1st Lt. Michael Smith (center), a Lakeville, Mass., native, and platoon commander for 2nd Platoon, Charlie Company, Battalion Landing Team, 1st Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit, speaks with his Marines after conducting a training assault May 5, 2012, as a part of the preparation for exercise Eager Lion 12. During Eager Lion 12 the 24th MEU will participate in a variety of training exercises with partnered nations at different locations throughout the country to increase interoperability and learn about other countries' militaries. Eager Lion 12 is a recurring, multi-national exercise designed to strengthen military-to-military relationships through a joint, whole-of-government, multinational approach to future complex national security challenges. The 24th MEU, partnered with the Iwo Jima Amphibious Ready Group, is currently deployed to the Central Command area of operations as a theater reserve and crisis response force capable of a variety of missions from full-scale combat operations to humanitarian assistance and disaster relief.
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