U.S. Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Kevan T. Steinman, a cannoneer with Battery B, 1st Battalion, 11th Marine Regiment, bandages a simulated wound during a Combat Life Saver Course (CLS) aboard USS New Orleans, Oct. 28, 2015. Composite Training Unit Exercise (COMPTUEX) allows Marines and sailors to further sharpen their skills and become a cohesive unit. COMPTUEX provides the Boxer Amphibious Ready Group/13th Marine Expeditionary Unit the opportunity to integrate planning while allowing focused, mission-specific training and evaluation for the Marines and their naval counterparts. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Alvin Pujols/Released) - U.S. Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Kevan T. Steinman, a cannoneer with Battery B, 1st Battalion, 11th Marine Regiment, bandages a simulated wound during a Combat Life Saver Course (CLS) aboard USS New Orleans, Oct. 28, 2015. Composite Training Unit Exercise (COMPTUEX) allows Marines and sailors to further sharpen their skills and become a cohesive unit. COMPTUEX provides the Boxer Amphibious Ready Group/13th Marine Expeditionary Unit the opportunity to integrate planning while allowing focused, mission-specific training and evaluation for the Marines and their naval counterparts. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Alvin Pujols/Released)

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.

U.S. Marines with the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit transported a purification system with a CH-53E helicopter from the USS New Orleans to the Purple Islands Dec. 7, 2015, as part of Operation Intrinsic Fidelity. - U.S. Marines with the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit transported a purification system with a CH-53E helicopter from the USS New Orleans to the Purple Islands Dec. 7, 2015, as part of Operation Intrinsic Fidelity.

NAVAL BASE SAN DIEGO, California (Dec. 2, 2015) – U.S. Marines and Sailors with the Boxer Amphibious Ready Group and the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit began loading up on ship for their Certification Exercise, the final stepping stone before deployment into the Pacific and Central areas of operation, Dec. 2, 2015. CERTEX will test the unit's ability to complete each of its mission essential tasks and determine if the unit is prepared to deploy. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Paris Capers/Released) - NAVAL BASE SAN DIEGO, California (Dec. 2, 2015) – U.S. Marines and Sailors with the Boxer Amphibious Ready Group and the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit began loading up on ship for their Certification Exercise, the final stepping stone before deployment into the Pacific and Central areas of operation, Dec. 2, 2015. CERTEX will test the unit's ability to complete each of its mission essential tasks and determine if the unit is prepared to deploy. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Paris Capers/Released)

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.

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)

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)