U.S. Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Tim Eastep, a rifleman with 1st Platoon, Alpha Company, Battalion Landing Team, 1st Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment, 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit, provides suppression fire with an M249 squad automatic weapon during a mechanized assault on a live-fire range in Djibouti on March 29, 2010. The Marines are performing a series of sustainment and joint exercises with French military service members while in Djibouti. The 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit serves as the theater reserve force for Central Command during its seven-month deployment aboard Nassau Amphibious Ready Group vessels.