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Cpl. Candice Lopez, a U.S. Marine with the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit, scans the identification bands of evacuees, preparing them to be flown to a safe haven during a simulated noncombatant evacuation as part of Certification Exercise, Dec. 8, 2015. Noncombatant evacuations are one of the MEU's mission essential tasks, which it is specially trained to complete anywhere in the world within hours of notification. CERTEX is the final evaluation of the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit and Boxer ARG prior to deployment and is intended to certify their readiness to conduct integrated missions across the full spectrum of military operations. - Cpl. Candice Lopez, a U.S. Marine with the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit, scans the identification bands of evacuees, preparing them to be flown to a safe haven during a simulated noncombatant evacuation as part of Certification Exercise, Dec. 8, 2015. Noncombatant evacuations are one of the MEU's mission essential tasks, which it is specially trained to complete anywhere in the world within hours of notification. CERTEX is the final evaluation of the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit and Boxer ARG prior to deployment and is intended to certify their readiness to conduct integrated missions across the full spectrum of military operations.

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.

Cpl. Michael Vorpahl, a motor transport operator with Motor Transportation Support Detachment, Combat Logistics Battalion 13, 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit, plays with his daughter Sairi, during the “Lucky 13” Warrior Pentathlon aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton March 28, 2013. The event featured family activities for children to include a jump house, an Easter egg hunt, an appearance by an Easter Bunnyand a barbeque. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Christopher O’Quin/Released) - Cpl. Michael Vorpahl, a motor transport operator with Motor Transportation Support Detachment, Combat Logistics Battalion 13, 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit, plays with his daughter Sairi, during the “Lucky 13” Warrior Pentathlon aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton March 28, 2013. The event featured family activities for children to include a jump house, an Easter egg hunt, an appearance by an Easter Bunnyand a barbeque. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Christopher O’Quin/Released)

130321-M-OH054-015(Left) Lance Cpl’s. Nathaniel E. Winstead and Tony M. Chavez, both radio operators with 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit, log radio checks withinthe command operations center, set up aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, March 21, 2013.From March 14-21, the 13th MEU set up their COC for a MEU Exercise to better train for their Western Pacific deployment this year. (Official Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Christopher O’Quin/Released) - 130321-M-OH054-015 (Left) Lance Cpl’s. Nathaniel E. Winstead and Tony M. Chavez, both radio operators with 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit, log radio checks withinthe command operations center, set up aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, March 21, 2013.From March 14-21, the 13th MEU set up their COC for a MEU Exercise to better train for their Western Pacific deployment this year. (Official Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Christopher O’Quin/Released)

(Left) Lance Cpl. Vince Perez, a team leader and (Right) Lance Cpl. Aaron Lende, a grenadier both from 1st Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit rush toward an objective, during Exercise Iron Fist 2013 aboard Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center, Twentynine Palms, Calif., Jan. 31, 2013. During Iron Fist 2013, 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit, and JGSDF will spend three weeks participating in bilateral training to improve their interoperability, enhance military-to-military relations and sharpen skills essential. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Demetrius Morgan/Released) - (Left) Lance Cpl. Vince Perez, a team leader and (Right) Lance Cpl. Aaron Lende, a grenadier both from 1st Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit rush toward an objective, during Exercise Iron Fist 2013 aboard Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center, Twentynine Palms, Calif., Jan. 31, 2013. During Iron Fist 2013, 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit, and JGSDF will spend three weeks participating in bilateral training to improve their interoperability, enhance military-to-military relations and sharpen skills essential. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Demetrius Morgan/Released)

MARINE CORPS CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. – (Right) Maj. Gen. Melvin G. Spiese, deputy commanding general of I Marine Expeditionary Force and (Center) Col. Christopher D. Taylor, commanding officer of 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit, welcome Col. Matsushi Kunii after the Exercise Iron Fist 2013 opening ceremony, aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton. During Iron Fist 2013, the 13th MEU and Western Army Infantry Regiment, JGSDF will spend three weeks participating in bilateral training to improve their interoperability, enhance military-to-military relations and sharpen skills essential to crisis response.(U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Demetrius A Morgan/Released) - MARINE CORPS CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. – (Right) Maj. Gen. Melvin G. Spiese, deputy commanding general of I Marine Expeditionary Force and (Center) Col. Christopher D. Taylor, commanding officer of 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit, welcome Col. Matsushi Kunii after the Exercise Iron Fist 2013 opening ceremony, aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton. During Iron Fist 2013, the 13th MEU and Western Army Infantry Regiment, JGSDF will spend three weeks participating in bilateral training to improve their interoperability, enhance military-to-military relations and sharpen skills essential to crisis response. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Demetrius A Morgan/Released)

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. – Marines and Sailors with Combat Logistics Battalion 13, Combat Logistics Regiment 17, 1st Marine Logistics Group, search Marines role playing as American civilians during noncombatant evacuation operations training aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, July 12, 2012. Marines and Sailors searched, identified and prepared role players for transportation just like in a real world situation. For more than a week, CLB-13 practiced providing humanitarian assistance, mass casualty evacuation, and noncombatant evacuation operations in preparation for next year’s deployment with the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. David Gonzalez/Released) - MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. – Marines and Sailors with Combat Logistics Battalion 13, Combat Logistics Regiment 17, 1st Marine Logistics Group, search Marines role playing as American civilians during noncombatant evacuation operations training aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, July 12, 2012. Marines and Sailors searched, identified and prepared role players for transportation just like in a real world situation. For more than a week, CLB-13 practiced providing humanitarian assistance, mass casualty evacuation, and noncombatant evacuation operations in preparation for next year’s deployment with the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. David Gonzalez/Released)

(Right) Cpl. Samuel Gray, a chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear specialist with the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit, relaxes with his wife (Center Right) Katie and their friends after the Anaheim Independence Day Parade, July 4, 2012. The 13th MEU Color Guard and a platoon-size formation of Marines and Sailors marched throughout the streets, led by Col. Christopher D. Taylor, commanding officer of the 13th MEU and Grand Marshall of the Parade. The City of Anaheim adopted the unit in October 2007 and its Adoption Committee has since supported the MEU in numerous ways including, gift baskets for new parents, ball fundraising and their annual Christmas party. (Official Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Christopher O’Quin/Released) - (Right) Cpl. Samuel Gray, a chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear specialist with the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit, relaxes with his wife (Center Right) Katie and their friends after the Anaheim Independence Day Parade, July 4, 2012. The 13th MEU Color Guard and a platoon-size formation of Marines and Sailors marched throughout the streets, led by Col. Christopher D. Taylor, commanding officer of the 13th MEU and Grand Marshall of the Parade. The City of Anaheim adopted the unit in October 2007 and its Adoption Committee has since supported the MEU in numerous ways including, gift baskets for new parents, ball fundraising and their annual Christmas party. (Official Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Christopher O’Quin/Released)

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. – Sgt. Michael T. Carradine, a student with 1st Platoon, Class 4-12, Sergeant’s Course, Staff Non-Commissioned Officer Academy Camp Pendleton, disassembles a M249 Light Machine Gun during the Course’s culminating event aboard the base, June 6, 2012. The culminating event tested the sergeants on many of the topics and portions of the course curriculum to include, land navigation, call for fire and tactical evacuation of wounded. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Christopher O’Quin/Released) - MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. – Sgt. Michael T. Carradine, a student with 1st Platoon, Class 4-12, Sergeant’s Course, Staff Non-Commissioned Officer Academy Camp Pendleton, disassembles a M249 Light Machine Gun during the Course’s culminating event aboard the base, June 6, 2012. The culminating event tested the sergeants on many of the topics and portions of the course curriculum to include, land navigation, call for fire and tactical evacuation of wounded. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Christopher O’Quin/Released)

(Left) Capt. Gregory A. Lizak, assistant communications officer, 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit, I Marine Expeditionary Force, accepts the 2011 Copernicus Award from Brig. Gen. Kevin Nally, director, C4/chief information officer of the Marine Corps, and members of the Armed Forces Communications and Electronics Association (AFCEA) during a ceremony at the San Diego Convention Center, Jan. 24. He received the award for his execution and innovation of San Antonio Class (LPD-17) ship communication advancements, Marine Corps Air-Ground Task Force broadband communications and advance over-the-horizon narrowband communications. (Official U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Christopher O’Quin/Released)::r::::n:: - (Left) Capt. Gregory A. Lizak, assistant communications officer, 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit, I Marine Expeditionary Force, accepts the 2011 Copernicus Award from Brig. Gen. Kevin Nally, director, C4/chief information officer of the Marine Corps, and members of the Armed Forces Communications and Electronics Association (AFCEA) during a ceremony at the San Diego Convention Center, Jan. 24. He received the award for his execution and innovation of San Antonio Class (LPD-17) ship communication advancements, Marine Corps Air-Ground Task Force broadband communications and advance over-the-horizon narrowband communications. (Official U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Christopher O’Quin/Released)::r::::n::