A Marine with Fox Company from the Battalion Landing Team, 2nd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit, fires an M249 squad automatic weapon during a night assault at the infantry platoon battle course aboard Fort Pickett, Va., Dec. 13, 2010. The BLT more accurately recreated a combat environment by training with little to no illumination as they conducted the night assault. For two weeks elements of the 22nd MEU conducted a series of training events designed to prepare them for upcoming subsequent deployment in 2011. The Marines and sailors of the 22nd MEU recently began an aggressive series of progressively, more complex pre-deployment exercises designed to train and test the MEU's ability to operate as a cohesive and effective fighting force. The 22nd MEU is a multi-mission capable force of 2,200 Marines and sailors and comprised of Aviation Combat Element, Marine Tilt Rotor Squadron 263 (Reinforced); Logistics Combat Element, Combat Logistics Battalion 22; Ground Combat Element, Battalion Landing Team, 2nd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment; and its command element.