An assault amphibious vehicle from the AAV platoon

An assault amphibious vehicle from the AAV platoon of the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit lands on the beach of Morocco, April 10, 2012, after "swimming" from the USS New York to participate in Exercise African Lion 12. The training allowed the Marines to introduce the Moroccan troops to the unique capabilities of the AAV and conduct training together to continue to build on the relationships between each service. This exercise is the first event for the 24th MEU and Iwo Jima Amphibious Ready Group, which deployed in March on a regularly scheduled deployment to serve as a theater reserve and crisis response force.