U.S. Marines from the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit deploy to establish a firing line during an amphibious landing at Abd-el Kerim beach on Egypt's Mediterranean coast for Exercise Bright Star 98 on Oct. 25, 1997. Bright Star 98 is a joint/combined coalition tactical air, ground, naval and special operations forces field training exercise in Egypt. Members of the U.S. Central Command's Army, Air Force, Navy, Marine and special operations components, and members of the Air and Army National Guard, and forces from Egypt, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, France, Italy and the United Kingdom are taking part in the exercise. The exercise is intended to improve readiness and interoperability between U.S., Egyptian and coalition forces. The 24th MEU is deployed with the USS Guam Amphibious Ready Group.