Assault Amphibious Vehicles carry Marines with Alpha Company, Battalion Landing Team 1st Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit, to their objective during an amphibious training raid in Djibouti, Aug. 15, 2012. Alpha Company came ashore from the USS New York, which loitered off the coast of Djibouti in support of 24th MEU amphibious operations. Elements of the 24th MEU are operating in and around Djibouti, taking part in and coordinating various unilateral exercises and bilateral events with foreign militaries. The 24th MEU is deployed with the Iwo Jima Amphibious Ready Group as a theater reserve and crisis response force in support of U.S. Central Command and the U.S. Navy's 5th Fleet area of responsibility.