U.S. Marine Corps Capt. Sean M. Stephenson poses for a photo in front of his AV-8B Harrier on the flight deck of the USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD 6) March 17, 2015. Stephenson started out his career as an enlisted band member and then persued his dream of becoming a pilot. Stehenson is a Harrier pilot with Marine Attack Squadron 231, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit. - U.S. Marine Corps Capt. Sean M. Stephenson poses for a photo in front of his AV-8B Harrier on the flight deck of the USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD 6) March 17, 2015. Stephenson started out his career as an enlisted band member and then persued his dream of becoming a pilot. Stehenson is a Harrier pilot with Marine Attack Squadron 231, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit.

Landing support specialists attach a load of tires to a UH-1Y Huey attached to Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 262, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, during a helicopter support team exercise Feb. 6 on the flight deck of the USS Bonhomme Richard. The Marines used a MK-105 cable, also known as the Q-tip, to hook the load onto the bottom of the Huey. The Marines are with Combat Logistics Battalion 31, 31st MEU, and are currently deployed in support of the annually-scheduled Spring Patrol of the Asia-Pacific region. - Landing support specialists attach a load of tires to a UH-1Y Huey attached to Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 262, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, during a helicopter support team exercise Feb. 6 on the flight deck of the USS Bonhomme Richard. The Marines used a MK-105 cable, also known as the Q-tip, to hook the load onto the bottom of the Huey. The Marines are with Combat Logistics Battalion 31, 31st MEU, and are currently deployed in support of the annually-scheduled Spring Patrol of the Asia-Pacific region.

Lance Cpl. Garrett Kilgore, CH-46E Sea Knight crew chief with Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 265 (Reinforced), 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, adjusts his night vision equipment prior to takeoff on a night live-fire exercise here, May 8. Including three CH-46Es, two AH-1 Cobra attack helicopters and one UH-1N Huey helicopter, the exercise inserted notional Marines on an island after clearing the landing zone with live ordinance. The 31st MEU is the only continuously forward-deployed MEU and remains the nation’s force in readiness in the Asia-Pacific region. - Lance Cpl. Garrett Kilgore, CH-46E Sea Knight crew chief with Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 265 (Reinforced), 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, adjusts his night vision equipment prior to takeoff on a night live-fire exercise here, May 8. Including three CH-46Es, two AH-1 Cobra attack helicopters and one UH-1N Huey helicopter, the exercise inserted notional Marines on an island after clearing the landing zone with live ordinance. The 31st MEU is the only continuously forward-deployed MEU and remains the nation’s force in readiness in the Asia-Pacific region.

Rep. Itsunori Onodera of Miyagi Prefecture, senior vice minister of foreign affairs (left), shakes hands with Col. Andrew R. MacMannis, commanding officer, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, and thanked him for the relief efforts by the 31st MEU during a visit of III Marine Expeditionary Force leadership here Jan. 12. The visit was conducted to review community recovery progress since Operation Tomodachi and to discuss potential humanitarian assistance and disaster relief capabilities to better prepare for future support requirements. During the visit, members of the 31st MEU were able to revisit the areas where they helped in recovery efforts ten months earlier. The 31st MEU is the only continually forward deployed MEU, and remains America’s force in readiness in the Asia-Pacific region. - Rep. Itsunori Onodera of Miyagi Prefecture, senior vice minister of foreign affairs (left), shakes hands with Col. Andrew R. MacMannis, commanding officer, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, and thanked him for the relief efforts by the 31st MEU during a visit of III Marine Expeditionary Force leadership here Jan. 12. The visit was conducted to review community recovery progress since Operation Tomodachi and to discuss potential humanitarian assistance and disaster relief capabilities to better prepare for future support requirements. During the visit, members of the 31st MEU were able to revisit the areas where they helped in recovery efforts ten months earlier. The 31st MEU is the only continually forward deployed MEU, and remains America’s force in readiness in the Asia-Pacific region.

A CH-46 helicopter of Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 265 (Reinforced), 31st MEU, arrives with Marines and Sailors with Combat Logistics Battalion 31, 31st MEU, at the scene of a mass casualty exercise. The training was held in preparation for the 31st MEU’s certification for deployment. The 31st MEU is the only continually forward deployed MEU and is the nation’s expeditionary force in readiness in the Asia-Pacific region. - A CH-46 helicopter of Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 265 (Reinforced), 31st MEU, arrives with Marines and Sailors with Combat Logistics Battalion 31, 31st MEU, at the scene of a mass casualty exercise. The training was held in preparation for the 31st MEU’s certification for deployment. The 31st MEU is the only continually forward deployed MEU and is the nation’s expeditionary force in readiness in the Asia-Pacific region.

Marines and Sailors of 2nd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, arrive here from California for deployment with the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit as the new Battalion Landing Team, June 3. The battalion has now become the ground combat element of the 31st MEU, and is scheduled to embark aboard ships of Amphibious Squadron 11 on a deployment in support of Theater Security Cooperation in the Asia-Pacific region. The 31st MEU is the nation’s only continually forward-deployed MEU. - Marines and Sailors of 2nd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, arrive here from California for deployment with the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit as the new Battalion Landing Team, June 3. The battalion has now become the ground combat element of the 31st MEU, and is scheduled to embark aboard ships of Amphibious Squadron 11 on a deployment in support of Theater Security Cooperation in the Asia-Pacific region. The 31st MEU is the nation’s only continually forward-deployed MEU.

Chief Warrant Officer 2 Erin Patrick, Combat Cargo Officer, USS Harpers Ferry (LSD 49) (left), speaks with 1st Lt. Charles Breaux, team embarkation officer, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, regarding the movement of personnel and materials from the USS Denver (LPD 9) to the USS Harpers Ferry (LSD 49), March 4. Elements of the 31st MEU switched ships mid-deployment allowing the MEU to remain ready to respond. The transition comes midway through the MEU’s scheduled deployment to the Asia-Pacific region, enhancing theater security and conducting bilateral training with multiple nations. The 31st MEU is the U.S.’s only continually forward-deployed MEU, and remains a force-in-readiness in the Asia-Pacific region at all times. - Chief Warrant Officer 2 Erin Patrick, Combat Cargo Officer, USS Harpers Ferry (LSD 49) (left), speaks with 1st Lt. Charles Breaux, team embarkation officer, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, regarding the movement of personnel and materials from the USS Denver (LPD 9) to the USS Harpers Ferry (LSD 49), March 4. Elements of the 31st MEU switched ships mid-deployment allowing the MEU to remain ready to respond. The transition comes midway through the MEU’s scheduled deployment to the Asia-Pacific region, enhancing theater security and conducting bilateral training with multiple nations. The 31st MEU is the U.S.’s only continually forward-deployed MEU, and remains a force-in-readiness in the Asia-Pacific region at all times.

Marines of 2nd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, arrive from Camp Pendleton, Calif. for deployment with the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit as the new Battalion Landing Team, Jan. 10. The battalion has now become the ground combat element of the 31st MEU, and is scheduled to embark aboard ships of Amphibious Squadron 11 for support of Theater Security Cooperation in the Asia-Pacific region. - Marines of 2nd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, arrive from Camp Pendleton, Calif. for deployment with the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit as the new Battalion Landing Team, Jan. 10. The battalion has now become the ground combat element of the 31st MEU, and is scheduled to embark aboard ships of Amphibious Squadron 11 for support of Theater Security Cooperation in the Asia-Pacific region.

Lt. Col. William Arick, commanding officer for Combat Logistics Battalion 31, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit and Sgt. Maj. Anthony Goss, sergeant major for CLB 31, 31st MEU carry boxes of supplies off of a CH-46E Sea Knight helicopter during a simulated humanitarian assistance and disaster relief operation, 29 Sept. - Lt. Col. William Arick, commanding officer for Combat Logistics Battalion 31, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit and Sgt. Maj. Anthony Goss, sergeant major for CLB 31, 31st MEU carry boxes of supplies off of a CH-46E Sea Knight helicopter during a simulated humanitarian assistance and disaster relief operation, 29 Sept.