Private First Class Jose C. Picena, right, a rifleman and Pasadena, Texas, native with Fox Company, Battalion Landing Team, 2nd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, shakes hands with Lt. Col. Gordon D. Miller, left, the BLT commanding officer, just after receiving a Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal with Combat Distinguishing Device during an awards ceremony aboard USS Bataan April 26, 2011. Picena received his medal for heroic actions while deployed to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom last year. 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, with approximately 2,200 Marines and sailors, 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.