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A Marine with the Force Reconnaissance Platoon, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, prepares to breach and clear a building, August 18. The Marines of FRP were clearing the house in order to build their vessel boarding, searching and seizing skills. The 31st MEU is the only continuously forward-deployed MEU and remains the nation’s force in readiness in the Asia-Pacific region. - A Marine with the Force Reconnaissance Platoon, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, prepares to breach and clear a building, August 18. The Marines of FRP were clearing the house in order to build their vessel boarding, searching and seizing skills. The 31st MEU is the only continuously forward-deployed MEU and remains the nation’s force in readiness in the Asia-Pacific region.

Sailors with Amphibious Squadron 11 attach chains to a CH-46E Sea Knight with Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 262 (reinforced), 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, during flight deck operations, March 13. Marines and sailors of the 31st MEU aboard the USS Essex (LHD 2) are making preparations for potential humanitarian assistance and disaster relief efforts after an 8.9 earthquake and subsequent tsunami struck Japan causing widespread damage. The USS Essex and 31st MEU are heading for the northeast coast of Japan to be ready to support to our friends and allies in their ongoing efforts and to be near enough to provide that support if called upon. - Sailors with Amphibious Squadron 11 attach chains to a CH-46E Sea Knight with Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 262 (reinforced), 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, during flight deck operations, March 13. Marines and sailors of the 31st MEU aboard the USS Essex (LHD 2) are making preparations for potential humanitarian assistance and disaster relief efforts after an 8.9 earthquake and subsequent tsunami struck Japan causing widespread damage. The USS Essex and 31st MEU are heading for the northeast coast of Japan to be ready to support to our friends and allies in their ongoing efforts and to be near enough to provide that support if called upon.

A cobra prepares to strike at an instructor of the jungle survival class being taught to Royal Thai and U.S. Marines during exercise Cobra Gold 2011, Feb. 14. The Kingdom of Thailand is the United Sates’ oldest friend and ally in Asia, and that partnership has helped keep the Asia-Pacific region secure and stable. - A cobra prepares to strike at an instructor of the jungle survival class being taught to Royal Thai and U.S. Marines during exercise Cobra Gold 2011, Feb. 14. The Kingdom of Thailand is the United Sates’ oldest friend and ally in Asia, and that partnership has helped keep the Asia-Pacific region secure and stable.

Marines of 2nd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, arrive from Camp Pendleton, Calif. for deployment with the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit as the new Battalion Landing Team, Jan. 10. The battalion has now become the ground combat element of the 31st MEU, and is scheduled to embark aboard ships of Amphibious Squadron 11 for support of Theater Security Cooperation in the Asia-Pacific region. - Marines of 2nd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, arrive from Camp Pendleton, Calif. for deployment with the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit as the new Battalion Landing Team, Jan. 10. The battalion has now become the ground combat element of the 31st MEU, and is scheduled to embark aboard ships of Amphibious Squadron 11 for support of Theater Security Cooperation in the Asia-Pacific region.

U.S. Marines with Combat Logistics Battalion 31, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, share Japanese tea with Military Police of the 43rd Infantry Regiment, 8th Division, Western Army, Japanese Ground Self Defense Force, aboard the Kirishima Training Area, Miyazaki Prefecture, Japan during a meet and greet session prior to the beginning of the bilateral exercise Forest Light, Dec. 6. Marines and Sailors with the 31st MEU are currently conducting the annual Forest Light exercise, which is vital to maintaining combat readiness, interoperability and good-will between the armed forces of the U.S. and Japan. - U.S. Marines with Combat Logistics Battalion 31, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, share Japanese tea with Military Police of the 43rd Infantry Regiment, 8th Division, Western Army, Japanese Ground Self Defense Force, aboard the Kirishima Training Area, Miyazaki Prefecture, Japan during a meet and greet session prior to the beginning of the bilateral exercise Forest Light, Dec. 6. Marines and Sailors with the 31st MEU are currently conducting the annual Forest Light exercise, which is vital to maintaining combat readiness, interoperability and good-will between the armed forces of the U.S. and Japan.

Lt. Col. Joshua Luck, commanding officer, Marine Attack Squadron 542, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, briefs visiting Chinese Senior Capt. Xujing Cai, Navy chief of staff, Hong Kong Garrison, People’s Liberation Army (center, in white) and other visiting Chinese military officers on AV-8B Harrier jet aircraft capabilities during a flight deck reception aboard the USS Essex (LHD 2) in Hong Kong harbor, Nov. 17. - Lt. Col. Joshua Luck, commanding officer, Marine Attack Squadron 542, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, briefs visiting Chinese Senior Capt. Xujing Cai, Navy chief of staff, Hong Kong Garrison, People’s Liberation Army (center, in white) and other visiting Chinese military officers on AV-8B Harrier jet aircraft capabilities during a flight deck reception aboard the USS Essex (LHD 2) in Hong Kong harbor, Nov. 17.

An AH-1W Super Cobra pilot assigned to Marine Medium Helicopter 262 (Reinforced), the "Flying Tigers," part of the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, performs a pre-flight check of his aircraft prior to take off from Clark Air Base in the Republic of the Philippines. HMM-262 (REIN) and the 31st MEU are in the Philippines conducting bilateral training exercises designed to enhance the skills of pilots from both nations. The interoperability training increases the partner nations' abilities to respond together to real-world contingencies. - An AH-1W Super Cobra pilot assigned to Marine Medium Helicopter 262 (Reinforced), the "Flying Tigers," part of the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, performs a pre-flight check of his aircraft prior to take off from Clark Air Base in the Republic of the Philippines. HMM-262 (REIN) and the 31st MEU are in the Philippines conducting bilateral training exercises designed to enhance the skills of pilots from both nations. The interoperability training increases the partner nations' abilities to respond together to real-world contingencies.