OFF THE COAST OF CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. - The 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit and Amphibious Squadron 8 have linked up off the coast of North Carolina to conduct the second of three at-sea training exercises to prepare for their deployment scheduled for early 2012.
The Composite Training Unit Exercise will test the Navy-Marine Corps team's ability to rapidly plan and execute a number of missions based off scenarios they could possibly face once deployed.
The training also provides the 24th MEU the opportunity to exercise their abilities as a Marine Air Ground Task Force synchronizing the ground, air and logistics elements of its Battalion Landing Team, Aviation Squadron, and Combat Logistics Battalion.
Over the past several days approximately 2,100 Marines with a variety of equipment including tanks, artillery, helicopters and vehicles have been loaded onto the amphibious assault ships USS Iwo Jima, USS New York and USS Gunston Hall using Navy hovercraft and at the Morehead City Port.
The 24th MEU/PHIBRON 8 team will travel between North Carolina and Florida in the coming days to execute several scenario-based missions that will include humanitarian assistance, Tactical Recovery of Aircraft and Personnel, and an amphibious assault back onto the beaches of Camp Lejeune, N.C.
The training is meant to develop cohesion between the 24th MEU and PHIBRON 8 in conducting amphibious operations, crisis response, and limited contingency operations while operating from the sea.
COMPTUEX is scheduled to run through Dec. 21. The next training
evolution for the 24th MEU is the Realistic Urban Training Exercise,
which is scheduled to take place at Fort Pickett, Va., in January with off-base training missions in Farmville and Virginia Beach, Va.
For more information or for imagery and video of the 24th MEU, visit the unit's websites:
http://www.marines.mil/unit/24thmeu
http://www.facebook.com/24thmeu
http://www.flickr.com/24meu
http://www.dvidshub.net/units/24thmeu
http://www.twitter.com/24thmeu
If media are interested in obtaining more information or would like to join 24th MEU during one of these exercises please contact the following :
Capt. Robert Shuford - robert.shuford@iwo-jima.usmc.mil Gunnery Sgt. Soukhi Forbes - Soukhi.forbes@iwo-jima.usmc.mil -910-451-0615