The 1,700 marines of the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit will begin returning to North Carolina Thursday after more than 10 months away on duty in Northern Africa and Europe.
The 22nd supported operations off Libya, trained in Dijibouti, and also with Spanish and Romanian marines. Marines flying AV-8B Harrier jets will be among the first to return today to Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, while amphibious landing craft are returning tomorrow to New River Air Station.
Hundreds of other marines will return Saturday and Sunday to Camp Lejeune.
