Lance Cpl. Matthew J. Brandt, a water purification specialist with Combat Logistics Battalion 31, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, lifts a boy up for a slam dunk during a game of basketball, Oct. 29. Marines with the 31st MEU were volunteering at a local orphanage upon the conclusion of the bilateral Amphibious Landing Exercise in the Republic of the Philippines. They spent the day interacting with kids, playing sports and painting school classrooms. The 31st MEU is operating in support of the 3rd Marine Expeditionary Brigade for the exercise, is the only continuously forward-deployed MEU and remains the United States’ force in readiness in the Asia-Pacific region. - Lance Cpl. Matthew J. Brandt, a water purification specialist with Combat Logistics Battalion 31, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, lifts a boy up for a slam dunk during a game of basketball, Oct. 29. Marines with the 31st MEU were volunteering at a local orphanage upon the conclusion of the bilateral Amphibious Landing Exercise in the Republic of the Philippines. They spent the day interacting with kids, playing sports and painting school classrooms. The 31st MEU is operating in support of the 3rd Marine Expeditionary Brigade for the exercise, is the only continuously forward-deployed MEU and remains the United States’ force in readiness in the Asia-Pacific region.

Philippine Marines and U.S. Marines from Fox Company, Battalion Landing Team 2nd Battalion 7th Marines, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, currently in support of 3rd Marine Expeditionary Brigade, carry a Combat Rubber Reconnaissance Craft during a boat raid here Oct. 27. The boat raid was conducted as part of Amphibious Landing Exercise 2012, a bilateral training exercise between the U.S. Marine Corps and Philippine Marines. The bilateral training is designed to build interoperability between the U.S. Marine Corps and Philippine Marines. (U.S. Marine Corps Photo by Lance Cpl. Brianna Turner/Released) - Philippine Marines and U.S. Marines from Fox Company, Battalion Landing Team 2nd Battalion 7th Marines, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, currently in support of 3rd Marine Expeditionary Brigade, carry a Combat Rubber Reconnaissance Craft during a boat raid here Oct. 27. The boat raid was conducted as part of Amphibious Landing Exercise 2012, a bilateral training exercise between the U.S. Marine Corps and Philippine Marines. The bilateral training is designed to build interoperability between the U.S. Marine Corps and Philippine Marines. (U.S. Marine Corps Photo by Lance Cpl. Brianna Turner/Released)

A Marine with the Philippine Marine Corps yells to his team leader after firing a mortar round during the Combined Arms Live Fire Exercise, Oct. 27. CALFEX, a bilateral exercise performed by U.S. and Philippine Marines, was conducted during the Amphibious Landing Exercise in the Republic of the Philippines. The 31st MEU is operating in support of the 3rd Marine Expeditionary Brigade for the exercise, is the only continuously forward-deployed MEU and remains the United States’ force in readiness in the Asia-Pacific region. - A Marine with the Philippine Marine Corps yells to his team leader after firing a mortar round during the Combined Arms Live Fire Exercise, Oct. 27. CALFEX, a bilateral exercise performed by U.S. and Philippine Marines, was conducted during the Amphibious Landing Exercise in the Republic of the Philippines. The 31st MEU is operating in support of the 3rd Marine Expeditionary Brigade for the exercise, is the only continuously forward-deployed MEU and remains the United States’ force in readiness in the Asia-Pacific region.

U.S. and Republic of the Philippines Marines load M107 high explosive rounds into an M-777 A2 Howitzer during an artillery shoot here, Oct. 25. Marines assigned to Battery K, Battalion Landing Team 2nd Battalion, 7th Marines, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, are providing familiarization training on the M-777 A2 Howitzer as a part of the Amphibious Landing Exercise. The 31st MEU is operating in support of the 3rd Marine Expeditionary Brigade for the exercise, is the only continuously forward-deployed MEU and remains the United States' force in readiness in the Asia-Pacific region.::r::::n::::r::::n:: - U.S. and Republic of the Philippines Marines load M107 high explosive rounds into an M-777 A2 Howitzer during an artillery shoot here, Oct. 25. Marines assigned to Battery K, Battalion Landing Team 2nd Battalion, 7th Marines, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, are providing familiarization training on the M-777 A2 Howitzer as a part of the Amphibious Landing Exercise. The 31st MEU is operating in support of the 3rd Marine Expeditionary Brigade for the exercise, is the only continuously forward-deployed MEU and remains the United States' force in readiness in the Asia-Pacific region.::r::::n::::r::::n::

Philippine Marine Cpl. Leandro Emalf, 312 Marine Company, Marine Battalion Landing Team 12, Naval Forces West, left, spackles a new wall next to Marine combat engineers from Combat Logistics Battalion 31, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, during renovations at Ranzang National High School, Oct. 22. Marines from the 31st MEU, with assistance from the Philippine Marines, installed a new ceiling, installed gutters, installed a water catching tank, applied stucco inside and out, painted inside and out, installed doors, installed windows and built a two stall bathroom. The construction project is part of Amphibious Landing Exercise 2012, designed to increase interoperability and readiness of participating units. The 31st MEU is supporting III Marine Expeditionary Brigade during PHIBLEX, and is the United States’ force in readiness in the Asia-Pacific region. - Philippine Marine Cpl. Leandro Emalf, 312 Marine Company, Marine Battalion Landing Team 12, Naval Forces West, left, spackles a new wall next to Marine combat engineers from Combat Logistics Battalion 31, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, during renovations at Ranzang National High School, Oct. 22. Marines from the 31st MEU, with assistance from the Philippine Marines, installed a new ceiling, installed gutters, installed a water catching tank, applied stucco inside and out, painted inside and out, installed doors, installed windows and built a two stall bathroom. The construction project is part of Amphibious Landing Exercise 2012, designed to increase interoperability and readiness of participating units. The 31st MEU is supporting III Marine Expeditionary Brigade during PHIBLEX, and is the United States’ force in readiness in the Asia-Pacific region.

Brig. Gen Eugenio N. Clement, deputy commandant of the Philippine Marine Corps, Maj. Eric J. Mattson, Palawan detachment officer in charge for the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, and Commander Ray Bailey, chaplain of the 31st MEU distribute school supplies to students at Sicsican Elementary School during a community relation held by The 31st MEU here Oct. 26. Each student at the school received four pens, four pencils and two notebooks. The 31st MEU, currently supporting the 3rd Marine Expeditionary Brigade, provided supplies and renovations to four local elementary schools as a part of Amphibious Landing Exercise 2012. - Brig. Gen Eugenio N. Clement, deputy commandant of the Philippine Marine Corps, Maj. Eric J. Mattson, Palawan detachment officer in charge for the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, and Commander Ray Bailey, chaplain of the 31st MEU distribute school supplies to students at Sicsican Elementary School during a community relation held by The 31st MEU here Oct. 26. Each student at the school received four pens, four pencils and two notebooks. The 31st MEU, currently supporting the 3rd Marine Expeditionary Brigade, provided supplies and renovations to four local elementary schools as a part of Amphibious Landing Exercise 2012.

Marines with Force Reconnaissance Platoon, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, jump out of a C-130 Hercules airplane during a bilateral, low-level static-line parachuting exercise, Oct 25. The Marines were conducting the training with members of the Philippine Armed Forces during the Amphibious Landing Exercise. The 31st MEU is operating in support of the 3rd Marine Expeditionary Brigade for the exercise, is the only continuously forward-deployed MEU and remains the United States’ force in readiness in the Asia-Pacific region. - Marines with Force Reconnaissance Platoon, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, jump out of a C-130 Hercules airplane during a bilateral, low-level static-line parachuting exercise, Oct 25. The Marines were conducting the training with members of the Philippine Armed Forces during the Amphibious Landing Exercise. The 31st MEU is operating in support of the 3rd Marine Expeditionary Brigade for the exercise, is the only continuously forward-deployed MEU and remains the United States’ force in readiness in the Asia-Pacific region.

A Marine with Combat Logistics Battalion 31, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, explains the capabilities of a Humvee to Philippine Marines, Oct. 24. The Marines were teaching the Philippine Marines during a bilateral training event, which also included a Marine Corps Martial Arts Program class. The 31st MEU is operating in support of the 3rd Marine Expeditionary Brigade for the Amphibious Landing Exercise, is the only continuously forward-deployed MEU and remains the United States’ force in readiness in the Asia-Pacific region.::r::::n::::r::::n:: - A Marine with Combat Logistics Battalion 31, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, explains the capabilities of a Humvee to Philippine Marines, Oct. 24. The Marines were teaching the Philippine Marines during a bilateral training event, which also included a Marine Corps Martial Arts Program class. The 31st MEU is operating in support of the 3rd Marine Expeditionary Brigade for the Amphibious Landing Exercise, is the only continuously forward-deployed MEU and remains the United States’ force in readiness in the Asia-Pacific region.::r::::n::::r::::n::

Philippine Marine Staff Sgt. Felimon B. Plotado assists Philippine Navy Dentist Lt. Cmdr. Nelson Dela Cruz, Naval Force West Dental Detachment, as Nelson extracts a tooth from a woman at Quinlogan Elementary School, Oct. 22. A combination of 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit Navy medical staff and Philippine military doctors provided screenings, consultations, prescription, dental examinations and tooth extractions to more than 2,000 local residents. The activity was part of the Amphibious Landing Exercise 2012, and was intended to help the Philippine and U.S. armed forces' interoperability humanitarian aid and disaster relief operations. The 31s MEU, operating in support of III Marine Expeditionary Brigade for PHIBLEX, is the United States’ force in readiness in the Asia-Pacific region. - Philippine Marine Staff Sgt. Felimon B. Plotado assists Philippine Navy Dentist Lt. Cmdr. Nelson Dela Cruz, Naval Force West Dental Detachment, as Nelson extracts a tooth from a woman at Quinlogan Elementary School, Oct. 22. A combination of 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit Navy medical staff and Philippine military doctors provided screenings, consultations, prescription, dental examinations and tooth extractions to more than 2,000 local residents. The activity was part of the Amphibious Landing Exercise 2012, and was intended to help the Philippine and U.S. armed forces' interoperability humanitarian aid and disaster relief operations. The 31s MEU, operating in support of III Marine Expeditionary Brigade for PHIBLEX, is the United States’ force in readiness in the Asia-Pacific region.