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Maintenance Marines with Marine Light Attack Squadron 369, currently attached to Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 265 (Reinforced), 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, troubleshoot a 7.62mm GAU-17/A weapon system on a UH-1Y Venom helicopter here, Sept. 3. The helicopters are supporting the battalion-sized element currently conducting Exercise Koolendong 13. Koolendong demonstrates the operational reach of the 31st MEU. Also participating in the exercise is the Marine Rotational Force – Darwin and soldiers of the 5th Royal Australian Regiment. The 31st MEU brings what it needs to sustain itself to accomplish the mission or to pave the way for follow-on forces. The 31st MEU is the Marine Corps' force in readiness for the Asia-Pacific region and the only continuously forward-deployed MEU. - Maintenance Marines with Marine Light Attack Squadron 369, currently attached to Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 265 (Reinforced), 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, troubleshoot a 7.62mm GAU-17/A weapon system on a UH-1Y Venom helicopter here, Sept. 3. The helicopters are supporting the battalion-sized element currently conducting Exercise Koolendong 13. Koolendong demonstrates the operational reach of the 31st MEU. Also participating in the exercise is the Marine Rotational Force – Darwin and soldiers of the 5th Royal Australian Regiment. The 31st MEU brings what it needs to sustain itself to accomplish the mission or to pave the way for follow-on forces. The 31st MEU is the Marine Corps' force in readiness for the Asia-Pacific region and the only continuously forward-deployed MEU.

Light Armored Vehicle 25’s with Weapons Co., Battalion Landing Team 2nd Battalion, 4th Marines, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, pull off the dirt road and orient toward their targets during a combined, live-fire exercise for Exercise Koolendong 13 here, Sept. 3. The 31st MEU moved a battalion-sized force more than 300 miles inland from the Port of Darwin to conduct training. The exercise demonstrates the operational reach of the 31st MEU. Also participating in the exercise is the Marine Rotational Force – Darwin and soldiers of the 5th Royal Australian Regiment. The 31st MEU brings what it needs to sustain itself to accomplish the mission or to pave the way for follow-on forces. The 31st MEU is the Marine Corps' force in readiness for the Asia-Pacific region and the only continuously forward-deployed MEU. - Light Armored Vehicle 25’s with Weapons Co., Battalion Landing Team 2nd Battalion, 4th Marines, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, pull off the dirt road and orient toward their targets during a combined, live-fire exercise for Exercise Koolendong 13 here, Sept. 3. The 31st MEU moved a battalion-sized force more than 300 miles inland from the Port of Darwin to conduct training. The exercise demonstrates the operational reach of the 31st MEU. Also participating in the exercise is the Marine Rotational Force – Darwin and soldiers of the 5th Royal Australian Regiment. The 31st MEU brings what it needs to sustain itself to accomplish the mission or to pave the way for follow-on forces. The 31st MEU is the Marine Corps' force in readiness for the Asia-Pacific region and the only continuously forward-deployed MEU.

Corporal Jose L. Polanco (top), a 25-year-old heavy equipment mechanic for Combat Logistics Battalion 31, 31st Marine Expeditionary, and a native of Truth or Consequences, N.M., loosens a drive shaft mount with the assistance of Lance Cpl. Tanner M. Jones, a 19-year-old light armored vehicle mechanic for CLB-31, 31st MEU, and a native of Denver, Colo., here, Sept. 1. The Marines of CLB-31’s maintenance section are working long days and late nights to keep pace with the required maintenance that comes with supporting the battalion-sized element currently executing Exercise Koolendong 13. Koolendong is a week-long, live-fire exercise that demonstrates the operational reach of the 31st MEU. Also participating in the exercise is the Marine Rotational Force – Darwin and soldiers of the 5th Royal Australian Regiment. The 31st MEU brings what it needs to sustain itself to accomplish the mission or to pave the way for follow-on forces. The 31st MEU is the Marine Corps' force in readiness for the Asia-Pacific region and the only continuously forward-deployed MEU. - Corporal Jose L. Polanco (top), a 25-year-old heavy equipment mechanic for Combat Logistics Battalion 31, 31st Marine Expeditionary, and a native of Truth or Consequences, N.M., loosens a drive shaft mount with the assistance of Lance Cpl. Tanner M. Jones, a 19-year-old light armored vehicle mechanic for CLB-31, 31st MEU, and a native of Denver, Colo., here, Sept. 1. The Marines of CLB-31’s maintenance section are working long days and late nights to keep pace with the required maintenance that comes with supporting the battalion-sized element currently executing Exercise Koolendong 13. Koolendong is a week-long, live-fire exercise that demonstrates the operational reach of the 31st MEU. Also participating in the exercise is the Marine Rotational Force – Darwin and soldiers of the 5th Royal Australian Regiment. The 31st MEU brings what it needs to sustain itself to accomplish the mission or to pave the way for follow-on forces. The 31st MEU is the Marine Corps' force in readiness for the Asia-Pacific region and the only continuously forward-deployed MEU.

Light Armored Vehicle 25's with Weapons Co., Battalion Landing Team 2nd Battalion, 4th Marines, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, finish a 379 mile movement into the Australian outback here, Aug. 31. The convoy, led by Combat Logisitics Battalion 31, 31st MEU, transported 189 troops in a line of 57 vehicles from the Port of Darwin to the training area for Exercise Koolendong 13. The exercise demonstrates the operational reach of the 31st MEU. Also participating in the exercise is the Marine Rotational Force – Darwin and soldiers of the 5th Royal Australian Regiment. The 31st MEU brings what it needs to sustain itself to accomplish the mission or to pave the way for follow-on forces. The 31st MEU is the Marine Corps' force in readiness for the Asia-Pacific region and the only continuously forward-deployed MEU. - Light Armored Vehicle 25's with Weapons Co., Battalion Landing Team 2nd Battalion, 4th Marines, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, finish a 379 mile movement into the Australian outback here, Aug. 31. The convoy, led by Combat Logisitics Battalion 31, 31st MEU, transported 189 troops in a line of 57 vehicles from the Port of Darwin to the training area for Exercise Koolendong 13. The exercise demonstrates the operational reach of the 31st MEU. Also participating in the exercise is the Marine Rotational Force – Darwin and soldiers of the 5th Royal Australian Regiment. The 31st MEU brings what it needs to sustain itself to accomplish the mission or to pave the way for follow-on forces. The 31st MEU is the Marine Corps' force in readiness for the Asia-Pacific region and the only continuously forward-deployed MEU.

Captain Garron J. Garn, 33-year-old public affairs officer for the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, takes a break to enjoy the weather and scenic view of the training area here, Aug. 31. The 31st MEU has moved a battalion-sized force more than 300 miles inland from the Port of Darwin to conduct training. The exercise demonstrates the operational reach of the 31st MEU. Also participating in the exercise is the Marine Rotational Force – Darwin and soldiers of the 5th Royal Australian Regiment. The 31st MEU brings what it needs to sustain itself to accomplish the mission or to pave the way for follow-on forces. The 31st MEU is the Marine Corps' force in readiness for the Asia-Pacific region and the only continuously forward-deployed MEU. - Captain Garron J. Garn, 33-year-old public affairs officer for the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, takes a break to enjoy the weather and scenic view of the training area here, Aug. 31. The 31st MEU has moved a battalion-sized force more than 300 miles inland from the Port of Darwin to conduct training. The exercise demonstrates the operational reach of the 31st MEU. Also participating in the exercise is the Marine Rotational Force – Darwin and soldiers of the 5th Royal Australian Regiment. The 31st MEU brings what it needs to sustain itself to accomplish the mission or to pave the way for follow-on forces. The 31st MEU is the Marine Corps' force in readiness for the Asia-Pacific region and the only continuously forward-deployed MEU.

Sergeant Binh D. Kien, a 23-year-old field artillery cannoneer with Echo Battery, Battalion Landing Team 2nd Battalion, 4th Marines, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, and a native of San Jose, Calif., gets mobbed by students of the Bidau Akadiru-hun elementary school during a community relations visit here, Aug. 28. The visit was one of two events the Marines and Sailors of the 31st MEU and crew of the USS Denver (LPD 9) were able to volunteer for. The other was a visit to the Ahisaun Foundation for disabled persons. Both events were during Exercise Koolendong 13, where a battalion-sized force of the 31st MEU trained alongside Marine Rotational Force - Darwin and soldiers of the 5th Royal Australian Regiment during a week-long, live-fire exercise. The 31st MEU is the Marine Corps’ force in readiness for the Asia-Pacific region and is the only continuously forward-deployed MEU. - Sergeant Binh D. Kien, a 23-year-old field artillery cannoneer with Echo Battery, Battalion Landing Team 2nd Battalion, 4th Marines, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, and a native of San Jose, Calif., gets mobbed by students of the Bidau Akadiru-hun elementary school during a community relations visit here, Aug. 28. The visit was one of two events the Marines and Sailors of the 31st MEU and crew of the USS Denver (LPD 9) were able to volunteer for. The other was a visit to the Ahisaun Foundation for disabled persons. Both events were during Exercise Koolendong 13, where a battalion-sized force of the 31st MEU trained alongside Marine Rotational Force - Darwin and soldiers of the 5th Royal Australian Regiment during a week-long, live-fire exercise. The 31st MEU is the Marine Corps’ force in readiness for the Asia-Pacific region and is the only continuously forward-deployed MEU.

Lance Cpl. Gregg J. Schaefer, a landing support specialist with Combat Logistics Battalion 31, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, holds a picture of himself with his 11 brothers and sisters here, Aug. 21. With his siblings serving as the motivation to change his ways, Schaeffer transformed himself from troublemaker to role model by becoming a Marine. The 31st MEU is the Marine Corps’ force in readiness in the Asia-Pacific region and the only continuously forward deployed MEU. - Lance Cpl. Gregg J. Schaefer, a landing support specialist with Combat Logistics Battalion 31, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, holds a picture of himself with his 11 brothers and sisters here, Aug. 21. With his siblings serving as the motivation to change his ways, Schaeffer transformed himself from troublemaker to role model by becoming a Marine. The 31st MEU is the Marine Corps’ force in readiness in the Asia-Pacific region and the only continuously forward deployed MEU.

Marines with the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit share a laugh with a young patient during a visit to the Sydney Children’s Hospital, here, Aug. 19. Twenty Marines and Sailors of the 31st MEU and the USS Bonhomme Richard visited the hospital after completing the bilateral exercise Talisman Saber 2013. The service members interacted with children throughout the various hospital wards by playing games, painting, and talking to bedridden children. 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 share a laugh with a young patient during a visit to the Sydney Children’s Hospital, here, Aug. 19. Twenty Marines and Sailors of the 31st MEU and the USS Bonhomme Richard visited the hospital after completing the bilateral exercise Talisman Saber 2013. The service members interacted with children throughout the various hospital wards by playing games, painting, and talking to bedridden children. 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 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit and Sailors of the USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD 6) attempt to tackle a member of the Royal Australian Navy rugby team during a match here, Aug. 19. The Blue-Green team of deployed service members formed soccer and rugby teams in order to participate in friendly matches with their Australian counterparts. The 31st MEU and Amphibious Squadron 11 recently participated in exercise Talisman Saber 2013, a bilateral training exercise between the U.S. and Australian forces. 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 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit and Sailors of the USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD 6) attempt to tackle a member of the Royal Australian Navy rugby team during a match here, Aug. 19. The Blue-Green team of deployed service members formed soccer and rugby teams in order to participate in friendly matches with their Australian counterparts. The 31st MEU and Amphibious Squadron 11 recently participated in exercise Talisman Saber 2013, a bilateral training exercise between the U.S. and Australian forces. The 31st MEU is the Marine Corps’ force in readiness for the Asia-Pacific region and the only continuously forward-deployed MEU.

Lance Cpl. Justin L. Morrow, a fire direction controlman with Echo Battery, Battalion Landing Team 2nd Battalion, 4th Marines, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, and a native of St. Augustine, Fla., performs bicep curls in the ship’s gym here, Aug. 11. Marines and Sailors use the gym and run on the flight deck to maintain high levels of physical fitness at sea. The 31st MEU is conducting a regularly scheduled patrol aboard the three ships of Amphibious Squadron 11. The 31st MEU is the Marine Corps’ force in readiness for the Asia-Pacific region and the only continuously forward-deployed MEU. - Lance Cpl. Justin L. Morrow, a fire direction controlman with Echo Battery, Battalion Landing Team 2nd Battalion, 4th Marines, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, and a native of St. Augustine, Fla., performs bicep curls in the ship’s gym here, Aug. 11. Marines and Sailors use the gym and run on the flight deck to maintain high levels of physical fitness at sea. The 31st MEU is conducting a regularly scheduled patrol aboard the three ships of Amphibious Squadron 11. The 31st MEU is the Marine Corps’ force in readiness for the Asia-Pacific region and the only continuously forward-deployed MEU.