Sgt. Chad Richardson, an Albany, Ga., native and the

Sgt. Chad Richardson, an Albany, Ga., native and the platoon sergeant for 1st Platoon, Alpha Company, Battalion Landing Team 1st Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit, studies map data during a vertical assault training operation at Landing Zone Gerber in Kuwait, July 9, 2012. 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.