Corporal Brent S. Berven, a squad leader for Company E., Battalion Landing Team 2nd Battalion, 4th Marines, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, and a native of Folsom, Calif., ensures the blank firing adapter is secured on the rifle of Lance Cpl. Brian C. Keen, an assistant infantry automatic weapon gunner for Co. E., BLT 2/4, 31st MEU, and a native of York, Penn., during a gear inspection prior to a vertical assault here, July 20. The Marines and Sailors of the 31st MEU and Amphibious Squadron 11 are part of an integrated force of approximately 18,000 U.S. service members training alongside approximately 9,000 Australian service members in the fifth iteration of Talisman Saber 2013, 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.