U.S. Marines and Sailors with the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit conduct a birthday cake cutting ceremony to celebrate the MEU’s 46th birthday aboard the amphibious assault ship USS Kearsarge (LHD 3), April 24, 2013. The 26th MEU is deployed to the 5th Fleet area of operations aboard the Kearsarge Amphibious Ready Group. The 26th MEU operates continuously across the globe, providing the president and unified combatant commanders with a forward-deployed, sea-based quick reaction force. The MEU is a Marine Air-Ground Task Force capable of conducting amphibious operations, crisis response and limited contingency operations.