News

Lance Cpl. Nicholas E. Gaddy, a native of Charleston, South Carolina, runs through muddy water during the Jungle Endurance Course at Camp Gonsalves, June 14. Gaddy is an infantryman with Company K, Battalion Landing Team 3rd Battalion, 5th Marines, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit. Multiple obstacles make up the endurance course, which tests physical and mental stamina, as well as unit cohesion. The 31st MEU is the force of choice for the Asia-Pacific region and is the only continuously forward-deployed MEU. - Lance Cpl. Nicholas E. Gaddy, a native of Charleston, South Carolina, runs through muddy water during the Jungle Endurance Course at Camp Gonsalves, June 14. Gaddy is an infantryman with Company K, Battalion Landing Team 3rd Battalion, 5th Marines, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit. Multiple obstacles make up the endurance course, which tests physical and mental stamina, as well as unit cohesion. The 31st MEU is the force of choice for the Asia-Pacific region and is the only continuously forward-deployed MEU.

Lieutenant Colonel Eric C. Malinowski, left, receives the Combat Logistics Battalion 31 flag from Lt. Col. Omar J. Randall, a native of the Bronx, New York, during a change of command ceremony at the Camp Hansen’s parade deck, June 12. Malinowski, a native of Portsmouth, New Hampshire, assumed command of the battalion after serving at the Pentagon with Headquarters Marine Corps, Installation & Logistics, Logistics Plans and Operations Branch from July 2013 to May 2014. Randall served as the commanding officer since June 2012 and his next assignment will be as a Marine Corps liaison to the United States Agency for International Development in Washington, D. C. The 31st MEU is the force of choice in the Asia-Pacific region and is the only continuously forward-deployed MEU. - Lieutenant Colonel Eric C. Malinowski, left, receives the Combat Logistics Battalion 31 flag from Lt. Col. Omar J. Randall, a native of the Bronx, New York, during a change of command ceremony at the Camp Hansen’s parade deck, June 12. Malinowski, a native of Portsmouth, New Hampshire, assumed command of the battalion after serving at the Pentagon with Headquarters Marine Corps, Installation & Logistics, Logistics Plans and Operations Branch from July 2013 to May 2014. Randall served as the commanding officer since June 2012 and his next assignment will be as a Marine Corps liaison to the United States Agency for International Development in Washington, D. C. The 31st MEU is the force of choice in the Asia-Pacific region and is the only continuously forward-deployed MEU.

Lieutenant Col. G. Troy Roesti, right, interim commanding officer of the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit and a native of Sherwood, Ohio, passes the Marine Corps flag to Col. Romin Dasmalchi, incoming CO and a native of Mansfield, Missouri, during an assumption of command ceremony at the House of Pain gymnasium, June 9. Dasmalchi comes to the MEU following his tour as a branch chief at U.S. Northern Command in Colorado Springs, Colorado. The 31st MEU is the force of choice for the Asia-Pacific region and is the only continuously forward-deployed MEU. - Lieutenant Col. G. Troy Roesti, right, interim commanding officer of the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit and a native of Sherwood, Ohio, passes the Marine Corps flag to Col. Romin Dasmalchi, incoming CO and a native of Mansfield, Missouri, during an assumption of command ceremony at the House of Pain gymnasium, June 9. Dasmalchi comes to the MEU following his tour as a branch chief at U.S. Northern Command in Colorado Springs, Colorado. The 31st MEU is the force of choice for the Asia-Pacific region and is the only continuously forward-deployed MEU.

Sergeant Major Gonzalo A. “Butch” Vasquez, from Corozal Town, Belize, speaks to an audience of service members and their families during his post and relief and retirement ceremony with the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit at the Camp Hansen parade deck, June 6. The ceremony featured a regimental-size parade in honor of the outgoing and incoming senior enlisted advisors. The 31st MEU's new senior enlisted adviser is Sgt. Maj. James Roberts. (U.S. Marine Photo by Sgt. Jonathan Wright) - Sergeant Major Gonzalo A. “Butch” Vasquez, from Corozal Town, Belize, speaks to an audience of service members and their families during his post and relief and retirement ceremony with the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit at the Camp Hansen parade deck, June 6. The ceremony featured a regimental-size parade in honor of the outgoing and incoming senior enlisted advisors. The 31st MEU's new senior enlisted adviser is Sgt. Maj. James Roberts. (U.S. Marine Photo by Sgt. Jonathan Wright)

Sergeant Aaron M. Longberry, an MV-22 Osprey crew chief with Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 265 (Reinforced), 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, waits at the back of his aircraft for it to be unloaded here, Aug. 7. The aircraft, which has the ability to fly like an airplane and conduct in-flight refueling, travelled 4,288 nautical miles in approximately 16 hours to self-deploy from Okinawa, Japan, to the ship operating off the coast of Australia. The 31st MEU is the Marine Corps’ force in readiness for the Asia-Pacific region and the only continuously forward-deployed MEU. - Sergeant Aaron M. Longberry, an MV-22 Osprey crew chief with Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 265 (Reinforced), 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, waits at the back of his aircraft for it to be unloaded here, Aug. 7. The aircraft, which has the ability to fly like an airplane and conduct in-flight refueling, travelled 4,288 nautical miles in approximately 16 hours to self-deploy from Okinawa, Japan, to the ship operating off the coast of Australia. The 31st MEU is the Marine Corps’ force in readiness for the Asia-Pacific region and the only continuously forward-deployed MEU.

Marines with Battalion Landing Team 3rd Battalion, 5th Marines, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, board busses en route to Camp Hansen following their arrival on island, May 14. BLT 3/5 is replacing BLT 2/5 as the 31st MEU’s Ground Combat Element for the next six months, accompanying the MEU to for the upcoming annual Fall Patrol. The 31st MEU is the Marine Corps’ force of choice for the Asia-Pacific region and is the only continuously-forward deployed MEU. - Marines with Battalion Landing Team 3rd Battalion, 5th Marines, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, board busses en route to Camp Hansen following their arrival on island, May 14. BLT 3/5 is replacing BLT 2/5 as the 31st MEU’s Ground Combat Element for the next six months, accompanying the MEU to for the upcoming annual Fall Patrol. The 31st MEU is the Marine Corps’ force of choice for the Asia-Pacific region and is the only continuously-forward deployed MEU.

Marines with Battalion Landing Team 2nd Battalion, 5th Marines, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, sight-in with a M49 Spotting Scope during the battalion’s scout sniper screener at Camp Hansen, April 29 to May 1. The candidates were evaluated on their physical fitness, mental fortitude and their morale while conducting strenuous activities with little rest and applying lessons they were given. Of the 51 Marines that started the course, 15 remained after the first day. The 31st MEU is the Marine Corps’ force of choice for the Asia-Pacific region and is the only continuously forward-deployed MEU. - Marines with Battalion Landing Team 2nd Battalion, 5th Marines, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, sight-in with a M49 Spotting Scope during the battalion’s scout sniper screener at Camp Hansen, April 29 to May 1. The candidates were evaluated on their physical fitness, mental fortitude and their morale while conducting strenuous activities with little rest and applying lessons they were given. Of the 51 Marines that started the course, 15 remained after the first day. The 31st MEU is the Marine Corps’ force of choice for the Asia-Pacific region and is the only continuously forward-deployed MEU.

In both sides of the photo appears Scott T. Wilson, a native of Orlando, Fla. On the left he is as he appears now, a Marine first lieutenant and comptroller with the Command Element, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, while on the right he appears as the character “Pan” in an audition photo for Cirque Du Soleil. Wilson was an accomplished stunt actor and performer who worked in films, television and theme parks before joining the Marines in 2011. - In both sides of the photo appears Scott T. Wilson, a native of Orlando, Fla. On the left he is as he appears now, a Marine first lieutenant and comptroller with the Command Element, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, while on the right he appears as the character “Pan” in an audition photo for Cirque Du Soleil. Wilson was an accomplished stunt actor and performer who worked in films, television and theme parks before joining the Marines in 2011.

Staff Sgt. Benjamin D. Jacobsen, a team leader with the Maritime Raid Force, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, and a native of Rockport, Texas, carries his children up the steps of the 31st MEU Headquarters after returning from the annual Spring Patrol here, April 24. During the patrol, the 31st MEU participated in the largest iteration of Exercise SSang Yong in the history of the bilateral event. The 31st MEU led the 3d Marine Expeditionary Brigade’s ground forces as Regimental Landing Team 31 during a simulated forceful entry in the Republic of Korea. The combat exercise was conducted alongside ROK Marine Corps and Navy forces, as well as soldiers of the Royal Australian Army to make a combined force of more than 13,000. - Staff Sgt. Benjamin D. Jacobsen, a team leader with the Maritime Raid Force, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, and a native of Rockport, Texas, carries his children up the steps of the 31st MEU Headquarters after returning from the annual Spring Patrol here, April 24. During the patrol, the 31st MEU participated in the largest iteration of Exercise SSang Yong in the history of the bilateral event. The 31st MEU led the 3d Marine Expeditionary Brigade’s ground forces as Regimental Landing Team 31 during a simulated forceful entry in the Republic of Korea. The combat exercise was conducted alongside ROK Marine Corps and Navy forces, as well as soldiers of the Royal Australian Army to make a combined force of more than 13,000.

Services members with the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit and Amphibious Squadron 11, sing and play music for Easter Sunday sunrise service during Holy Week in the hangar bay of the USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD 6) here, April 20. Holy Week is a week-long celebration leading up to Easter Sunday. The 31st MEU recently returned from participation in Exercise Ssang Yong ‘14 in the Republic of Korea and conducting theater security cooperation operations in the Asia-Pacific region. - Services members with the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit and Amphibious Squadron 11, sing and play music for Easter Sunday sunrise service during Holy Week in the hangar bay of the USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD 6) here, April 20. Holy Week is a week-long celebration leading up to Easter Sunday. The 31st MEU recently returned from participation in Exercise Ssang Yong ‘14 in the Republic of Korea and conducting theater security cooperation operations in the Asia-Pacific region.