U.S. Marines and Sailors with Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 166 Reinforced, the air combat element of the 13th Marines Expeditionary Unit, bought pink unit patches to raise money for breast cancer research during Breast Cancer Awareness Month. One dollar from every patch sold was donated. - U.S. Marines and Sailors with Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 166 Reinforced, the air combat element of the 13th Marines Expeditionary Unit, bought pink unit patches to raise money for breast cancer research during Breast Cancer Awareness Month. One dollar from every patch sold was donated.

An infantryman with Assault Amphibian Vehicle Platoon, Company E, Battalion Landing Team 2/1, the ground combat element for the Boxer Amphibious Ready Group and 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit, fires from behind cover as an Assault Amphibian Vehicle moves into position to provide supporting fire during amphibious assault training as part of Composite Training Unit Exercise, Oct. 23, 2015. COMPTUEX provides the MEU ARG the opportunity to integrate naval training while also allowing focused, mission-specific training and evaluation for the Navy-Marine Corps team. - An infantryman with Assault Amphibian Vehicle Platoon, Company E, Battalion Landing Team 2/1, the ground combat element for the Boxer Amphibious Ready Group and 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit, fires from behind cover as an Assault Amphibian Vehicle moves into position to provide supporting fire during amphibious assault training as part of Composite Training Unit Exercise, Oct. 23, 2015. COMPTUEX provides the MEU ARG the opportunity to integrate naval training while also allowing focused, mission-specific training and evaluation for the Navy-Marine Corps team.

A Marine with Combat Logistics Battalion 13, the logistics combat element for the Boxer Amphibious Ready Group and 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit, checks passports and identification at the orientation station of the evacuee collection center during non-combatant evacuation operations at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California as part of as part of Composite Training Unit Exercise, Oct. 23, 2015. COMPTUEX provides the MEU ARG the opportunity to integrate naval training while also allowing focused, mission-specific training and evaluation for the Navy-Marine Corps team. - A Marine with Combat Logistics Battalion 13, the logistics combat element for the Boxer Amphibious Ready Group and 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit, checks passports and identification at the orientation station of the evacuee collection center during non-combatant evacuation operations at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California as part of as part of Composite Training Unit Exercise, Oct. 23, 2015. COMPTUEX provides the MEU ARG the opportunity to integrate naval training while also allowing focused, mission-specific training and evaluation for the Navy-Marine Corps team.

A Landing Craft Air Cushion splashes onto San Clemente Island, Calif., during Supporting Arms Coordination Center Exercise on Sept. 24, 2015. This exercise is the first the Marines and Sailors will work together at sea as they prepare for deployment to the Pacific and Central Command areas of responsibility in early 2016. - A Landing Craft Air Cushion splashes onto San Clemente Island, Calif., during Supporting Arms Coordination Center Exercise on Sept. 24, 2015. This exercise is the first the Marines and Sailors will work together at sea as they prepare for deployment to the Pacific and Central Command areas of responsibility in early 2016.

Family and friends of Marines and Sailors with the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit, I Marine Expeditionary Force, rose with the sun to observe amphibious operations aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Calif., Sept. 28, 2015. The expo gave families an opportunity to observe their loved ones at work as well as a chance to build connections that will help them through the 13th MEU’s upcoming deployment. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Caitlin Bevel) - Family and friends of Marines and Sailors with the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit, I Marine Expeditionary Force, rose with the sun to observe amphibious operations aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Calif., Sept. 28, 2015. The expo gave families an opportunity to observe their loved ones at work as well as a chance to build connections that will help them through the 13th MEU’s upcoming deployment. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Caitlin Bevel)

Gunnery Sgt. Lagarian Smith, cyber network chief with the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit, guides Cpl. Justin Henderson, a 13th MEU cyber network specialist, through troubleshooting techniques as they set up network communications aboard the USS Boxer during PHIBRON-MEU Intergration (PMINT) exercise Sept. 24, 2015. The exercise marks the first time 13th MEU Marines and Sailors with the Boxer Amphibious Ready Group get to work together at sea before their deployment to the Pacific and Central Command areas of responsibility in early 2016. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by: Staff Sgt. Terika S. King/Relased) - Gunnery Sgt. Lagarian Smith, cyber network chief with the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit, guides Cpl. Justin Henderson, a 13th MEU cyber network specialist, through troubleshooting techniques as they set up network communications aboard the USS Boxer during PHIBRON-MEU Intergration (PMINT) exercise Sept. 24, 2015. The exercise marks the first time 13th MEU Marines and Sailors with the Boxer Amphibious Ready Group get to work together at sea before their deployment to the Pacific and Central Command areas of responsibility in early 2016. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by: Staff Sgt. Terika S. King/Relased)

Naval Base San Diego, California (Sept. 24, 2015) - Sgt. Martin Kassner, a pay clerk with the Disbursing Section for the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit, checks for the micro-security measures on a hundred dollar bill before accepting it as payment toward a Navy Cash Card during PHIBRON-MEU Integration Training Exercise (PMINT), Sept. 24, 2015. Kassner and other disbursing Marines are responsible for any discrepancies in their balances, so they take care to ensure all bills are legitimate. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Paris Capers/RELEASED) - Naval Base San Diego, California (Sept. 24, 2015) - Sgt. Martin Kassner, a pay clerk with the Disbursing Section for the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit, checks for the micro-security measures on a hundred dollar bill before accepting it as payment toward a Navy Cash Card during PHIBRON-MEU Integration Training Exercise (PMINT), Sept. 24, 2015. Kassner and other disbursing Marines are responsible for any discrepancies in their balances, so they take care to ensure all bills are legitimate. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Paris Capers/RELEASED)

A U.S. Marine with the Combined Anti-Armor Team (CAAT) within Battalion Landing Team (BLT) 2/1, the ground combat element for the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit, pulls a radio antenna clear of the backblast of a Tube-launched, Optically-tracked, Wire-guided (TOW) missile during training on Aug. 21, 2015. The CAAT, composed of heavy machine gunners and anti-tank missilemen, is used to combat hardened targets as well as provide security. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Paris Capers /RELEASED) - A U.S. Marine with the Combined Anti-Armor Team (CAAT) within Battalion Landing Team (BLT) 2/1, the ground combat element for the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit, pulls a radio antenna clear of the backblast of a Tube-launched, Optically-tracked, Wire-guided (TOW) missile during training on Aug. 21, 2015. The CAAT, composed of heavy machine gunners and anti-tank missilemen, is used to combat hardened targets as well as provide security. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Paris Capers /RELEASED)

Lance Cpl. Andrew Anderson, a rotor mechanic and Steamboat Springs, Colorado native with Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 166 Reinforced (VMM-166 (REIN)), the aviation combat element for the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit, changes the oil filter in one of the rotors of an MV-22 Osprey during Realistic Urban Training (RUT) Exercise at Fort Hunter Liggett, California, Sept. 7, 2015. RUT is the final ground-based training requirement prior to deployment as the 13th MEU moves toward operating embarked at sea. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Paris Capers/ Released) - Lance Cpl. Andrew Anderson, a rotor mechanic and Steamboat Springs, Colorado native with Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 166 Reinforced (VMM-166 (REIN)), the aviation combat element for the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit, changes the oil filter in one of the rotors of an MV-22 Osprey during Realistic Urban Training (RUT) Exercise at Fort Hunter Liggett, California, Sept. 7, 2015. RUT is the final ground-based training requirement prior to deployment as the 13th MEU moves toward operating embarked at sea. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Paris Capers/ Released)

Marines attached to the Battalion Landing Team, 2nd Battalion, 1st Marine Division, with the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU), carry simulated casualties back to base after conducting a Tactical Recovery of Aircraft and Personnel exercise during Realistic Urban Training (RUT) at Fort Hunter Liggett, California, Sept. 3, 2015. RUT is the final ground-based training requirement prior to deployment, as the 13th MEU moves toward operating embarked at sea. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Briauna Birl / Released) - Marines attached to the Battalion Landing Team, 2nd Battalion, 1st Marine Division, with the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU), carry simulated casualties back to base after conducting a Tactical Recovery of Aircraft and Personnel exercise during Realistic Urban Training (RUT) at Fort Hunter Liggett, California, Sept. 3, 2015. RUT is the final ground-based training requirement prior to deployment, as the 13th MEU moves toward operating embarked at sea. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Briauna Birl / Released)