Col. Frank Donovan, commanding officer of the 24th

Col. Frank Donovan, commanding officer of the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit, speaks with Thamer Alfaiez, the governor of Aqaba City, about the positive experiences between the 24th MEU and their Jordanian counterparts during Exercise Eager Lion 12 here, May 16, 2012. Throughout Eager Lion 12 the 24th MEU is participating in a variety of training exercises with partnered nations to increase interoperability and learn about other countries' militaries. Eager Lion 12 is a recurring exercise designed to strengthen military-to-military relationships through a joint, whole-of-government, multinational approach to future complex national security challenges. The 24th MEU, partnered with the Iwo Jima Amphibious Ready Group, is currently deployed to the Central Command area of operations as a theater-reserve and crisis-response force.