31st Marine Expeditionary Unit

Pfc. Trenton Jones, a machine gunner with Charlie Company, Battalion Landing Team, 1st Battalion, 4th Marines, fires an M240B medium machine gun during training at Camp Hansen, Okinawa, Japan, Jan. 9, 2019. Jones, a native of Eureka, Arkansas, graduated from Eureka High School in May 2017 before enlisting the following month. Machine gunners and designated marksmen with Charlie Company fired more than 13,000 rounds during the training, refining their abilities with the M240B medium machine gun and M38 designated marksman rifle as part of BLT 1/4, 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)

Marines with Weapons Company, Battalion Landing Team, 1st Battalion, 4th Marines, slide down ropes during fast rope training at Camp Schwab, Okinawa, Japan, Jan. 7, 2019. Fast roping allows Marines to quickly enter otherwise inaccessible locations from hovering aircraft. BLT 1/4 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. Kyle P. Bunyi/ Released)

A Marine with the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit clears his protective mask during Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear defense training at Camp Hansen, Okinawa, Japan, Jan. 4, 2019. CBRN training test Marines abilities to respond in the event of chemical, biological, radiological or nuclear contamination. The 31st MEU, the Marine Corps’ only continually 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 photos by Lance Cpl. Cameron Parks/ Released)

Military working dogs with the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit walk alongside their handlers during a 10 kilometer hike at Camp Hansen, Okinawa, Japan, Jan. 4, 2019. The hike helped the Marines and Sailors of the 31st MEU build endurance and unit camaraderie. 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 Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Tanner D. Lambert/Released)

Marines with the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit perform “inspection arms” during practice for the Commanding General’s Readiness Inspection at Camp Hansen, Okinawa, Japan, Jan. 3, 2019. The CGRI is a regular requirement for units to ensure mission readiness. 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. Dylan Hess/Released)

The staff noncommissioned officers of Battalion Landing Team, 1st Battalion, 4th Marines, compete against junior Marines in a tug of war during the unit wide field meet at Camp Hansen, Okinawa, Japan, Dec. 21, 2018. BLT 1/4, from Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California, is the Ground Combat Element for the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit. The 31st MEU, the Marine Corps only continually forward-deployed MEU, provides a flexible force ready to perform a wide range of military operations . (Official Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Tanner D. Lambert/ Released)

Marines with Alpha Company, Battalion Landing Team, 1st Battalion, 4th Marines, ride toward the shore aboard Combat Rubber Raiding Craft during a small boat raid as part of the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit’s MEU Exercise, Kin Blue Beach, Okinawa, Japan, Dec. 12, 2018. BLT 1/4 is the Ground Combat Element for the 31st MEU. 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. Dylan Hess/Released)

Col. Robert Brodie, commanding officer of the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, and Sgt. Maj. Edwin Mota, 31st MEU sergeant major, listen in on a confirmation brief during MEU Exercise at Camp Hansen, Okinawa, Japan, Dec. 12, 2018. 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 Crops photo by Lance Cpl. Cameron Parks)

A CH-53 Super Stallion crew member with Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 262 (Reinforced) surveys the environment during simulated tactical recovery of aircraft and personnel at Camp Hansen, Okinawa, Japan, Dec. 13, 2018. VMM-262 (Rein.), the Air Combat Element for the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, provides assault support, close air support and aviation command and control for the MEU. TRAP training prepares Marines to tactically recover personnel, equipment or aircraft by inserting the recovery force to their location. The 31st MEU, the Marine Corps’ only continually 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 Cpl. Isaac Cantrell/Released)

Marines with Combat Logistic Battalion 31 hike up a hill at Camp Hansen, Okinawa, Japan, Dec. 12, 2018. CLB-31 is the Logistics Combat Element for the 31st MEU. The 31st MEU is currently honing its planning capabilities during MEUEX, the first step of a pre-deployment training cycle designed to integrate the separate components of the 31st MEU into a cohesive crisis response force. 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 Sgt. Mackenzie Carter/Released)

U.S. Marines with Charlie Company, Battalion Landing Team 1/4 fire at a notional enemy force using blank rounds during a helicopter raid as part of the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit’s MEU Exercise at Ie Shima Training Facility, Okinawa, Japan, Dec. 11, 2018. BLT 1/4 is the Ground Combat Element for the 31st MEU. MEUEX is the first in a series of pre-deployment training events that prepare the 31st MEU to deploy at a moment’s notice. The 31st MEU, the Marine Corps' only continuously forward-deployed MEU, provides a flexible force ready to perform a wide-range of military operations across the Indo-Pacific region. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Harrison C. Rakhshani)

Cpl. Chancelor J. Kelso, a scout sniper team leader with Weapons Company, Battalion Landing Team, 1st Battalion, 4th Marines, posts security during reconnaissance and surveillance training at Camp Hansen, Okinawa, Japan, Dec. 12, 2018. Scout Snipers provide all weather, day and night, continuous and systematic observation of the battlefield for intelligence purposes, which is vital to the success of the mission. BLT 1/4 is the Ground Combat Element for the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit. Kelso, a native of Mandeville, Louisiana, graduated Mandeville High School in May 2015 before enlisting in January 2017. 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. Tanner D. Lambert/Released)

A UH-1Y crew member flies above Camp Hansen after takeoff during a simulated high altitude, low opening parachute jump and Reconnaissance and Surveillance mission as part of the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit’s MEU Exercise, Okinawa, Japan, Dec. 8, 2018. Marines with the 31st MEU’s Amphibious Reconnaissance Platoon specialize in reconnaissance, surveillance and close-quarters tactics during amphibious operations. 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 Cpl. Isaac Cantrell/Released)

Lance Cpl. Brian A. Fentresstaglisferi, an intelligence specialist with Battalion Landing Team, 1st Battalion, 4th Marines, launches an InstantEye quadcopter during embassy reinforcement training at Camp Hansen, Okinawa, Japan, Dec. 5, 2018. Drone surveillance allows Marines to gain an unparalleled view of tactical environments and minimize exposure to possible threats on battlefields. The 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit is currently honing its planning capabilities during MEU Exercise, the first step of a pre-deployment training cycle designed to integrate the separate components of the 31st MEU into a cohesive crisis response force. Fentresstaglisferi, a native of Summerville, South Carolina graduated Cane Bay High School in June 2017, before enlisting in June 2017. The 31st MEU, the Marine Corps’ only continuously forward-deployed MEU, provides a flexible force ready to perform a wide-range of military operations in the Indo-Pacific region. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Tanner D. Lambert/Released)

Marines with Echo Battery, Battalion Landing Team, 1st Battalion, 4th Marines, prepare for embassy reinforcement training at Camp Hansen, Okinawa, Japan, Dec. 5, 2018. BLT 1/4 is the Ground Combat Element for the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit. The 31st MEU is currently honing its planning capabilities during MEU Exercise, the first step of a pre-deployment training cycle designed to integrate the separate components of the 31st MEU into a cohesive crisis response force. 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 Sgt. Mackenzie Carter/Released)

Lance Cpl. Nicholas S. Whitesall, a canonneer with Echo Battery, Battalion Landing Team, 1st Battalion, 4th Marines, and other Marines with the BLT wielding riot shields and Remington M1014 shotguns await further instructions during Noncombatant Evacuation Operations training at Camp Hansen, Okinawa, Japan, Dec. 6, 2018. Whitesall, a native of Chelsea, Michigan, graduated high school June, 2017, and enlisted from RSS Ann Arbor later that year. CLB-31, the Logistics Combat Element for the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, provides security, logistics and transportation during NEO training. The 31st MEU is currently honing its planning capabilities during MEU Exercise, the first step of a pre-deployment training cycle designed to integrate the separate components of the 31st MEU into a cohesive crisis response force.. The 31st MEU, the Marine Corps' only continuously forward-deployed MEU, provides a flexible force ready to perform a wide-range of military operations across the Indo-Pacific region. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Harrison C. Rakhshani/Released)

An F-35B Lightning II jet with Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 121 taxis the flight line at Kadena Air Base, Okinawa, Japan, Aug. 17, 2018. Marine aviators and aircrews with VMFA-121 completed pre-flight planning, inspections and coordination at Kadena before taking off for a routine flight in the skies above Okinawa. VMFA-121, on its second operational deployment as part of the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, is the fixed-wing attack element attached to Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 262 (Reinforced). The 31st MEU, the Marine Corps’ only continuously forward-deployed MEU, provides a flexible force ready to perform a wide-range of military operations across the Indo-Pacific region. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Gunnery Sgt. T. T. Parish/Released)

Sgt. Juan Reynoso, the color sergeant for Battalion Landing Team, 1st Battalion, 4th Marines, holds the battalion colors before a Thanksgiving “Turkey Trot” run at Camp Hansen, Okinawa, Japan, on November 22, 2018. BLT 1/4 recently arrived from their home at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California, and is currently the Ground Combat Element for the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit. Reynoso is a resident of Sunnyside, Washington, and a graduate of Sunnyside High School. The 31st MEU, the Marine Corps’ only continuously forward-deployed MEU, provides a flexible force ready to perform a wide-range of military operations across the Indo-Pacific region. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Isaac Cantrell/Released)

Marines with Charlie Company, Battalion Landing Team, 1st Battalion, 4th Marines, carry bags of litter during a community cleanup event in Kin, Okinawa, Japan, Nov. 29, 2018. Community relations events give the Marines and Sailors of 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit the opportunity to build relationships with their neighbors and contribute to their communities. BLT 1/4, recently arrived from their home at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California, is currently the Ground Combat Element for the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit. The 31st MEU, the Marine Corps’ only continuously forward-deployed MEU, provides a flexible force ready to perform a wide range of military operations across the Indo-Pacific region. (U.S. Marine Corps photo illustration by Cpl. Isaac Cantrell/Released)