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Philippine Marines and U.S. Marines from Fox Company, Battalion Landing Team 2nd Battalion 7th Marines, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, currently in support of 3rd Marine Expeditionary Brigade, carry a Combat Rubber Reconnaissance Craft during a boat raid here Oct. 27. The boat raid was conducted as part of Amphibious Landing Exercise 2012, a bilateral training exercise between the U.S. Marine Corps and Philippine Marines. The bilateral training is designed to build interoperability between the U.S. Marine Corps and Philippine Marines. (U.S. Marine Corps Photo by Lance Cpl. Brianna Turner/Released) - Philippine Marines and U.S. Marines from Fox Company, Battalion Landing Team 2nd Battalion 7th Marines, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, currently in support of 3rd Marine Expeditionary Brigade, carry a Combat Rubber Reconnaissance Craft during a boat raid here Oct. 27. The boat raid was conducted as part of Amphibious Landing Exercise 2012, a bilateral training exercise between the U.S. Marine Corps and Philippine Marines. The bilateral training is designed to build interoperability between the U.S. Marine Corps and Philippine Marines. (U.S. Marine Corps Photo by Lance Cpl. Brianna Turner/Released)

Amphibious Assault Vehicles with Company G, Battalion Landing Team 2nd Battalion, 7th Marines, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, make their way ashore during a mock mechanized amphibious assault, Oct. 23. The assault was a bilateral exercise, and is conducted annually by the Republic of the Philippines and United States. The 31st MEU is operating in support of the 3rd Marine Expeditionary Brigade for the exercise, is the only continuously forward-deployed MEU and remains the United States’ force in readiness in the Asia-Pacific region. - Amphibious Assault Vehicles with Company G, Battalion Landing Team 2nd Battalion, 7th Marines, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, make their way ashore during a mock mechanized amphibious assault, Oct. 23. The assault was a bilateral exercise, and is conducted annually by the Republic of the Philippines and United States. The 31st MEU is operating in support of the 3rd Marine Expeditionary Brigade for the exercise, is the only continuously forward-deployed MEU and remains the United States’ force in readiness in the Asia-Pacific region.

Cpl. Caleb S. Walcott, a squad leader with Company G, Battalion Landing Team 2nd Battalion, 7th Marines, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, provides security in the back of an amphibious assault vehicle during a mock amphibious raid, Oct. 14. The raid was conducted during the 31st MEU’s certification exercise. The 31st MEU is the only continuously forward-deployed MEU and remains the nation’s force in readiness in the Asia-Pacific region. - Cpl. Caleb S. Walcott, a squad leader with Company G, Battalion Landing Team 2nd Battalion, 7th Marines, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, provides security in the back of an amphibious assault vehicle during a mock amphibious raid, Oct. 14. The raid was conducted during the 31st MEU’s certification exercise. The 31st MEU is the only continuously forward-deployed MEU and remains the nation’s force in readiness in the Asia-Pacific region.

U.S. Marines with Company F., Battalion Landing Team 2nd Battalion, 7th Marines, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, fire weapons during a timed squad competition drill held at the culmination of bilateral exercise Raider Dawn. This exercise increases interoperability and mutually benefits the U.S. and Australian armed services by giving them an opportunity to learn from each other. The 31st MEU is the only continually forward-deployed MEU, and remains the United States’ force-in-readiness in the Asia-Pacific region. - U.S. Marines with Company F., Battalion Landing Team 2nd Battalion, 7th Marines, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, fire weapons during a timed squad competition drill held at the culmination of bilateral exercise Raider Dawn. This exercise increases interoperability and mutually benefits the U.S. and Australian armed services by giving them an opportunity to learn from each other. The 31st MEU is the only continually forward-deployed MEU, and remains the United States’ force-in-readiness in the Asia-Pacific region.

U.S. Marines with Company F., Battalion Landing Team 2nd Battalion, 7th Marines, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, prepare to fire a high-explosive rocket from a shoulder-launched, multipurpose assault weapon during bilateral exercise Raider Dawn. This exercise increases interoperability and mutually benefits the U.S. and Australian armed services by giving them an opportunity to learn from each other. The 31st MEU is the only continually forward-deployed MEU, and remains the United States’ force-in-readiness in the Asia-Pacific region. - U.S. Marines with Company F., Battalion Landing Team 2nd Battalion, 7th Marines, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, prepare to fire a high-explosive rocket from a shoulder-launched, multipurpose assault weapon during bilateral exercise Raider Dawn. This exercise increases interoperability and mutually benefits the U.S. and Australian armed services by giving them an opportunity to learn from each other. The 31st MEU is the only continually forward-deployed MEU, and remains the United States’ force-in-readiness in the Asia-Pacific region.

U.S. Marine Lance Cpl. Ashley Evans, a team leader with Company F., Battalion Landing Team 2nd Battalion, 7th Marines, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, observes Australian Army soldier Cpl. Geoff Miller, a transportation specialist with the 1st Brigade, conduct a live-fire course during bilateral exercise Raider Dawn. This exercise increases interoperability and mutually benefits the U.S. and Australian armed services by giving them an opportunity to learn from each other. The 31st MEU is the only continually forward-deployed MEU, and remains the United States’ force-in-readiness in the Asia-Pacific region. - U.S. Marine Lance Cpl. Ashley Evans, a team leader with Company F., Battalion Landing Team 2nd Battalion, 7th Marines, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, observes Australian Army soldier Cpl. Geoff Miller, a transportation specialist with the 1st Brigade, conduct a live-fire course during bilateral exercise Raider Dawn. This exercise increases interoperability and mutually benefits the U.S. and Australian armed services by giving them an opportunity to learn from each other. The 31st MEU is the only continually forward-deployed MEU, and remains the United States’ force-in-readiness in the Asia-Pacific region.

U.S. Marines with Company F., Battalion Landing Team 2nd Battalion, 7th Marines, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, and Australian Defence Force members unload gear from an Australian military vehicle at the beginning of a bilateral exercise. The 31st MEU is the only continually forward-deployed MEU, and remains the United States’ force-in-readiness in the Asia-Pacific region. - U.S. Marines with Company F., Battalion Landing Team 2nd Battalion, 7th Marines, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, and Australian Defence Force members unload gear from an Australian military vehicle at the beginning of a bilateral exercise. The 31st MEU is the only continually forward-deployed MEU, and remains the United States’ force-in-readiness 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.

Marines and sailors from Battalion Landing Team 2nd Battalion, 7th Marines (BLT 2/7), exit a plane upon arrival on Okinawa, Jan. 8. The Marines and sailors of BLT 2/7 will serve as the ground combat element (GCE) of the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) during its upcoming Spring Patrol of the Asia-Pacific region. According to Lt. Col. John Reed, the battalion's Commanding Officer, this is the first time since the Korean War the battalion has served as an amphibious assault force and the first time in the battalion's history it has served as a BLT. - Marines and sailors from Battalion Landing Team 2nd Battalion, 7th Marines (BLT 2/7), exit a plane upon arrival on Okinawa, Jan. 8. The Marines and sailors of BLT 2/7 will serve as the ground combat element (GCE) of the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) during its upcoming Spring Patrol of the Asia-Pacific region. According to Lt. Col. John Reed, the battalion's Commanding Officer, this is the first time since the Korean War the battalion has served as an amphibious assault force and the first time in the battalion's history it has served as a BLT.