More than 2,000 Marines were welcomed home by family, friends and loved ones after seven months of deployment.
Approximately 2,200 Marines from the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit returned home to Camp Pendleton and Miramar after spending seven months in the Western Pacific, Middle East and Horn of Africa regions. The unit deployed with the Makin Island Amphibious Ready Group on July 25.
The marines came to shore on helicopters and landing craft. A small number will return on Feb. 25 by ship.
During their deployment, marines participated in various training exercises from Malaysia to Kuwait, where they gained fundamental skills and worked alongside armed forces from foreign nations.
