Marines with the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit, check out to commence their liberty ashore in Bahrain, July 12, 2012. The USS Iwo Jima is portside in Bahrain conducting a resupply, ship maintenance and liberty. The electronic scanning system allows the Marines to maintain accountability of personnel as they leave from, and return to, the ship while in port. The 24th MEU is deployed with the Iwo Jima Amphibious Ready Group as a theater reserve force for U.S. Central Command. The group is providing support for maritime security operations and theater security cooperation efforts in the U.S. Navy's 5th Fleet area of responsibility.