Flickr user Olli Vainio

(Updates at the bottom.)

If you're lounging around on the beach (as you should be) and happen to notice military planes flying overhead, towards you, or buzzing around rather low, don't worry -- the Russians aren't attacking. 

There's no Red Dawn going on, just a Marine training exercise that will be happening along the coast. The exercise is called "Exercise Mailed Fist", and it's designed to test every type of Marine aircraft. So, in short, it should be a pretty impressive show. 

The exercises are expected to last all week long.

CNN.com has the full write-up, so hop on over and give it a read.

Thanks for the heads up regarding this article from Philip Sellers over on Twitter. 

Update June 24: The Island Packet has a follow report at the tail end of the operation that notes how some of the local Beaufort Marines were involved; take a read here.

• Keep up with Charleston area military stories on our topic page.