Stories

An assault pack with field supplies attached to the outside hangs inside an Assault Amphibious Vehicle during an amphibious raid as part of the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit’s Certification Exercise in Freshwater Beach, Shoalwater Bay Training Area, Queensland, Australia, August 16, 2018. - An assault pack with field supplies attached to the outside hangs inside an Assault Amphibious Vehicle during an amphibious raid as part of the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit’s Certification Exercise in Freshwater Beach, Shoalwater Bay Training Area, Queensland, Australia, August 16, 2018. Marines with BLT 3/5, the Ground Combat Element of the 31st MEU, cleared and secured the area for humanitarian assistance-disaster relief training. BLT 3/5 is exploring state-of-the-art concepts and technologies as the dedicated force for Sea Dragon 2025, a Marine Corps initiative to prepare for future battles. The 31st MEU and Amphibious Squadron 11 are conducting CERTEX, the final evaluation in a series of training exercises which ensures readiness for crisis response throughout the Indo-Asia-Pacific region. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Amaia Unanue/Released)

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP BUTLER, Okinawa, Japan – On Aug. 6 at around 3:00 a.m. local time, the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps suspended search and rescue operations for three Marines involved in the Aug. 5 MV-22 Osprey mishap off the east coast of Australia. Operations have now shifted to recovery efforts. The next-of-kin for the three missing Marines have been notified. - MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP BUTLER, Okinawa, Japan – On Aug. 6 at around 3:00 a.m. local time, the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps suspended search and rescue operations for three Marines involved in the Aug. 5 MV-22 Osprey mishap off the east coast of Australia. Operations have now shifted to recovery efforts. The next-of-kin for the three missing Marines have been notified.

Service members from several partner nations sit atop the flight deck during the closing ceremony of Exercise Talisman Saber 17 aboard the USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76), ported in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia, July 25, 2017. - U.S. Navy Adm. Scott Swift, commander of U.S. Pacific Fleet, speaks during the closing ceremony marking the end of Exercise Talisman Saber 17 aboard the USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76), ported in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia, July 25, 2017. Talisman Saber is a biennial exercise designed to improve the interoperability between Australian and U.S. forces. The 31st MEU is taking part in Talisman Saber 17 while deployed on a regularly-scheduled patrol of the Indo-Asia-Pacific region. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Staff Sgt. T. T. Parish/Released)

A Marine assault amphibious vehicle mechanic with Combat Logistics Battalion 31, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, cleans a piece of equipment aboard the USS Ashland (LSD 48) while underway in the Pacific Ocean, July 17, 2017. - A Marine assault amphibious vehicle mechanic with Combat Logistics Battalion 31, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, cleans a piece of equipment aboard the USS Ashland (LSD 48) while underway in the Pacific Ocean, July 17, 2017. The AAV mechanics are currently supporting Exercise Talisman Saber 17, a biennial exercise designed to improve the interoperability between Australian and U.S. forces. The 31st MEU is taking part in Talisman Saber 17 while deployed on its regularly-scheduled patrol of the Indo-Asia-Pacific region. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Amaia Unanue/ Released)

Marines with Kilo Company, Battalion Landing Team, 3rd Battalion, 5th Marines, board an MV-22B Osprey tiltrotor aircraft during Exercise Talisman Saber 2017 aboard the USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD-6) while at sea in the Pacific Ocean, July 8, 2017. - Marines with Kilo Company, Battalion Landing Team, 3rd Battalion, 5th Marines, board an MV-22B Osprey tiltrotor aircraft during Exercise Talisman Saber 2017 aboard the USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD-6) while at sea in the Pacific Ocean, July 8, 2017. Talisman Saber is a biennial exercise designed to improve the interoperability between Australian and U.S. forces. BLT 3/5, the Ground Combat Element of the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, is exploring state-of-the-art concepts and technologies as the dedicated force for Sea Dragon 2025, a Marine Corps initiative to prepare for future battles. The 31st MEU is taking part in Talisman Saber while deployed on its regularly-scheduled patrol of the Indo-Asia-Pacific region. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Breanna L. Weisenberger/Released)

Marines with Kilo Company, Battalion Landing Team, 3rd Battalion, 5th Marines, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, fire M16A4 service rifles during combat conditioning marksmanship training aboard the USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD 6) while underway in the Pacific Ocean, June 24, 2017. - Marines with Kilo Company, Battalion Landing Team, 3rd Battalion, 5th Marines, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, fire M16A4 service rifles during combat conditioning marksmanship training aboard the USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD 6) while underway in the Pacific Ocean, June 24, 2017. BLT 3/5 is currently deployed as the Ground Combat Element of the 31st MEU. The 31st MEU partners with the Navy’s Amphibious Squadron 11 to form the amphibious component of the Bonhomme Richard Expeditionary Strike Group. The 31st MEU and PHIBRON 11 combine to provide a cohesive blue-green team capable of accomplishing a variety of missions across the Indo-Asia-Pacific region. (Official U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Stormy Mendez/Released)

An AV-8B Harrier belonging to Marine Attack Squadron 311 prepares for flight aboard the USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD 6) while underway in the Pacific Ocean, June 9, 2017. - An AV-8B Harrier belonging to Marine Attack Squadron 311 prepares for flight aboard the USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD 6) while underway in the Pacific Ocean, June 9, 2017. VMA-311 is the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit’s fixed-wing attack asset and combines with Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 265 (Reinforced) to form the 31st MEU’s Aviation Combat Element. During the flight the Harrier’s pilot fired the Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System (APKWS), a laser-guided rocket, for the first time in the Indo-Asia-Pacific region. The 31st MEU partners with the Navy’s Amphibious Squadron 11 to form amphibious component of the Bonhomme Richard Expeditionary Strike Group. The 31st MEU and PHIBRON 11 combine to provide a cohesive blue-green team capable of accomplishing a variety of missions across the Indo-Asia-Pacific. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Stormy Mendez)

Marines and Sailors with the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit prepare for movement to White Beach Naval Facility to embark aboard the USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD 6) for a scheduled patrol of the Indo-Asia-Pacific region, June 7, 2017. - Marines and Sailors with the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit prepare for movement to White Beach Naval Facility to embark aboard the USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD 6) for a scheduled patrol of the Indo-Asia-Pacific region, June 7, 2017. The 31st MEU partners with the Navy’s Amphibious Squadron 11 to form the Bonhomme Richard Expeditionary Strike Group – a cohesive blue-green team capable of accomplishing a variety of missions across the Indo-Asia-Pacific. (Official U.S. Marine Corps photo by Staff Sgt. T. T. Parish/Released)

An MV-22B Osprey belonging to Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 265 takes off from the flight deck of the amphibious assault ship USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD 6). - An MV-22B Osprey belonging to Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 265 takes off from the flight deck of the amphibious assault ship USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD 6). Bonhomme Richard, flagship of the Bonhomme Richard Amphibious Ready Group, is on a routine patrol, operating in the Indo-Asia-Pacific region to serve as a forward-capability for any type of contingency. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Apprentice Gavin Shields/Released)

Marines with Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron (VMM) 265 (Reinforced), 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, assists the Government of Japan in supporting those affected by recent earthquakes in Kumamoto, Japan, April 18, 2016. VMM-265 picked up supplies from Japan Ground Self-Defense Force Camp Takayubaru and delivered them to Hakusui Sports Park in the Kumamoto Prefecture. The long-standing relationship between Japan and the U.S. allows U.S. military forces in Japan to provide rapid, integrated support to the Japan Self-Defense Forces and civil relief efforts. (U.S. Marine Corps photos by Cpl. Nathan Wicks/Released) - Marines with Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron (VMM) 265 (Reinforced), 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, assists the Government of Japan in supporting those affected by recent earthquakes in Kumamoto, Japan, April 18, 2016. VMM-265 picked up supplies from Japan Ground Self-Defense Force Camp Takayubaru and delivered them to Hakusui Sports Park in the Kumamoto Prefecture. The long-standing relationship between Japan and the U.S. allows U.S. military forces in Japan to provide rapid, integrated support to the Japan Self-Defense Forces and civil relief efforts. (U.S. Marine Corps photos by Cpl. Nathan Wicks/Released)