Stories

Marines stand at parade rest during a post and relief ceremony Jan. 8 on Marine Corps Air Station Futenma, Okinawa, Japan. Sgt. Maj. Devon A. Lee passed his responsibilities as the squadron sergeant major to Sgt. Maj. Timonthy J. Rudd. The Marines are with Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron-262, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit. - Marines stand at parade rest during a post and relief ceremony Jan. 8 on Marine Corps Air Station Futenma, Okinawa, Japan. Sgt. Maj. Devon A. Lee passed his responsibilities as the squadron sergeant major to Sgt. Maj. Timonthy J. Rudd. The Marines are with Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron-262, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit.

Santa Claus gives gifts to the children of Marines and sailors stationed in Okinawa during a holiday party Dec. 17 at The Palms club. Every child at the party had the opportunity to receive a gift from Santa and take pictures with him. The party hosted Marines and sailors with Combat Logistics Battalion 31, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit. - Santa Claus gives gifts to the children of Marines and sailors stationed in Okinawa during a holiday party Dec. 17 at The Palms club. Every child at the party had the opportunity to receive a gift from Santa and take pictures with him. The party hosted Marines and sailors with Combat Logistics Battalion 31, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit.

Sergeant Alexander M. Tryon scans the surrounding area for enemy forces during a vertical assault Dec. 10 at Combat Town. After acquiring a strong foothold within the town, the Marines cleared all of the buildings and searched for simulated high-value individuals. Tryon, from Cortland, Ohio, is a scout sniper with Weapons Company, Battalion Landing Team 2nd Battalion, 4th Marines, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit. - Sergeant Alexander M. Tryon scans the surrounding area for enemy forces during a vertical assault Dec. 10 at Combat Town. After acquiring a strong foothold within the town, the Marines cleared all of the buildings and searched for simulated high-value individuals. Tryon, from Cortland, Ohio, is a scout sniper with Weapons Company, Battalion Landing Team 2nd Battalion, 4th Marines, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit.

A Marine sits upside down in a shallow water egress trainer chair during Underwater Egress Training Dec. 9 at the Hansen Aquatics Center. The Marines conducting the training are with Combat Logistics Battalion 31, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, and they are conducting pre-deployment preparations for the regularly-scheduled Spring Patrol of the Asia-Pacific region. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Richard Currier/Released) - A Marine sits upside down in a shallow water egress trainer chair during Underwater Egress Training Dec. 9 at the Hansen Aquatics Center. The Marines conducting the training are with Combat Logistics Battalion 31, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, and they are conducting pre-deployment preparations for the regularly-scheduled Spring Patrol of the Asia-Pacific region. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Richard Currier/Released)

Cpl. Matthew Huberlach, an automotive maintenance technician with maintenance platoon, Combat Logistics Battalion 31, replaces the water pump on a M1123 Humvee at the CLB’s maintenance building, Nov. 26. The Marines of CLB-31 support the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit with ordnance, communications, engineering and motor transport maintenance to ensure the unit is ready for any mission. The Marines and sailors of CLB-31 are permanently assigned to the 31st MEU as the logistics combat element and are conducting pre-deployment preparations for the regularly-scheduled Spring Patrol of the Asia-Pacific region. - Cpl. Matthew Huberlach, an automotive maintenance technician with maintenance platoon, Combat Logistics Battalion 31, replaces the water pump on a M1123 Humvee at the CLB’s maintenance building, Nov. 26. The Marines of CLB-31 support the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit with ordnance, communications, engineering and motor transport maintenance to ensure the unit is ready for any mission. The Marines and sailors of CLB-31 are permanently assigned to the 31st MEU as the logistics combat element and are conducting pre-deployment preparations for the regularly-scheduled Spring Patrol of the Asia-Pacific region.

A Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear defense specialist survey’s the readings from an unknown substance on a simulated casualty during an assessment/consequences management exercise Dec. 5 at Camp Hansen. The Marines are with the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit. - A Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear defense specialist survey’s the readings from an unknown substance on a simulated casualty during an assessment/consequences management exercise Dec. 5 at Camp Hansen. The Marines are with the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit.

Petty Officer 1st Class Wilson Rodriguez, Jr., a surface force independent duty corpsman, stands inside a shock trauma platoon aid station here Nov. 18. An independent duty corpsman is a hospital corpsman who has completed a yearlong course that increases their knowledge on emergency, clinical and acute medicine and administrative skills. The independent duty corpsman also mentors and teaches junior corpsmen. Rodriguez is a native of Cleveland and is assigned to Combat Logistics Battalion 31, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit. - Petty Officer 1st Class Wilson Rodriguez, Jr., a surface force independent duty corpsman, stands inside a shock trauma platoon aid station here Nov. 18. An independent duty corpsman is a hospital corpsman who has completed a yearlong course that increases their knowledge on emergency, clinical and acute medicine and administrative skills. The independent duty corpsman also mentors and teaches junior corpsmen. Rodriguez is a native of Cleveland and is assigned to Combat Logistics Battalion 31, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit.

Sergeant Major Michael L. Bolyard gives an orientation brief to the Marines of Battalion Landing Team 2nd Battalion, 4th Marines, Nov. 21 on Camp Hansen. BLT 2/4 served as the ground combat element for the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit’s Fall Patrol 2013 and returns again to support future operations in the Asia-Pacific region. Bolyard is the sergeant major of BLT 2/4, 31st MEU. - Sergeant Major Michael L. Bolyard gives an orientation brief to the Marines of Battalion Landing Team 2nd Battalion, 4th Marines, Nov. 21 on Camp Hansen. BLT 2/4 served as the ground combat element for the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit’s Fall Patrol 2013 and returns again to support future operations in the Asia-Pacific region. Bolyard is the sergeant major of BLT 2/4, 31st MEU.

Lieutenant Colonel Robert C. Rice cuts the cake during a Marine Corps birthday celebration here Nov. 10. Following the cake-cutting was a battalion-wide competition pitting the companies against each other in flag football, basketball, softball, tug of war and more. The winner of the competition was Company K and their award is to be the first company to return home to California before the rest of the battalion. Rice is the battalion commander of BLT 3/5, 31st MEU and a native of Richland, Washington. (U.S. Marine Photo by Cpl. Henry Antenor) - Lieutenant Colonel Robert C. Rice cuts the cake during a Marine Corps birthday celebration here Nov. 10. Following the cake-cutting was a battalion-wide competition pitting the companies against each other in flag football, basketball, softball, tug of war and more. The winner of the competition was Company K and their award is to be the first company to return home to California before the rest of the battalion. Rice is the battalion commander of BLT 3/5, 31st MEU and a native of Richland, Washington. (U.S. Marine Photo by Cpl. Henry Antenor)

Marine Corps 1st Lt. Sy Poggemeyer stands in front of the USS Peleliu (LHA-5) in port, Oct. 21, 2014. Poggemeyer’s stepfather, Navy Capt. Michael Krieger, served on the USS Peleliu 20 years ago, the same ship that Poggemeyer is currently deployed on with the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit. The 31st MEU/Peleliu Amphibious Ready Group recently participated in Amphibious Landing Exercise 15 in the Philippines as part of a regularly-scheduled Fall Patrol of the Asia-Pacific region. - Marine Corps 1st Lt. Sy Poggemeyer stands in front of the USS Peleliu (LHA-5) in port, Oct. 21, 2014. Poggemeyer’s stepfather, Navy Capt. Michael Krieger, served on the USS Peleliu 20 years ago, the same ship that Poggemeyer is currently deployed on with the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit. The 31st MEU/Peleliu Amphibious Ready Group recently participated in Amphibious Landing Exercise 15 in the Philippines as part of a regularly-scheduled Fall Patrol of the Asia-Pacific region.