Combat Logistics Battalion 22; Ground Combat Element, Battalion Landing Team, 2nd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment; and its Command Element. (Official Marine Corps Photo by Sgt. Amber Blanchard/Released) - Marines and sailors with the 22nd Expeditionary Unit play Bingo aboard USS Bataan April 21, 2011. Morale, Welfare and Recreation features multiple events like bingo to keep Marines and sailors entertained, motivated, and build camaraderie during deployment. The Marines and sailors of the 22nd MEU are currently deployed with Amphibious Squadron 6 aboard the USS Bataan Amphibious Ready Group and will continue to train and improve the MEU’s ability to operate as a cohesive and effective Marine Air Ground Task Force. The 22nd MEU is a multi-mission, capable force, commanded by Col. Eric J. Steidl and comprised of Aviation Combat Element, Marine Medium Tilt Rotor Squadron 263 (Reinforced); Logistics Combat Element, Combat Logistics Battalion 22; Ground Combat Element, Battalion Landing Team, 2nd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment; and its Command Element. (Official Marine Corps Photo by Sgt. Amber Blanchard/Released)

Petty Officer 3rd Class James C. Lynch, front, a corpsman with Marine Medium Tilt Rotor Squadron 263 (Reinforced), 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit, and Nashville, Tenn., native, and Petty Officer 2nd Class Jose E. Muzaurieta, rear, a corpsman with VMM-263 (Rein.), 22nd MEU, and St. Petersburg, Fla., native, carry a casualty to an MV-22B Osprey with VMM-263, during tactical evacuation training at Stone Bay aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, N.C., Feb. 15, 2011. The corpsmen practiced treating patients while in flight during a two-week tactical evacuation course taught by the Special Operations Training Group, II Marine Expeditionary Force. The Marines and sailors of the 22nd MEU are in the early stages of their pre-deployment training program, which is a series of progressively complex exercises designed to train and test the MEU's ability to operate as a cohesive and effective fighting force. - Petty Officer 3rd Class James C. Lynch, front, a corpsman with Marine Medium Tilt Rotor Squadron 263 (Reinforced), 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit, and Nashville, Tenn., native, and Petty Officer 2nd Class Jose E. Muzaurieta, rear, a corpsman with VMM-263 (Rein.), 22nd MEU, and St. Petersburg, Fla., native, carry a casualty to an MV-22B Osprey with VMM-263, during tactical evacuation training at Stone Bay aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, N.C., Feb. 15, 2011. The corpsmen practiced treating patients while in flight during a two-week tactical evacuation course taught by the Special Operations Training Group, II Marine Expeditionary Force. The Marines and sailors of the 22nd MEU are in the early stages of their pre-deployment training program, which is a series of progressively complex exercises designed to train and test the MEU's ability to operate as a cohesive and effective fighting force.

Corporal Brandon S. Mettlen, right, 25, a Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear defense specialist and native of Colnosneil, Texas, native, prepares to descend into a disaster area during a technical rescue certification exercise, Feb. 5, 2011. Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear defense Marines with the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit participated in specialized classes on technical rescue during a two-week training evolution aboard the Center for National Response, in Gallagher, W.V. The Marines and sailors of the 22nd MEU are in the early stages of their pre-deployment training program, which is a series of progressively complex exercises designed to train and test the MEU's ability to operate as a cohesive and effective fighting force. - Corporal Brandon S. Mettlen, right, 25, a Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear defense specialist and native of Colnosneil, Texas, native, prepares to descend into a disaster area during a technical rescue certification exercise, Feb. 5, 2011. Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear defense Marines with the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit participated in specialized classes on technical rescue during a two-week training evolution aboard the Center for National Response, in Gallagher, W.V. The Marines and sailors of the 22nd MEU are in the early stages of their pre-deployment training program, which is a series of progressively complex exercises designed to train and test the MEU's ability to operate as a cohesive and effective fighting force.