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Colonel Andrew R. MacMannis, commanding officer of the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, discusses MEU capabilities with a member of the Japanese Self Defense Forces during a meeting in the 31st MEU headquarters, May 14. The JSDF requested a meeting with the MEU, to gain a better familiarity with the unit's expeditionary and amphibious capabilities. The 31st MEU is the only continuously forward deployed MEU, and the United States' force in readiness for the Asia Pacific region. - Colonel Andrew R. MacMannis, commanding officer of the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, discusses MEU capabilities with a member of the Japanese Self Defense Forces during a meeting in the 31st MEU headquarters, May 14. The JSDF requested a meeting with the MEU, to gain a better familiarity with the unit's expeditionary and amphibious capabilities. The 31st MEU is the only continuously forward deployed MEU, and the United States' force in readiness for the Asia Pacific region.

Marines with Company C., Battalion Landing Team 1st Battalion, 4th Marines, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, disembark the USS Denver (LPD-9) here following the month-long bilateral training Exercise Balikatan in the Philippines, May 3. Balikatan, (shoulder-to-shoulder in English) is the last training evolution 1/4 will take part in before detaching from the 31st MEU and returning to their home garrison on Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton. The 31st MEU is the only continuously forward-deployed MEU and remains the nation’s force in readiness in the Asia-Pacific region. - Marines with Company C., Battalion Landing Team 1st Battalion, 4th Marines, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, disembark the USS Denver (LPD-9) here following the month-long bilateral training Exercise Balikatan in the Philippines, May 3. Balikatan, (shoulder-to-shoulder in English) is the last training evolution 1/4 will take part in before detaching from the 31st MEU and returning to their home garrison on Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton. The 31st MEU is the only continuously forward-deployed MEU and remains the nation’s force in readiness in the Asia-Pacific region.

Lieutenant Col. Damien "Faulkner" Marsh, commanding officer of Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 265 (REIN), 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, applies a temporary Dragon tattoo to a fan during a static display of CH-46E Sea Knight helicopters at the Atsugi Air Show, Atsugi Naval Air Facility, Japan, on April 28. The Marines' participation in the event comes one year after their assistance to Japanese tsunami victims during Operation Tomodachi. The 31st MEU is the United States' expeditionary force in readiness for the Asia Pacific region. - Lieutenant Col. Damien "Faulkner" Marsh, commanding officer of Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 265 (REIN), 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, applies a temporary Dragon tattoo to a fan during a static display of CH-46E Sea Knight helicopters at the Atsugi Air Show, Atsugi Naval Air Facility, Japan, on April 28. The Marines' participation in the event comes one year after their assistance to Japanese tsunami victims during Operation Tomodachi. The 31st MEU is the United States' expeditionary force in readiness for the Asia Pacific region.

A Marine with 1st Platoon, Company B., Battalion Landing Team 1st Battalion, 4th Marines, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, crawls through a watery ditch and under concertina wire during the Jungle Endurance Course here, April 20. After completing a two-week training evolution at the Jungle Warfare Training Center, the Marines underwent the four-mile-long course through the Okinawan jungle, utilizing the rappelling, rope-crossing, improvised stretcher carry and other skills they learned. 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 1st Platoon, Company B., Battalion Landing Team 1st Battalion, 4th Marines, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, crawls through a watery ditch and under concertina wire during the Jungle Endurance Course here, April 20. After completing a two-week training evolution at the Jungle Warfare Training Center, the Marines underwent the four-mile-long course through the Okinawan jungle, utilizing the rappelling, rope-crossing, improvised stretcher carry and other skills they learned. The 31st MEU is the only continuously forward-deployed MEU and remains the nation’s force in readiness in the Asia-Pacific region.

A U.S. Marine with Company B., Battalion Landing Team 1st Battalion, 4th Marines, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, role plays an enemy defender here, Feb. 16. U.S. Marines and their Royal Thai counterparts participated in military operations in urban terrain exercise where Thais integrated into the U.S. squads and trained in assaulting and defending a position. The training is part of exercise Cobra Gold 2012, a multi-lateral training event where participating nations train to increase interoperability and promote security and peace throughout the Asia-Pacific region. The 31st MEU is the only continuously forward-deployed MEU and remains the nation’s force in readiness in the Asia-Pacific region. - A U.S. Marine with Company B., Battalion Landing Team 1st Battalion, 4th Marines, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, role plays an enemy defender here, Feb. 16. U.S. Marines and their Royal Thai counterparts participated in military operations in urban terrain exercise where Thais integrated into the U.S. squads and trained in assaulting and defending a position. The training is part of exercise Cobra Gold 2012, a multi-lateral training event where participating nations train to increase interoperability and promote security and peace throughout the Asia-Pacific region. The 31st MEU is the only continuously forward-deployed MEU and remains the nation’s force in readiness in the Asia-Pacific region.

A Royal Thai Marine passes the ball as a U.S. Marine with Battalion Landing Team 1st Battalion, 4th Marines, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, attempts to stop him during a friendly soccer game here, Feb. 16. U.S. Marines were playing against Royal Thai Marines in a friendly, but intense game of soccer after completing their training during Exercise Cobra Gold 2012. CG 2012 demonstrates the resolve of the U.S. and participating nations to increase interoperability and promote security and peace throughout the Asia-Pacific region. The 31st MEU is the U.S.’s expeditionary force in readiness in the Asia-Pacific region. - A Royal Thai Marine passes the ball as a U.S. Marine with Battalion Landing Team 1st Battalion, 4th Marines, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, attempts to stop him during a friendly soccer game here, Feb. 16. U.S. Marines were playing against Royal Thai Marines in a friendly, but intense game of soccer after completing their training during Exercise Cobra Gold 2012. CG 2012 demonstrates the resolve of the U.S. and participating nations to increase interoperability and promote security and peace throughout the Asia-Pacific region. The 31st MEU is the U.S.’s expeditionary force in readiness in the Asia-Pacific region.

U.S. Marines with Company A, Battalion Landing Team 1st Battalion, 4th Marines, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, provide suppressing fire on targets with an M240B machine gun during a Combined Arms Live Fire Exercise here, Feb. 15. CALFEX was conducted during Exercise Cobra Gold 2012 and included units from the 31st MEU, U.S. Army, Royal Thai Army and the Royal Thai Marine Corps. CG 2012 demonstrates the resolve of the U.S. and participating nations to increase interoperability and promote security and peace throughout the Asia-Pacific region. The 31st MEU is the U.S.’s expeditionary force in readiness in the Asia-Pacific region. - U.S. Marines with Company A, Battalion Landing Team 1st Battalion, 4th Marines, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, provide suppressing fire on targets with an M240B machine gun during a Combined Arms Live Fire Exercise here, Feb. 15. CALFEX was conducted during Exercise Cobra Gold 2012 and included units from the 31st MEU, U.S. Army, Royal Thai Army and the Royal Thai Marine Corps. CG 2012 demonstrates the resolve of the U.S. and participating nations to increase interoperability and promote security and peace throughout the Asia-Pacific region. The 31st MEU is the U.S.’s expeditionary force in readiness in the Asia-Pacific region.

A Royal Thai Marine, simulating a chemical attack victim, lies still while Thai Reconnaissance Marines cordon off the area during a chemical, biological, radiological, chemical exercise here, Feb. 14. The training was conducted by Thai forces and Marines with the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, jointly executing casualty decontamination in a bilateral environment. The training is part of exercise Cobra Gold 2012, now in its 31st iteration. The exercise is a multi-lateral event focused on strengthening the interoperability of all participating military forces. The 31st MEU is the only continuously forward-deployed MEU and remains the nation’s force in readiness in the Asia-Pacific region. - A Royal Thai Marine, simulating a chemical attack victim, lies still while Thai Reconnaissance Marines cordon off the area during a chemical, biological, radiological, chemical exercise here, Feb. 14. The training was conducted by Thai forces and Marines with the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, jointly executing casualty decontamination in a bilateral environment. The training is part of exercise Cobra Gold 2012, now in its 31st iteration. The exercise is a multi-lateral event focused on strengthening the interoperability of all participating military forces. The 31st MEU is the only continuously forward-deployed MEU and remains the nation’s force in readiness in the Asia-Pacific region.

Marines with Battery L., Battalion Landing Team 1st Battalion, 4th Marines, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, fire an M777A2 Ultra Light Weight Howitzer here during Exercise Cobra Gold 2012, Feb. 14. The Marines were firing in preparation for the 31st MEU’s upcoming Combined Arms Live Fire Exercise. CG 2012 demonstrates the resolve of the U.S. and participating nations to increase interoperability and promote security and peace throughout the Asia-Pacific region. The 31st MEU is the U.S.’s expeditionary force in readiness in the Asia-Pacific region. - Marines with Battery L., Battalion Landing Team 1st Battalion, 4th Marines, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, fire an M777A2 Ultra Light Weight Howitzer here during Exercise Cobra Gold 2012, Feb. 14. The Marines were firing in preparation for the 31st MEU’s upcoming Combined Arms Live Fire Exercise. CG 2012 demonstrates the resolve of the U.S. and participating nations to increase interoperability and promote security and peace throughout the Asia-Pacific region. The 31st MEU is the U.S.’s expeditionary force in readiness in the Asia-Pacific region.

Sub-Lt. Pranom Yodrug, a Royal Thai reconnaissance Marine, slices a vegetable while teaching the Marines about edible vegetation as part of a jungle survival class held here, Feb. 13. The survival instruction, taught by members of the Royal Thai Marine Reconnaissance, educated U.S. and Republic of Korean Marines on finding sustenance and tools in the jungle environment. The class is part of exercise Cobra Gold 2012, now in its 31st iteration. The exercise is a multi-lateral event focused on strengthening the interoperability of all participating military forces. The 31st MEU is the only continuously forward-deployed MEU and remains the nation’s force in readiness in the Asia-Pacific region. - Sub-Lt. Pranom Yodrug, a Royal Thai reconnaissance Marine, slices a vegetable while teaching the Marines about edible vegetation as part of a jungle survival class held here, Feb. 13. The survival instruction, taught by members of the Royal Thai Marine Reconnaissance, educated U.S. and Republic of Korean Marines on finding sustenance and tools in the jungle environment. The class is part of exercise Cobra Gold 2012, now in its 31st iteration. The exercise is a multi-lateral event focused on strengthening the interoperability of all participating military forces. The 31st MEU is the only continuously forward-deployed MEU and remains the nation’s force in readiness in the Asia-Pacific region.