A U.S. Marine with Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron (VMM) 263 (Reinforced), 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU), stands as a fire guard during flight operations aboard the USS Bataan (LHD 5) off the East Coast, at sea Dec. 9, 2013. The MEU is currently taking part in the Composite Training Unit Exercise in preparation for its scheduled 2014 deployment 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.
Lance Cpl. Caleb McDonald
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