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Sergeant Nagai Tukasa, a mortarman with the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force’s 12 Infantry Regiment, prepares to submerge during shallow water egress training (SWET) at Camp Hansen’s pool, June 26. The SWET course covered how to use a breathing regulator and flotation device as well as techniques on how to escape an aircraft while submerged underwater. The involvement of JGSDF soldiers in the MEU’s regularly-scheduled training comes in response to the April 2012 U.S.-Japan Security Consultative Committee, also known as the 2+2, statement calling for the enhancement of bilateral security and defense cooperation. (U.S. Marine Photo by Cpl. Henry J. Antenor) - Sergeant Nagai Tukasa, a mortarman with the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force’s 12 Infantry Regiment, prepares to submerge during shallow water egress training (SWET) at Camp Hansen’s pool, June 26. The SWET course covered how to use a breathing regulator and flotation device as well as techniques on how to escape an aircraft while submerged underwater. The involvement of JGSDF soldiers in the MEU’s regularly-scheduled training comes in response to the April 2012 U.S.-Japan Security Consultative Committee, also known as the 2+2, statement calling for the enhancement of bilateral security and defense cooperation. (U.S. Marine Photo by Cpl. Henry J. Antenor)

Sgt. Michael Smego, left, plays with a child at the Nagomi Nursing Home for Children June 22 in Nago. During the visit, Marines and sailors played games and shared lunch with young members of the Okinawa community. Smego is a Hastings, Pennsylvania, native and motor vehicle operator with Combat Logistics Battalion 31, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, III Marine Expeditionary Force. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Brittany A. James/Released) - Sgt. Michael Smego, left, plays with a child at the Nagomi Nursing Home for Children June 22 in Nago. During the visit, Marines and sailors played games and shared lunch with young members of the Okinawa community. Smego is a Hastings, Pennsylvania, native and motor vehicle operator with Combat Logistics Battalion 31, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, III Marine Expeditionary Force. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Brittany A. James/Released)

Marines with Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 262 (Reinforced), 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, spray water on the Mobile Aircraft Firefighting Training Device during a crash fire rescue scenario at the base fire station, June 19. The week-long course instructed Marines on advancing and sweeping techniques with the hoses on a burning mock aircraft. The Marines are not from firefighting billets but are taught to be first-responders to potential aircraft accidents when the unit is embarked aboard Navy ships with the MEU. The 31st MEU is the force of choice for the Asia-Pacific and is the only continuously forward-deployed MEU. (Official U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Andrew Kuppers) - Marines with Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 262 (Reinforced), 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, spray water on the Mobile Aircraft Firefighting Training Device during a crash fire rescue scenario at the base fire station, June 19. The week-long course instructed Marines on advancing and sweeping techniques with the hoses on a burning mock aircraft. The Marines are not from firefighting billets but are taught to be first-responders to potential aircraft accidents when the unit is embarked aboard Navy ships with the MEU. The 31st MEU is the force of choice for the Asia-Pacific and is the only continuously forward-deployed MEU. (Official U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Andrew Kuppers)

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.