MARINE CORPS AIR STATION MIRAMAR, Calif. -- Marines of Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 166 (Reinforced) "Sea Elk" packed up their gear and boarded the USS Belleau Wood before departing on an 11-day training mission with the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit March 23-24.

The squadron is designated as the composite squadron of the combat aviation element of the 11th MEU, according to Lt. Col. Will Guthrie, commanding officer, HMM-166 (Rein), 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing. The squadron, which normally functions with 12 CH-46 helicopters and 150 Marines, was reinforced Dec. 15 with personnel, aircraft and equipment from several other units. The units include more than 350 Marines from Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 169, Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 465, Marine Air Control Group 38, Marine Aviation Logistics Squadrons 16 and 39, 3rd Low-Altitude Air Defense Battalion and Marine Attack Squadron 211 based out of Marine Corps Air Station Yuma, Ariz.

The Marines are currently involved in a six-month training cycle for the 11th MEU to become special operations capable qualified before a scheduled six-month deployment to the Western Pacific and Southwest Asia regions early this summer, according to Guthrie, a Camp Lejeune, N.C., native. During the deployment, the 11th MEU will be acting as America's quick reaction force to safeguard U.S. citizens and support the country's interests abroad.

"It's our planned six-month deployment, but it could be real-world contingent because different things can happen," Guthrie commented. "HMM-163 just returned with the 13th MEU, and they were deployed for six and a half months."

The Marines wrapped up two weeks of urban training dubbed "Training in an Urban Environment" earlier this month in Phoenix and are now preparing their next phase of training at sea, said Guthrie. The squadron trained with the 11th MEU doing urban and navigation training and worked on landings in confined areas.

"Everything that we practice is all something that we potentially will have to do," said 27-year-old 1st Lt. Brian D. Maurer, human affairs officer, HMM-166, and Clearwater, Fl., native. "It's nice to work out the kinks now and see what works and what doesn't."

According to Guthrie, the Marines have three training exercises at sea over the next few months to do shipboard training before the 11th MEU is designated as special operations capable. Their training will include boat raids, traditional amphibious landings, long-range helicopter raids, forward arming and refueling point operations, time-sensitive strikes and air-defense tactics and procedures, and straight transit and small attack boat defense of the amphibious task force and of the Expeditionary Strike Group.

"We will be doing a lot of missions to work toward making the ESG and 11th MEU combat capable," Guthrie said.

During this time at sea, the Marines will also be working on getting acquainted with life aboard ship to include learning shipboard etiquettes, safety procedures, firefighting and man overboard drills.

"About 50 percent of the Marines have never been on ship before," he said. "We have a lot of combat experience but not a lot of shipboard experience. We are working on that because the ship is going to be home for six weeks during the workups and six months during the deployment in a shipboard environment."