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Lance Cpl. Zack K. Switzer with Weapons Platoon, Company I, Battalion Landing Team, 3rd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit, explains to his counterparts the importance of keeping of staying close while clearing rooms. The Marines and sailors of BLT 3/8 are scheduled to deploy as the Ground Combat Element for the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit later this year. (U.S. Marine Corps Photo by Sgt. Ezekiel R. Kitandwe) - Lance Cpl. Zack K. Switzer with Weapons Platoon, Company I, Battalion Landing Team, 3rd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit, explains to his counterparts the importance of keeping of staying close while clearing rooms. The Marines and sailors of BLT 3/8 are scheduled to deploy as the Ground Combat Element for the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit later this year. (U.S. Marine Corps Photo by Sgt. Ezekiel R. Kitandwe)

Children raise patriotic signs aboard Fork Union Military Academy during a visit from Marines of the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit in Fork Union, Va., April 24, 2007. The 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit consists of its Ground Combat Element, Battalion Landing Team, 3rd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment; Aviation Combat Element, Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 261 (Reinforced); Logistics Combat Element, Combat Logistics Battalion 22; and Command Element. The 22nd MEU is scheduled to deploy later this year. - Children raise patriotic signs aboard Fork Union Military Academy during a visit from Marines of the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit in Fork Union, Va., April 24, 2007. The 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit consists of its Ground Combat Element, Battalion Landing Team, 3rd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment; Aviation Combat Element, Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 261 (Reinforced); Logistics Combat Element, Combat Logistics Battalion 22; and Command Element. The 22nd MEU is scheduled to deploy later this year.

A Marine with Company I, Battalion Landing Team, 3rd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit, suppresses an enemy position to cover the movement of his fellow Marine during a training scenario aboard Fort Pickett, Va., April 18, 2007. The training evolution included Iraqi role-players and Hollywood-style special effects. The Marines and sailors of BLT 3/8 are scheduled to deploy as the Ground Combat Element of the 22nd MEU later this year. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Peter R. Miller) - A Marine with Company I, Battalion Landing Team, 3rd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit, suppresses an enemy position to cover the movement of his fellow Marine during a training scenario aboard Fort Pickett, Va., April 18, 2007. The training evolution included Iraqi role-players and Hollywood-style special effects. The Marines and sailors of BLT 3/8 are scheduled to deploy as the Ground Combat Element of the 22nd MEU later this year. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Peter R. Miller)

Marines with Battalion Landing Team, 3rd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit, take cover during an Improvised Explosive Device recognition training exercise aboard Fort Pickett, Va., April 21, 2007. The Marines were honing their skills in case they are faced with a real-life IED attack when they deploy as the as the Ground Combat Element for the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit later this year. (U.S. Marine Corps Photo by Sgt. Ezekiel R. Kitandwe)::n:: - Marines with Battalion Landing Team, 3rd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit, take cover during an Improvised Explosive Device recognition training exercise aboard Fort Pickett, Va., April 21, 2007. The Marines were honing their skills in case they are faced with a real-life IED attack when they deploy as the as the Ground Combat Element for the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit later this year. (U.S. Marine Corps Photo by Sgt. Ezekiel R. Kitandwe)::n::

Lt. Col. Matthew G. St. Clair, commanding officer of Battalion Landing Team, 3rd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, awards the Bronze Star Medal with Combat Distinguishing Device to Capt. Brian M. Harvey, company commander for Weapons Company, BLT 3/8, during an awards ceremony held aboard Camp Lejeune April 13, 2007. BLT 3/8 is set to deploy as the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit's Ground Combat Element. (U.S. Marine Corps Photo by Lance Cpl. Christopher Sam Vega) - Lt. Col. Matthew G. St. Clair, commanding officer of Battalion Landing Team, 3rd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, awards the Bronze Star Medal with Combat Distinguishing Device to Capt. Brian M. Harvey, company commander for Weapons Company, BLT 3/8, during an awards ceremony held aboard Camp Lejeune April 13, 2007. BLT 3/8 is set to deploy as the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit's Ground Combat Element. (U.S. Marine Corps Photo by Lance Cpl. Christopher Sam Vega)

A Marine with Kilo Co., Battalion Landing Team 3rd Bn., 8th Marines, 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit, takes cover behind a column and provides support by fire during a training scenario at the Military Operations in Urban Terrain facility aboard Camp Lejeune, N.C., March 27, 2007. The Marine is wearing a protective mask and gloves required for the presence of 9 mm marking ammunition being shot during the exercise. The Marines and Sailors of BLT 3/8 are currently training for an upcoming deployment as the Ground Combat Element for the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit scheduled later this year. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Peter R. Miller) - A Marine with Kilo Co., Battalion Landing Team 3rd Bn., 8th Marines, 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit, takes cover behind a column and provides support by fire during a training scenario at the Military Operations in Urban Terrain facility aboard Camp Lejeune, N.C., March 27, 2007. The Marine is wearing a protective mask and gloves required for the presence of 9 mm marking ammunition being shot during the exercise. The Marines and Sailors of BLT 3/8 are currently training for an upcoming deployment as the Ground Combat Element for the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit scheduled later this year. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Peter R. Miller)

A student peers through the scope of his M40-A3 sniper rifle during the team-urban assault portion of the Marine Corps Special Operations Training Group Urban Sniper Course held aboard Camp Lejeune, N.C., April 5, 2007. Two-man teams assaulted through the "Dodge City" multipurpose shooting range as a part of the course and were graded on their abilities to accurately engage multiple targets with precision weapons. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Peter R. Miller) - A student peers through the scope of his M40-A3 sniper rifle during the team-urban assault portion of the Marine Corps Special Operations Training Group Urban Sniper Course held aboard Camp Lejeune, N.C., April 5, 2007. Two-man teams assaulted through the "Dodge City" multipurpose shooting range as a part of the course and were graded on their abilities to accurately engage multiple targets with precision weapons. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Peter R. Miller)

A Marine with Combined Anti-Armor Team, Battalion Landing Team, 3rd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit, posts security out of a window during a raid training evolution aboard Camp Lejeune, N.C., April 6, 2007. The Marines and sailors of BLT 3/8 are scheduled to deploy as the Ground Combat Element of the 22nd MEU later this year. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Peter R. Miller) - A Marine with Combined Anti-Armor Team, Battalion Landing Team, 3rd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit, posts security out of a window during a raid training evolution aboard Camp Lejeune, N.C., April 6, 2007. The Marines and sailors of BLT 3/8 are scheduled to deploy as the Ground Combat Element of the 22nd MEU later this year. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Peter R. Miller)