Teams of amphibious reconnaissance Marines of the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit guide combat rubber raiding craft after exiting the well deck here, July 17. The platoon used the CRRC boats to insert multiple reconnaissance teams in support of an upcoming amphibious raid as part of exercise Talisman Saber 2013. The Marines and Sailors of the 31st MEU, PHIBRON 11, and Expeditionary Strike Group 7 are training alongside a joint U.S. force that totals approximately 18,000 personnel, as well as approximately 9,000 Australian service members in the fifth iteration of Talisman Saber, a month-long biennial exercise designed to enhance multilateral collaboration in support of future combined operations, natural disaster, humanitarian and emergency response. The 31st MEU is the Marine Corps’ force in readiness for the Asia Pacific region and the only continuously forward-deployed MEU.