U.S. Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Brandon Focer heaves his pack over his head as he prepares to board a landing craft utility to embark aboard the amphibious assault ship USS Nassau (LHA 4) in Radio Island, N.C., on Oct. 27, 2009. Focer is assigned to Charlie Company, 2nd Platoon, 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit. The Nassau and 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit are participating in a composite unit training exercise designed to provide realistic training environments for U.S. naval forces that closely replicate the operational challenges routinely encountered during military operations worldwide.