Marines and Sailors with the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit wait by their gear after getting off a ship of Amphibious Squadron 11, April 4. The unit is returning from a deployment, highlighted by multi-lateral training exercise Cobra Gold 2012. The 31st MEU serves as America’s force in readiness for the Asia Pacific Region. - Marines and Sailors with the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit wait by their gear after getting off a ship of Amphibious Squadron 11, April 4. The unit is returning from a deployment, highlighted by multi-lateral training exercise Cobra Gold 2012. The 31st MEU serves as America’s force in readiness for the Asia Pacific Region.

Sub-Lt. Pranom Yodrug, a Royal Thai reconnaissance Marine, slices a vegetable while teaching the Marines about edible vegetation as part of a jungle survival class held here, Feb. 13. The survival instruction, taught by members of the Royal Thai Marine Reconnaissance, educated U.S. and Republic of Korean Marines on finding sustenance and tools in the jungle environment. The class is part of exercise Cobra Gold 2012, now in its 31st iteration. The exercise is a multi-lateral event focused on strengthening the interoperability of all participating military forces. The 31st MEU is the only continuously forward-deployed MEU and remains the nation’s force in readiness in the Asia-Pacific region. - Sub-Lt. Pranom Yodrug, a Royal Thai reconnaissance Marine, slices a vegetable while teaching the Marines about edible vegetation as part of a jungle survival class held here, Feb. 13. The survival instruction, taught by members of the Royal Thai Marine Reconnaissance, educated U.S. and Republic of Korean Marines on finding sustenance and tools in the jungle environment. The class is part of exercise Cobra Gold 2012, now in its 31st iteration. The exercise is a multi-lateral event focused on strengthening the interoperability of all participating military forces. The 31st MEU is the only continuously forward-deployed MEU and remains the nation’s force in readiness in the Asia-Pacific region.

U.S. Marines with Company F., Battalion Landing Team 2nd Battalion, 7th Marines, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, fire weapons during a timed squad competition drill held at the culmination of bilateral exercise Raider Dawn. This exercise increases interoperability and mutually benefits the U.S. and Australian armed services by giving them an opportunity to learn from each other. The 31st MEU is the only continually forward-deployed MEU, and remains the United States’ force-in-readiness in the Asia-Pacific region. - U.S. Marines with Company F., Battalion Landing Team 2nd Battalion, 7th Marines, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, fire weapons during a timed squad competition drill held at the culmination of bilateral exercise Raider Dawn. This exercise increases interoperability and mutually benefits the U.S. and Australian armed services by giving them an opportunity to learn from each other. The 31st MEU is the only continually forward-deployed MEU, and remains the United States’ force-in-readiness in the Asia-Pacific region.

U.S. Marines with Company F., Battalion Landing Team 2nd Battalion, 7th Marines, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, prepare to fire a high-explosive rocket from a shoulder-launched, multipurpose assault weapon during bilateral exercise Raider Dawn. This exercise increases interoperability and mutually benefits the U.S. and Australian armed services by giving them an opportunity to learn from each other. The 31st MEU is the only continually forward-deployed MEU, and remains the United States’ force-in-readiness in the Asia-Pacific region. - U.S. Marines with Company F., Battalion Landing Team 2nd Battalion, 7th Marines, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, prepare to fire a high-explosive rocket from a shoulder-launched, multipurpose assault weapon during bilateral exercise Raider Dawn. This exercise increases interoperability and mutually benefits the U.S. and Australian armed services by giving them an opportunity to learn from each other. The 31st MEU is the only continually forward-deployed MEU, and remains the United States’ force-in-readiness in the Asia-Pacific region.

U.S. Marine Lance Cpl. Ashley Evans, a team leader with Company F., Battalion Landing Team 2nd Battalion, 7th Marines, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, observes Australian Army soldier Cpl. Geoff Miller, a transportation specialist with the 1st Brigade, conduct a live-fire course during bilateral exercise Raider Dawn. This exercise increases interoperability and mutually benefits the U.S. and Australian armed services by giving them an opportunity to learn from each other. The 31st MEU is the only continually forward-deployed MEU, and remains the United States’ force-in-readiness in the Asia-Pacific region. - U.S. Marine Lance Cpl. Ashley Evans, a team leader with Company F., Battalion Landing Team 2nd Battalion, 7th Marines, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, observes Australian Army soldier Cpl. Geoff Miller, a transportation specialist with the 1st Brigade, conduct a live-fire course during bilateral exercise Raider Dawn. This exercise increases interoperability and mutually benefits the U.S. and Australian armed services by giving them an opportunity to learn from each other. The 31st MEU is the only continually forward-deployed MEU, and remains the United States’ force-in-readiness in the Asia-Pacific region.

U.S. Marines with Company F., Battalion Landing Team 2nd Battalion, 7th Marines, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, and Australian Defence Force members unload gear from an Australian military vehicle at the beginning of a bilateral exercise. The 31st MEU is the only continually forward-deployed MEU, and remains the United States’ force-in-readiness in the Asia-Pacific region. - U.S. Marines with Company F., Battalion Landing Team 2nd Battalion, 7th Marines, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, and Australian Defence Force members unload gear from an Australian military vehicle at the beginning of a bilateral exercise. The 31st MEU is the only continually forward-deployed MEU, and remains the United States’ force-in-readiness in the Asia-Pacific region.