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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.

Marines with Weapons Company, Battalion Landing Team 2nd Battalion, 5th Marines, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit execute a point man reaction course here, Jan. 22 - 24. The training course tested a dozen teams of three to four Marines in the challenging jungle vegetation with more than ten targets concealed in positions at varying heights. 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 execute a point man reaction course here, Jan. 22 - 24. The training course tested a dozen teams of three to four Marines in the challenging jungle vegetation with more than ten targets concealed in positions at varying heights. The 31st MEU is the Marine Corps’ force in readiness in the Asia-Pacific region and is the only continuously forward-deployed MEU.

Marines of the riot control team for Golf Battery, Battalion Landing Team 2nd Battalion, 5th Marines, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, attempt to subdue a role player wielding a weapon during the culminating event of the unit’s public disorder and non-lethal weapons employment training here, Jan. 24. One of the secondary missions of Golf Battery is to serve as a non-lethal contingency force for the 31st MEU, useful in embassy security reinforcement, humanitarian operations and many other contingencies. The 31st MEU is the Marine Corps’ force in readiness for the Asia-Pacific region and the only continuously forward-deployed MEU. - Marines of the riot control team for Golf Battery, Battalion Landing Team 2nd Battalion, 5th Marines, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, attempt to subdue a role player wielding a weapon during the culminating event of the unit’s public disorder and non-lethal weapons employment training here, Jan. 24. One of the secondary missions of Golf Battery is to serve as a non-lethal contingency force for the 31st MEU, useful in embassy security reinforcement, humanitarian operations and many other contingencies. The 31st MEU is the Marine Corps’ force in readiness for the Asia-Pacific region and the only continuously forward-deployed MEU.

Marines with the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit’s command element gather around a computer to test a data system during a communication exercise here, Jan. 15. The Marines built a field-based command and control center for satellite and radio communication as part of their pre-deployment exercise. 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 the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit’s command element gather around a computer to test a data system during a communication exercise here, Jan. 15. The Marines built a field-based command and control center for satellite and radio communication as part of their pre-deployment exercise. The 31st MEU is the Marine Corps’ force in readiness in the Asia-Pacific region and is the only continuously forward-deployed MEU.