An M1A1 Abrams tank with Battalion Landing Team 1st Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit, is loaded onto a Landing Craft Air Cushion hovercraft at Kuwait Naval Base, Aug. 6, 2012, for transportation back to amphibious assault ship USS Iwo Jima. The Marines are returning to ship after participating in a variety of training exercises in Kuwait. The 24th MEU is deployed with the Iwo Jima Amphibious Ready Group as a U.S. Central Command theater reserve force providing support for maritime security operations and theater security cooperation efforts in the U.S. 5th Fleet area of responsibility.