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Marines with Battery G., Battalion Landing Team 2nd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, shield themselves from objects before attempting to drive protesters away from the embassy gate during a mock hostile protest, March 15. The simulated embassy is home to the 31st MEU’s Forward Command Element, a command cell that coordinates with a host nation’s government to organize the delivery of humanitarian assistance and disaster relief supplies to people in need. The HA/DR training is in support of the 31st MEU’s Certification Exercise, a training package that tests the capabilities of the MEU in a variety of scenarios and is evaluated by members of the Special Operations Training Group, III Marine Expeditionary Force. - Marines with Battery G., Battalion Landing Team 2nd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, shield themselves from objects before attempting to drive protesters away from the embassy gate during a mock hostile protest, March 15. The simulated embassy is home to the 31st MEU’s Forward Command Element, a command cell that coordinates with a host nation’s government to organize the delivery of humanitarian assistance and disaster relief supplies to people in need. The HA/DR training is in support of the 31st MEU’s Certification Exercise, a training package that tests the capabilities of the MEU in a variety of scenarios and is evaluated by members of the Special Operations Training Group, III Marine Expeditionary Force.

Marines and sailors of the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, Amphibious Squadron 11 and USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD-6), stand in formation during a ceremony to commemorate the victims of the March 2011 Tohoku earthquake and tsunami on the flight deck of the USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD-6), Mar. 11. During Operation Tomodachi, the 31st MEU and PHIBRON-11 distributed 164,000 pounds of food, thousands of gallons of water and other relief supplies to Kesennuma, Oshima Island and other areas throughout the Honshu region. Colonel John Merna, commanding officer of the 31st MEU and a native of Prince George’s County, Md., said, “General Mattis once said that when it comes to U.S. Marines, there is no better friend, no worse enemy. The friendships made with the people of Oshima Island, for example, continue to this day. The history of the 31st MEU - PHIBRON-11 team will be forever linked to the people of Oshima Island.” The 31st MEU is currently conducting amphibious integration training alongside PHIBRON-11 while deployed for its regularly-scheduled Spring 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 and sailors of the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, Amphibious Squadron 11 and USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD-6), stand in formation during a ceremony to commemorate the victims of the March 2011 Tohoku earthquake and tsunami on the flight deck of the USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD-6), Mar. 11. During Operation Tomodachi, the 31st MEU and PHIBRON-11 distributed 164,000 pounds of food, thousands of gallons of water and other relief supplies to Kesennuma, Oshima Island and other areas throughout the Honshu region. Colonel John Merna, commanding officer of the 31st MEU and a native of Prince George’s County, Md., said, “General Mattis once said that when it comes to U.S. Marines, there is no better friend, no worse enemy. The friendships made with the people of Oshima Island, for example, continue to this day. The history of the 31st MEU - PHIBRON-11 team will be forever linked to the people of Oshima Island.” The 31st MEU is currently conducting amphibious integration training alongside PHIBRON-11 while deployed for its regularly-scheduled Spring 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 and sailors with Company G, Battalion Landing Team 2nd Battalion, 5th Marines, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, board a CH-53E Super Stallion helicopter with Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 265 (Reinforced), 31st MEU, for a night raid on the flight deck of the USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD 6), Mar. 10. The raid force captured an airstrip and village from simulated enemy forces under the cover of darkness. The 31st MEU is currently conducting amphibious integration training alongside Amphibious Squadron 11 while deployed for its regularly scheduled Spring Patrol. - Marines and sailors with Company G, Battalion Landing Team 2nd Battalion, 5th Marines, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, board a CH-53E Super Stallion helicopter with Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 265 (Reinforced), 31st MEU, for a night raid on the flight deck of the USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD 6), Mar. 10. The raid force captured an airstrip and village from simulated enemy forces under the cover of darkness. The 31st MEU is currently conducting amphibious integration training alongside Amphibious Squadron 11 while deployed for its regularly scheduled Spring Patrol.

Corporal Josh B. Fenstermaker, a data technician serving as the data communications chief for the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit on the USS Denver (LPD-9), and a native of Columbus, Ohio, creates accounts for other embarked Marines here, Mar. 4. Since boarding the ship one week ago, Fenstermaker has supervised the creation of a data network that supports hundreds of Marines and sailors from all four elements of the 31st MEU’s Marine Air Ground Task Force. Embarked on the USS Denver are elements of Battalion Landing Team 2/5, as well as small detachments from the Command Element, Combat Logistics Battalion 31, and Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 265 (Reinforced). The 31st MEU is the Marine Corps’ force in readiness for the Asia-Pacific region and the only continuously forward-deployed MEU. - Corporal Josh B. Fenstermaker, a data technician serving as the data communications chief for the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit on the USS Denver (LPD-9), and a native of Columbus, Ohio, creates accounts for other embarked Marines here, Mar. 4. Since boarding the ship one week ago, Fenstermaker has supervised the creation of a data network that supports hundreds of Marines and sailors from all four elements of the 31st MEU’s Marine Air Ground Task Force. Embarked on the USS Denver are elements of Battalion Landing Team 2/5, as well as small detachments from the Command Element, Combat Logistics Battalion 31, and Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 265 (Reinforced). The 31st MEU is the Marine Corps’ force in readiness for the Asia-Pacific region and the only continuously forward-deployed MEU.

USS DENVER, At Sea – Sergeant Walter J. Krueger, a squad leader for Company F., Battalion Landing Team 2nd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit and a native of Memphis, Tenn., stands in front of the three team leaders in his squad inside the well deck here, March 1. He is recognized as one of the best leaders in his unit, highlighted by his ability to mentor and develop young Marines. Krueger and the Marines of BLT 2/5 are currently deployed with the 31st MEU aboard the ships of the Bonhomme Richard Amphibious Ready Group as part of a regularly scheduled Spring Patrol of the Asia-Pacific region. (Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Paul Robbins Jr.) - USS DENVER, At Sea – Sergeant Walter J. Krueger, a squad leader for Company F., Battalion Landing Team 2nd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit and a native of Memphis, Tenn., stands in front of the three team leaders in his squad inside the well deck here, March 1. He is recognized as one of the best leaders in his unit, highlighted by his ability to mentor and develop young Marines. Krueger and the Marines of BLT 2/5 are currently deployed with the 31st MEU aboard the ships of the Bonhomme Richard Amphibious Ready Group as part of a regularly scheduled Spring Patrol of the Asia-Pacific region. (Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Paul Robbins Jr.)

A Marine with the Maritime Raid Force, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, rappels from the back of an MV-22 Osprey onto the port-side elevator of the USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD 6) during a static fast-rope training event here, Mar. 1. The event was in preparation for certification exercises and also gave other Marines and sailors an opportunity to learn the skill. The 31st MEU is currently conducting amphibious integration training alongside Amphibious Squadron 11 while deployed for its regularly scheduled Spring Patrol. - A Marine with the Maritime Raid Force, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, rappels from the back of an MV-22 Osprey onto the port-side elevator of the USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD 6) during a static fast-rope training event here, Mar. 1. The event was in preparation for certification exercises and also gave other Marines and sailors an opportunity to learn the skill. The 31st MEU is currently conducting amphibious integration training alongside Amphibious Squadron 11 while deployed for its regularly scheduled Spring Patrol.

Marines with Weapons Company, Battalion Landing Team 2nd Battalion, 5th Marines, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, sweep buildings for enemy forces during urban combat training here, Feb 8. The Marines utilized 5.56mm Special Effects Small Arms Marking System (SESAMS) rounds and a Military Operations on Urban Terrain facility to simulate actual combat. The 31st MEU is the Marine Corps’ force in readiness in the Asia-Pacific region and is the only continuously forward-deployed MEU. - Marines with Weapons Company, Battalion Landing Team 2nd Battalion, 5th Marines, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, sweep buildings for enemy forces during urban combat training here, Feb 8. The Marines utilized 5.56mm Special Effects Small Arms Marking System (SESAMS) rounds and a Military Operations on Urban Terrain facility to simulate actual combat. The 31st MEU is the Marine Corps’ force in readiness in the Asia-Pacific region and is the only continuously forward-deployed MEU.

A CH-53E Super Stallion with Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 265 (Reinforced), 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, prepares to land and load simulated American citizens during a Non-Combatant Evacuation operation exercise at the Jungle Warfare Training Center, here, Jan 30. The training event involved evacuating simulated American citizens from a foreign nation. This type of mission can be triggered by hostile forces overthrowing a local government, an embassy being overrun, or a natural disaster. The 31st MEU is the Marine Corps’ force in readiness for the Asia-Pacific region and is the only continuously forward-deployed MEU. - A CH-53E Super Stallion with Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 265 (Reinforced), 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, prepares to land and load simulated American citizens during a Non-Combatant Evacuation operation exercise at the Jungle Warfare Training Center, here, Jan 30. The training event involved evacuating simulated American citizens from a foreign nation. This type of mission can be triggered by hostile forces overthrowing a local government, an embassy being overrun, or a natural disaster. The 31st MEU is the Marine Corps’ force in readiness for the Asia-Pacific region and is the only continuously forward-deployed MEU.

Marines with Company G., Battalion Landing Team 2nd Battalion, 5th Marines, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, check a notional enemy casualty for intelligence during a low-light, aerial raid on an enemy encampment here, Jan. 28. Company G., the 31st MEU’s “Helo” company, was supplemented with machine gun and mortar teams from Weapons Company to provide additional firepower for the mission. The Marines have executed coordinated operations like this before, but this one added the challenge of artificial vision through the use of nigh vision goggles. The raid was part of the 31st MEU’s pre-deployment training exercise that tests the unit’s ability to conduct rapid planning and mission execution within a limited timeframe. The 31st MEU is the Marine Corps’ force in readiness in the Asia-Pacific region and is the only continuously forward-deployed MEU. - Marines with Company G., Battalion Landing Team 2nd Battalion, 5th Marines, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, check a notional enemy casualty for intelligence during a low-light, aerial raid on an enemy encampment here, Jan. 28. Company G., the 31st MEU’s “Helo” company, was supplemented with machine gun and mortar teams from Weapons Company to provide additional firepower for the mission. The Marines have executed coordinated operations like this before, but this one added the challenge of artificial vision through the use of nigh vision goggles. The raid was part of the 31st MEU’s pre-deployment training exercise that tests the unit’s ability to conduct rapid planning and mission execution within a limited timeframe. The 31st MEU is the Marine Corps’ force in readiness in the Asia-Pacific region and is the only continuously forward-deployed MEU.

Marines and Sailors with Weapons Company, Battalion Landing Team 2nd Battalion, 5th Marines, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, sprint out of the back of an MV-22 Osprey Tiltrotor Aircraft during a Tactical Recovery of Aircraft and Personnel training exercise at the Jungle Warfare Training Center here, Jan 27. The TRAP is one of many capabilities tested during the 31st MEU’s pre-deployment training package. The 31st MEU is the Marine Corps’ force in readiness for the Asia-Pacific region and the only continuously forward-deployed MEU. - Marines and Sailors with Weapons Company, Battalion Landing Team 2nd Battalion, 5th Marines, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, sprint out of the back of an MV-22 Osprey Tiltrotor Aircraft during a Tactical Recovery of Aircraft and Personnel training exercise at the Jungle Warfare Training Center here, Jan 27. The TRAP is one of many capabilities tested during the 31st MEU’s pre-deployment training package. The 31st MEU is the Marine Corps’ force in readiness for the Asia-Pacific region and the only continuously forward-deployed MEU.