U.S. 6th FLEET AREA OF RESPONSIBILITY – Marines of the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit have continued their daily grind of staying prepared and staying busy aboard the amphibious assault ships of the Iwo Jima Amphibious Ready Group as they continue on an extended deployment that was originally planned to end the last week of November. The Marines have taken the challenge of being extended in stride and have continued to make good use of their time to remain ready when their Nation calls. Aboard USS Iwo Jima, USS New York, and USS Gunston Hall flight operations, weapons handling training and live-fire ranges, various classes, maintaining equipment, and the everyday chores of cooking and cleaning are continuous actions for the Marines as they remain ready as an expeditionary crisis response force, ready for a variety of missions.