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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.

Chief Warrant Officer 2 Erin Patrick, Combat Cargo Officer, USS Harpers Ferry (LSD 49) (left), speaks with 1st Lt. Charles Breaux, team embarkation officer, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, regarding the movement of personnel and materials from the USS Denver (LPD 9) to the USS Harpers Ferry (LSD 49), March 4. Elements of the 31st MEU switched ships mid-deployment allowing the MEU to remain ready to respond. The transition comes midway through the MEU’s scheduled deployment to the Asia-Pacific region, enhancing theater security and conducting bilateral training with multiple nations. The 31st MEU is the U.S.’s only continually forward-deployed MEU, and remains a force-in-readiness in the Asia-Pacific region at all times. - Chief Warrant Officer 2 Erin Patrick, Combat Cargo Officer, USS Harpers Ferry (LSD 49) (left), speaks with 1st Lt. Charles Breaux, team embarkation officer, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, regarding the movement of personnel and materials from the USS Denver (LPD 9) to the USS Harpers Ferry (LSD 49), March 4. Elements of the 31st MEU switched ships mid-deployment allowing the MEU to remain ready to respond. The transition comes midway through the MEU’s scheduled deployment to the Asia-Pacific region, enhancing theater security and conducting bilateral training with multiple nations. The 31st MEU is the U.S.’s only continually forward-deployed MEU, and remains a force-in-readiness in the Asia-Pacific region at all times.

Lance Cpl. Victoria Bonaldo, 21, of Philadelphia, Pa., a supply clerk with Combat Logistics Battalion 31, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, spends time helping disabled Thai students practice English during a community relations event, Feb. 24. Marines and Sailors assisted children at the Father Ray Foundation Redemptive Vocational School for People with Disabilities during a port visit after the 31st MEU’s successful conclusion of Cobra Gold 2011. The 31st MEU is the nation’s only continually forward deployed MEU, and remains a force-in-readiness in the Asia-Pacific region. - Lance Cpl. Victoria Bonaldo, 21, of Philadelphia, Pa., a supply clerk with Combat Logistics Battalion 31, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, spends time helping disabled Thai students practice English during a community relations event, Feb. 24. Marines and Sailors assisted children at the Father Ray Foundation Redemptive Vocational School for People with Disabilities during a port visit after the 31st MEU’s successful conclusion of Cobra Gold 2011. The 31st MEU is the nation’s only continually forward deployed MEU, and remains a force-in-readiness in the Asia-Pacific region.

Marines and Sailors with the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit ride elephants during a tour of elephant village Feb. 22. Service members were enjoying some much deserved liberty at the conclusion of the 30th annual Cobra Gold exercise. For three decades, Thailand has hosted Cobra Gold, one of the largest land-based, joint, combined military exercises in the world, which started out as a bilateral exercise, but has since grown to include Japan, Indonesia, Singapore, Malaysia and South Korea as full participants and dozens of other countries as official observers. - Marines and Sailors with the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit ride elephants during a tour of elephant village Feb. 22. Service members were enjoying some much deserved liberty at the conclusion of the 30th annual Cobra Gold exercise. For three decades, Thailand has hosted Cobra Gold, one of the largest land-based, joint, combined military exercises in the world, which started out as a bilateral exercise, but has since grown to include Japan, Indonesia, Singapore, Malaysia and South Korea as full participants and dozens of other countries as official observers.

February 16, 2011, U.S. Marines with the Maritime Raid Force, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, 3rd Marine Expeditionary Brigade, provide security as a U.S. Marine Corps CH-53E Super Stallion helicopter lands during a mock raid conducted with Royal Thai Marines in Hat Yao, Kingdom of Thailand, in support of Exercise Cobra Gold 2011. For three decades, Thailand has hosted Cobra Gold, one of the largest land-based, joint, combined military training exercises in the world. A successful Cobra Gold 2011 results in increased operational readiness of U.S. and Thai forces and matured military to military relations between the two countries. - February 16, 2011, U.S. Marines with the Maritime Raid Force, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, 3rd Marine Expeditionary Brigade, provide security as a U.S. Marine Corps CH-53E Super Stallion helicopter lands during a mock raid conducted with Royal Thai Marines in Hat Yao, Kingdom of Thailand, in support of Exercise Cobra Gold 2011. For three decades, Thailand has hosted Cobra Gold, one of the largest land-based, joint, combined military training exercises in the world. A successful Cobra Gold 2011 results in increased operational readiness of U.S. and Thai forces and matured military to military relations between the two countries.

February 14, 2011, U.S. Marines with the Chemical Biological Radiological Nuclear high-yield Explosive (CBRNE) detachment, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU), 3rd Marine Expeditionary Brigade (MEB), observe two Royal Thai Navy Sailors conduct a mock chemical contamination drill in Samesan, Kingdom of Thailand, for Exercise Cobra Gold 2011. For three decades, Thailand has hosted Cobra Gold, one of the largest land-based, joint, combined military training exercises in the world. A successful Cobra Gold 2011 results in increased operational readiness of U.S. and Thai forces and matured military to military relations between the two countries. - February 14, 2011, U.S. Marines with the Chemical Biological Radiological Nuclear high-yield Explosive (CBRNE) detachment, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU), 3rd Marine Expeditionary Brigade (MEB), observe two Royal Thai Navy Sailors conduct a mock chemical contamination drill in Samesan, Kingdom of Thailand, for Exercise Cobra Gold 2011. For three decades, Thailand has hosted Cobra Gold, one of the largest land-based, joint, combined military training exercises in the world. A successful Cobra Gold 2011 results in increased operational readiness of U.S. and Thai forces and matured military to military relations between the two countries.

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.