Marines with the tank platoon for Battalion Landing Team, 1st Battalion 2nd Marine Regiment, 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit, loads an M1A1 Abrams tanks onto a Landing Craft Air Cushion (LCAC) hovercraft to retrograde back to the USS Iwo Jima, June 28, 2012. The tank platoon and other Marines from the 24th MEU unloaded from USS Iwo Jima to conduct maintenance and prepare for future training exercises ashore. 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.