Expeditionary unit deploys as America's force in readiness

A Marine with the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit looks on as family members say farewell here Nov. 14. The unit, Amphibious Squadron 5 and USS Makin Island embarked USS Makin Island, USS New Orleans and USS Pearl Harbor in San Diego beginning a seven-month deployment through the Western Pacific and Middle East regions.
11/15/2011 By Sgt. Elyssa Quesada
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SAN DIEGO  — More than 2,300 Marines and sailors with the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit began a seven-month deployment to the Western Pacific and Middle East regions Nov. 14 after embarking USS Makin Island, USS New Orleans and USS Pearl Harbor here.
The mission for this forward deployed unit will be to provide a rapid-response force capable of conducting conventional amphibious and maritime operations from sea, by surface or air.
"Our Marines and sailors have excelled throughout our rigorous training cycle, and I am proud to be a part of this organization as we go downrange," said Col. Michael R. Hudson, the 11th MEU's commanding officer.
"We embody the Corps' amphibious heritage with an agile and scalable force able to do great things from sea or land to either solve a given crisis or enable follow-on forces" Hudson said. "We leave our loved ones knowing that we are ready and that they too are well prepared for this deployment"
After pierside goodbyes to friends and family members, the service members left San Diego Bay and sailed westward to assume the role as the amphibious forces in readiness.
The MEU's major subordinate elements are Battalion Landing Team 3/1, Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 268 (Reinforced) and Combat Logistics Battalion 11. This team, along with the unit's command element, has been working together as a complete air-ground-logistics team since May.

11/15/2011  By Courtesy Story  , 11th MEU / marines.mil

Cpl. Robert R. Jones directs a tank with Battalion Landing Team 3/1, 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit, in the well deck Nov. 14. The battalion is the ground combat element for the unit, which embarked USS Makin Island, USS New Orleans and USS Pearl Harbor in San Diego and began its seven-month deployment to the Western Pacific and Middle East regions. Jones, an 11th MEU combat cargo Marine, is a 24-year-old Toledo,Ohio, native.
11/15/2011 By Sgt. Elyssa Quesada
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An AV-8B Harrier with Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 268 (Reinforced) lands here Nov. 14. The squadron is the aviation combat element for the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit, which embarked USS Makin Island, USS New Orleans and USS Pearl Harbor in San Diego harbor and began its seven-month deployment to the Western Pacific and Middle East regions.
11/15/2011 By Sgt. Elyssa Quesada
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Marines and sailors with the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit, Amphibious Squadron 5 and USS Makin Island man the rails as the ship sails through the San Diego harbor beginning a seven-month deployment through the Western Pacific and Middle East regions here Nov. 14.
11/15/2011 By Sgt. Elyssa Quesada
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Lance Cpl. Will D. Cornell kisses his wife aboard USS Makin Island here Nov. 14. Cornell, 23, is from Clinton, Okla., and serves as a combat engineer with Battalion Landing Team 3/1. The battalion is the ground combat element for the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit, which embarked USS Makin Island, USS New Orleans and USS Pearl Harbor in San Diego beginning a seven-month deployment through the Western Pacific and Middle East regions.
11/15/2011 By Cpl. Tommy Huynh
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Cpl. Kenyatta E. Cone and his family pose for a photo aboard USS Makin Island here Nov. 14. Cone, 21, who hails from San Diego, serves as an administrative clerk for the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit. The unit embarked USS Makin Island, USS New Orleans and USS Pearl Harbor in San Diego beginning a seven-month deployment through the Western Pacific and Middle East regions.
11/15/2011 By Cpl. Tommy Huynh
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Petty Officer 3rd Class Haadi M. Turner hugs her children goodbye aboard USS Makin Island here Nov. 14. Turner, 25, is from Gaitier, Miss., and serves as an operations specialist with USS Makin Island. Marines and sailors with the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit, Amphibious Squadron 5 and USS Makin Island in San Diego beginning a seven-month deployment through the Western Pacific and Middle East regions.
11/15/2011 By Cpl. Tommy Huynh
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Lance Cpl. Erick Lundrigan, 21, hugs his wife before deploying aboard USS Makin Island here Nov. 14. Lundrigan is from Lynn, Mass., and serves with the ship's combat cargo detachment. The 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit embarked USS Makin Island, USS New Orleans and USS Pearl Harbor in San Diego beginning a seven-month deployment through the Western Pacific and Middle East regions.
11/15/2011 By Cpl. Tommy Huynh
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Marines and sailors with the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit, Amphibious Squadron 5 and USS Makin Island man the rails as the ship sails through the San Diego harbor beginning a seven-month deployment through the Western Pacific and Middle East regions here Nov. 14.
11/15/2011 By Cpl. Gene A. Ainsworth III
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Marines and sailors with the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit, Amphibious Squadron 5 and USS Makin Island man the rails as the ship sails through the San Diego harbor beginning a seven-month deployment through the Western Pacific and Middle East regions here Nov. 14.
11/15/2011 By Cpl. Gene A. Ainsworth III
download hi-res

Marines and sailors with the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit, Amphibious Squadron 5 and USS Makin Island man the rails as the ship sails through the San Diego harbor beginning a seven-month deployment through the Western Pacific and Middle East regions here Nov. 14.
11/15/2011 By Cpl. Gene A. Ainsworth III
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Posted in: NAVY, USMC