SENIOR Australian officer Brig Steve Meekin has been awarded the United States Legion of Merit in recognition of his distinguished service as part of the coalition Iraq Survey Group from May to October 2003.

Brig Meekin was presented with the award by the Commander of the Iraq Survey Group, US Army Maj-Gen Keith Dayton, during a ceremony at Russell Offices in Canberra recently.

Brig Meekin commanded the Joint Captured Materiel Exploitation Centre, which collected and made safe more than 3000 tonnes of Iraqi military material.

MARINES and sailors of the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit deployed to Afghanistan recently to continue security operations.

The unit deployed to Afghanistan to aid other coalition forces in denying sanctuary to terrorists and capturing or killing al Qaeda or Taliban members.

About 13,000 American service members are in Afghanistan. The 2200 Marines from the MEU will join about 2000 Marines already in the country.

Officials would not say how long the deployment would last, but the typical duration for a MEU deployment is six months.

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