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U.S. Marine Corps Lance Cpls. Stephan A. Fournier (left) and Craig J. Reyes (right), both mortarmen with Golf Company, Battalion Landing Team 2nd Battalion 7th Marines, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, conduct a weapons drill with a 60 mm mortar as an Australian Blackhawk helicopter takes off behind them on Camp Rocky during Talisman Saber 2011. TS11 is a biennial combined training activity, designed to train Australian and U.S. forces in planning and conducting Combined Task Force operations to improve Australian Defense Force/U.S. combat readiness and interoperability. It reflects the closeness of the alliance and the strength and flexibility of the ongoing military-military relationship. - U.S. Marine Corps Lance Cpls. Stephan A. Fournier (left) and Craig J. Reyes (right), both mortarmen with Golf Company, Battalion Landing Team 2nd Battalion 7th Marines, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, conduct a weapons drill with a 60 mm mortar as an Australian Blackhawk helicopter takes off behind them on Camp Rocky during Talisman Saber 2011. TS11 is a biennial combined training activity, designed to train Australian and U.S. forces in planning and conducting Combined Task Force operations to improve Australian Defense Force/U.S. combat readiness and interoperability. It reflects the closeness of the alliance and the strength and flexibility of the ongoing military-military relationship.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Brig. Gen. Mark A. Brilakis, commading general, 3rd Marine Expeditionary Brigade, makes remarks at the opening ceremonies of Philippines Amphibious Landing Exercise 2011. The 3rd Marine Expeditionary Brigade and the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit are conducting PHIBLEX in order to increase cooperation between the two nations and to build interoperability in order to be ready for any real-world contingencies. - Brig. Gen. Mark A. Brilakis, commading general, 3rd Marine Expeditionary Brigade, makes remarks at the opening ceremonies of Philippines Amphibious Landing Exercise 2011. The 3rd Marine Expeditionary Brigade and the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit are conducting PHIBLEX in order to increase cooperation between the two nations and to build interoperability in order to be ready for any real-world contingencies.