Role players are welcomed and processed aboard USS Iwo Jima after being evacuated by Marines and Sailors with 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit and Amphibious Squadron 8, during a simulated Noncombatant Evacuation Operation, Feb. 2, 2012. A team of Marines from the 24th MEU's Battalion Landing Team 1st Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, and Military Police Detachment, Combat Logistics Battalion 24, team flew more than 100 miles to their objective using MV-22 Ospreys from Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron VMM-261 (Reinforced) to evacuate the role players. Once on board the role players are processed through the Navy's NEO reception plan. The 24th MEU is conducting their Certification Exercise with Amphibious Squadron 8 scheduled Jan. 27 to Feb. 17, which includes a series of missions intended to evaluate and certify the unit for their upcoming deployment.