31st Marine Expeditionary Unit

An F-35B Lightning II fighter aircraft, with Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 265 (Reinforced) takes off during flight operations while underway in the Philippine Sea, June 5, 2019. The 31st MEU, the Marine Corps` only continuously forward-deployed MEU, provides a flexible and lethal force ready to perform a wide range of military operations as the premier crisis response force in the Indo-Pacific region. (Official U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Kenny Nunez Bigay)

F-35B Lightning II fighter aircraft, with Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 265 (Reinforced) standby during flight operations while underway in the Philippine Sea, June 5, 2019. The 31st MEU, the Marine Corps` only continuously forward-deployed MEU, provides a flexible and lethal force ready to perform a wide range of military operations as the premier crisis response force in the Indo-Pacific region. (Official U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Kenny Nunez Bigay)

An F-35B Lightning II fighter aircraft with Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 265 (Reinforced) prepares to take off during flight operations while underway in the Philippine Sea, June 5, 2019. The 31st MEU, the Marine Corps` only continuously forward-deployed MEU, provides a flexible and lethal force ready to perform a wide range of military operations as the premier crisis response force in the Indo-Pacific region. (Official U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Kenny Nunez Bigay)

An MH-60S Seahawk takes off as Marines and Sailors with the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit and the amphibious assault ship USS Wasp (LHD 1) unload supplies from an MV-22B Osprey tiltrotor aircraft while underway in the Philippine Sea, June 5, 2019. The 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, the Marine Corps` only continuously forward-deployed MEU, provides a flexible and lethal force ready to perform a wide range of military operations as the premier crisis response force in the Indo-Pacific region. (Official U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Kenny Nunez Bigay)

An MV-22B Osprey tiltrotor aircraft with Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 265 (Reinforced) takes off during flight operations aboard the USS Wasp (LHD 1) while underway in the Philippine Sea, June 5, 2019.The 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, the Marine Corps` only continuously forward-deployed MEU, provides a flexible and lethal force ready to perform a wide range of military operations as the premier crisis response force in the Indo-Pacific region. (Official U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Kenny Nunez Bigay)

Marines and Sailors with the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit and the amphibious assault ship USS Wasp (LHD 1) unload supplies from an MV-22B Osprey tiltrotor aircraft during flight operations while underway in the Philippine Sea, June 5, 2019. The 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, the Marine Corps` only continuously forward-deployed MEU, provides a flexible and lethal force ready to perform a wide range of military operations as the premier crisis response force in the Indo-Pacific region. (Official U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Kenny Nunez Bigay)

A CH-53E Super Stallion with Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 265 (Reinforced) lands aboard the amphibious assault ship USS Wasp (LHD 1) during flight operations while underway in the Philippine Sea, June 4, 2019. The 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, the Marine Corps’ only continuously forward-deployed MEU, provides a flexible and lethal force ready to perform a wide range of military operations as the premier crisis response force in the Indo-Pacific region. (Official U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Brennan Priest)

A CH-53E Super Stallion with Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 265 (Reinforced) lands aboard the amphibious assault ship USS Wasp (LHD 1) during flight operations while underway in the Philippine Sea, June 4, 2019. The 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, the Marine Corps’ only continuously forward-deployed MEU, provides a flexible and lethal force ready to perform a wide range of military operations as the premier crisis response force in the Indo-Pacific region. (Official U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Brennan Priest)

An F-35B Lightning II fighter aircraft with Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 265 (Reinforced) takes off from the amphibious assault ship USS Wasp (LHD 1) during flight operations while underway in the Philippine Sea, June 4, 2019. The 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, the Marine Corps’ only continuously forward-deployed MEU, provides a flexible and lethal force ready to perform a wide range of military operations as the premier crisis response force in the Indo-Pacific region. (Official U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Brennan Priest)

An F-35B Lightning II fighter aircraft with Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 265 (Reinforced) prepares to take off from the amphibious assault ship USS Wasp (LHD 1) during flight operations while underway in the Philippine Sea, June 4, 2019. The 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, the Marine Corps’ only continuously forward-deployed MEU, provides a flexible and lethal force ready to perform a wide range of military operations as the premier crisis response force in the Indo-Pacific region. (Official U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Brennan Priest)

An MV-22B Osprey with Marine Medium Tiltrotor 265 (Reinforced) takes off from the amphibious assault ship USS Wasp (LHD 1) during flight operations while underway in the Philippine Sea, June 4, 2019. The 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, the Marine Corps’ only continuously forward-deployed MEU, provides a flexible and lethal force ready to perform a wide range of military operations as the premier crisis response force in the Indo-Pacific region. (Official U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Brennan Priest)

Marines and Sailors with the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit and the amphibious assault ship USS Wasp (LHD 1) unload supplies from an MV-22B Osprey tiltrotor aircraft with Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 265 (Reinforced) during flight operations underway in the Philippine Sea, June 4, 2019. The 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, the Marine Corps’ only continuously forward-deployed MEU, provides a flexible and lethal force ready to perform a wide range of military operations as the premier crisis response force in the Indo-Pacific region. (Official U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Brennan Priest)

Marines and Sailors with the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit and the amphibious assault ship USS Wasp (LHD 1) unload supplies from an MV-22B Osprey tiltrotor aircraft with Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 265 (Reinforced) during flight operations underway in the Philippine Sea, June 4, 2019. The 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, the Marine Corps’ only continuously forward-deployed MEU, provides a flexible and lethal force ready to perform a wide range of military operations as the premier crisis response force in the Indo-Pacific region. (Official U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Brennan Priest)

Marines with Weapons Company, Battalion Landing Team, 2nd Battalion, 1st Marines, prepare to fire a Mark 19 automatic grenade launcher during training at Camp Schwab, Okinawa, Japan, May 28, 2019. Weapons Company maintains a variety of heavy and medium machine guns, grenade launchers and rockets. BLT 2/1 is the Ground Combat Element for the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit. The 31st MEU, the Marine Corps’ only continuously forward-deployed MEU, provides a flexible and lethal force ready to perform a wide range of military operations as the premier crisis response force in the Indo-Pacific region. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Cameron E. Parks/Released)

Marines with Weapons Company, Battalion Landing Team, 2nd Battalion, 1st Marines, plot target points during training at Camp Schwab, Okinawa, Japan, May 28, 2019. Weapons Company maintains a variety of heavy and medium machine guns, grenade launchers and rockets. BLT 2/1 is the Ground Combat Element for the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit. The 31st MEU, the Marine Corps’ only continuously forward-deployed MEU, provides a flexible and lethal force ready to perform a wide range of military operations as the premier crisis response force in the Indo-Pacific region. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Cameron E. Parks/Released)

Marines with Weapons Company, Battalion Landing Team, 2nd Battalion, 1st Marines, fire a Mark 19 automatic grenade launcher during training at Camp Schwab, Okinawa, Japan, May 28, 2019. Weapons Company maintains a variety of heavy and medium machine guns, grenade launchers and rockets. BLT 2/1 is the Ground Combat Element for the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit. The 31st MEU, the Marine Corps’ only continuously forward-deployed MEU, provides a flexible and lethal force ready to perform a wide range of military operations as the premier crisis response force in the Indo-Pacific region. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Cameron E. Parks/Released)

Marines with Weapons Company, Battalion Landing Team, 2nd Battalion, 1st Marines, fire a Mark 19 automatic grenade launcher during training at Camp Schwab, Okinawa, Japan, May 28, 2019. Weapons Company maintains a variety of heavy and medium machine guns, grenade launchers and rockets. BLT 2/1 is the Ground Combat Element for the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit. The 31st MEU, the Marine Corps’ only continuously forward-deployed MEU, provides a flexible and lethal force ready to perform a wide range of military operations as the premier crisis response force in the Indo-Pacific region. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Cameron E. Parks/Released)

Several M240B medium machine guns belonging to Weapons Company, Battalion Landing Team, 2nd Battalion, 1st Marines sit ready for training at Camp Schwab, Okinawa, Japan, May 28, 2019. Weapons Company maintains a variety of heavy and medium machine guns, grenade launchers and rockets. BLT 2/1 is the Ground Combat Element for the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit. The 31st MEU, the Marine Corps’ only continuously forward-deployed MEU, provides a flexible and lethal force ready to perform a wide range of military operations as the premier crisis response force in the Indo-Pacific region. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Gunnery Sgt. T. T. Parish/Released)

M240B medium machine guns belonging to Weapons Company, Battalion Landing Team, 2nd Battalion, 1st Marines sit ready for training at Camp Schwab, Okinawa, Japan, May 28, 2019. Weapons Company maintains a variety of heavy and medium machine guns, grenade launchers and rockets. BLT 2/1 is the Ground Combat Element for the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit. The 31st MEU, the Marine Corps’ only continuously forward-deployed MEU, provides a flexible and lethal force ready to perform a wide range of military operations as the premier crisis response force in the Indo-Pacific region. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Gunnery Sgt. T. T. Parish/Released)

A Marine with Battalion Landing Team, 2nd Battalion, 1st Marines, zips down a line during fast rope training at Camp Schwab, Okinawa, Japan, May 21, 2019. BLT 2/1 is the Ground Combat Element for the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit. The 31st MEU, the Marine Corps' only continuously forward-deployed MEU partnering with the U.S. Navy's Amphibious Squadron 11, provides a flexible and lethal force ready to perform a wide range of military operations as the premier crisis response force in the Indo-Pacific region. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Gunnery Sgt. T. T. Parish/Released)

A Marine with Battalion Landing Team, 2nd Battalion, 1st Marines, zips down a line during fast rope training at Camp Schwab, Okinawa, Japan, May 21, 2019. BLT 2/1 is the Ground Combat Element for the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit. The 31st MEU, the Marine Corps' only continuously forward-deployed MEU partnering with the U.S. Navy's Amphibious Squadron 11, provides a flexible and lethal force ready to perform a wide range of military operations as the premier crisis response force in the Indo-Pacific region. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Gunnery Sgt. T. T. Parish/Released)

Marines with Battalion Landing Team, 2nd Battalion, 1st Marines, look on during fast rope training at Camp Schwab, Okinawa, Japan, May 21, 2019. BLT 2/1 is the Ground Combat Element for the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit. The 31st MEU, the Marine Corps' only continuously forward-deployed MEU partnering with the U.S. Navy's Amphibious Squadron 11, provides a flexible and lethal force ready to perform a wide range of military operations as the premier crisis response force in the Indo-Pacific region. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Gunnery Sgt. T. T. Parish/Released)

Marines with Battalion Landing Team, 2nd Battalion, 1st Marines, look on during fast rope training at Camp Schwab, Okinawa, Japan, May 21, 2019. BLT 2/1 is the Ground Combat Element for the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit. The 31st MEU, the Marine Corps' only continuously forward-deployed MEU partnering with the U.S. Navy's Amphibious Squadron 11, provides a flexible and lethal force ready to perform a wide range of military operations as the premier crisis response force in the Indo-Pacific region. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Gunnery Sgt. T. T. Parish/Released)

Water falls from the rear of a Humvee belonging to the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit at Camp Hansen, Okinawa, Japan, May 21, 2019. The 31st MEU, the Marine Corps' only continuously forward-deployed MEU partnering with the U.S. Navy's Amphibious Squadron 11, provides a flexible and lethal force ready to perform a wide range of military operations as the premier crisis response force in the Indo-Pacific region. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Gunnery Sgt. T. T. Parish/Released)

The interior of a tactical vehicle belonging to the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit sits ready for inspection at Camp Hansen, Okinawa, Japan, May 21, 2019. The 31st MEU, the Marine Corps' only continuously forward-deployed MEU partnering with the U.S. Navy's Amphibious Squadron 11, provides a flexible and lethal force ready to perform a wide range of military operations as the premier crisis response force in the Indo-Pacific region. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Gunnery Sgt. T. T. Parish/Released)

Rayce C. Cronin is a teacher at heart. The lance corporal and Houston native joined the Marine Corps as a chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear defense specialist in 2017. As a CBRN specialist, Cronin trains the Okinawa, Japan-based Marines and Sailors assigned to the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit – the Marine Corps’ premier crisis-response force in the Indo-Pacific region – to defend against threats from chemical, nuclear, radiological and nuclear exposure. Before the Marines, Cronin graduated from Clear Creek High School in June 2015. (Official U.S Marine Corps Photo by Lance Cpl. Kevan Dunlop/Released)

Kimberly Delarosa is a hardworking and dedicated Marine. A lance corporal and Houston native, Delarosa joined the Marine Corps as a warehouse management specialist in 2018. She takes every task set before her with extreme focus and doesn't quit until the job is done. Working in supply, Delarosa is critical in the proper documentation and organization of gear belonging to the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit – the Marine Corps’ premier crisis-response force in the Indo-Pacific region. Delarosa graduated from Aldine Senior High in May 2016. (Official U.S Marine Corps Photo by Lance Cpl. Kevan Dunlop/Released)

Cecilia M. Cespedes is an adaptable leader. The lance corporal and Providence, Rhode Island native, joined the Marine Corps as an electrician in 2017. She came to the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit at the beginning of May, quickly learning her job’s routine and has had an immediate positive impact on her fellow Marines. Before enlisting, Cespedes graduated from Hope High School in June 2016. The 31st MEU, the Marine Corps’ only continuously forward-deployed MEU, provides a flexible force ready to perform a wide range of military operations as the premier crisis response force in the Indo-Pacific region. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Cameron E. Parks/Released)