Capt. Masanori Ide, Japanese Ground Self Defense Force liaison officer to the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (left), discusses the extensive damage to the port here, March 27. The 31st MEU and Amphibious Squadron 11 delivered food, water, comfort items and commercial repair vehicles to residents on the isolated island of Oshima using U.S. Navy landing craft, demonstrating the MEU’s expeditionary capabilities in ship-to-shore amphibious operations. Marines and Sailors of the 31st MEU are conducting humanitarian aid and disaster relief missions in northeast Japan in coordination with the Japanese Self Defense Forces. - Capt. Masanori Ide, Japanese Ground Self Defense Force liaison officer to the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (left), discusses the extensive damage to the port here, March 27. The 31st MEU and Amphibious Squadron 11 delivered food, water, comfort items and commercial repair vehicles to residents on the isolated island of Oshima using U.S. Navy landing craft, demonstrating the MEU’s expeditionary capabilities in ship-to-shore amphibious operations. Marines and Sailors of the 31st MEU are conducting humanitarian aid and disaster relief missions in northeast Japan in coordination with the Japanese Self Defense Forces.

Philippine nationals run to greet a Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 262 Ch-46E Sea Knight delivering readymade canvas tents and bottled water to an airfield in northern Luzon. - Philippine nationals run to greet a Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 262 Ch-46E Sea Knight delivering readymade canvas tents and bottled water to an airfield in northern Luzon.

The USS Essex (LHD 2), with the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit aboard, nears the coast of Japan at sunrise, March 27. The 31st MEU and Amphibious Squadron 11 delivered food, water, comfort items and commercial repair vehicles to residents on the isolated island of Oshima using U.S. Navy landing craft, demonstrating the MEU’s expeditionary capabilities in ship-to-shore amphibious operations. Marines and Sailors of the 31st MEU are conducting humanitarian aid and disaster relief missions in northeast Japan in coordination with the Japanese Self Defense Forces. - The USS Essex (LHD 2), with the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit aboard, nears the coast of Japan at sunrise, March 27. The 31st MEU and Amphibious Squadron 11 delivered food, water, comfort items and commercial repair vehicles to residents on the isolated island of Oshima using U.S. Navy landing craft, demonstrating the MEU’s expeditionary capabilities in ship-to-shore amphibious operations. Marines and Sailors of the 31st MEU are conducting humanitarian aid and disaster relief missions in northeast Japan in coordination with the Japanese Self Defense Forces.

A Marine with the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit pulls a pallet of humanitarian aid supplies to a CH-46E Sea Knight helicopter with Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 262 (Reinforced), 31st MEU, March 25. The supplies will be delivered during relief efforts in support of Operation Tomodachi. The 31st MEU’s involvement is part of a larger U.S. government response, after a 9.0 earthquake and subsequent tsunami struck Japan causing widespread damage. The 31st MEU is ready to support our Japanese partners and to provide assistance when called upon. - A Marine with the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit pulls a pallet of humanitarian aid supplies to a CH-46E Sea Knight helicopter with Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 262 (Reinforced), 31st MEU, March 25. The supplies will be delivered during relief efforts in support of Operation Tomodachi. The 31st MEU’s involvement is part of a larger U.S. government response, after a 9.0 earthquake and subsequent tsunami struck Japan causing widespread damage. The 31st MEU is ready to support our Japanese partners and to provide assistance when called upon.

A CH-46E Sea Knight helicopter with Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 262 (Reinforced), 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, flies over Miyako, Japan March, 21. The helicopter was carrying water and blankets to aid those affected by the 9.0 earthquake and subsequent tsunami that ravaged the region. Navy and Marine Corps involvement in the relief mission is part of a larger U.S. government response, coordinated through the U.S. Department of State, aiding the government of Japan in their ongoing relief efforts. As part of Operation Tomodachi, the 31st MEU is ready to support our long-time Japanese partners and to provide assistance when called upon. - A CH-46E Sea Knight helicopter with Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 262 (Reinforced), 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, flies over Miyako, Japan March, 21. The helicopter was carrying water and blankets to aid those affected by the 9.0 earthquake and subsequent tsunami that ravaged the region. Navy and Marine Corps involvement in the relief mission is part of a larger U.S. government response, coordinated through the U.S. Department of State, aiding the government of Japan in their ongoing relief efforts. As part of Operation Tomodachi, the 31st MEU is ready to support our long-time Japanese partners and to provide assistance when called upon.

A CH-46E helicopter with Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 262 (Reinforced), 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, takes off after bringing a survey team to the area for possible humanitarian assistance and disaster relief operations in support of Operation Tomodachi, March 21. The 31st MEU is ready to support its Japanese partners and to provide assistance when called upon. - A CH-46E helicopter with Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 262 (Reinforced), 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, takes off after bringing a survey team to the area for possible humanitarian assistance and disaster relief operations in support of Operation Tomodachi, March 21. The 31st MEU is ready to support its Japanese partners and to provide assistance when called upon.

A radiological control technician inspects cargo for possible low-level radioactive contamination as a precautionary measure March 21. The supplies were brought aboard the USS Essex (LHD 2) during a resupply at sea as part of Operation Tomodachi. Marines and Sailors of the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit are delivering humanitarian aid and disaster relief supplies to areas of Japan. Navy and Marine Corps involvement is part of a larger U.S. government response, coordinated through the U.S. Department of State, after a 9.0 earthquake and subsequent tsunami struck Japan causing widespread damage. The 31st MEU is ready to support our Japanese partners and to provide assistance when called upon. - A radiological control technician inspects cargo for possible low-level radioactive contamination as a precautionary measure March 21. The supplies were brought aboard the USS Essex (LHD 2) during a resupply at sea as part of Operation Tomodachi. Marines and Sailors of the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit are delivering humanitarian aid and disaster relief supplies to areas of Japan. Navy and Marine Corps involvement is part of a larger U.S. government response, coordinated through the U.S. Department of State, after a 9.0 earthquake and subsequent tsunami struck Japan causing widespread damage. The 31st MEU is ready to support our Japanese partners and to provide assistance when called upon.

The 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit and Amphibious Squadron 11, with a combined total of more than 4,000 Marines and Sailors, arrived off of the west coast of mainland Japan March 18, after a major earthquake and following tsunami caused extensive destruction to northeast Japan one week ago. The 31st MEU and PHIBRON-11 are prepared to provide aid in potential humanitarian assistance/disaster relief missions in support of Operation Tomodachi. The 31st MEU is ready to support our Japanese partners and to provide assistance when called upon. - The 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit and Amphibious Squadron 11, with a combined total of more than 4,000 Marines and Sailors, arrived off of the west coast of mainland Japan March 18, after a major earthquake and following tsunami caused extensive destruction to northeast Japan one week ago. The 31st MEU and PHIBRON-11 are prepared to provide aid in potential humanitarian assistance/disaster relief missions in support of Operation Tomodachi. The 31st MEU is ready to support our Japanese partners and to provide assistance when called upon.

Lance Cpl. Mathew S. Sievert, a Marine with the Combined Anti-Armor Team 1, Battalion Landing Team, 2nd Battalion, 5th Marines, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, treats a simulated casualty while wearing a gas mask, March 14. The 31st MEU continues to prepare for potential humanitarian assistance in support of Operation Tomodachi in mainland Japan. Marines and sailors of the 31st MEU are making preparations for disaster relief efforts after an 8.9 earthquake and subsequent tsunami struck Japan causing widespread damage. The 31st MEU is heading to Japan to be ready to provide support if called upon. - Lance Cpl. Mathew S. Sievert, a Marine with the Combined Anti-Armor Team 1, Battalion Landing Team, 2nd Battalion, 5th Marines, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, treats a simulated casualty while wearing a gas mask, March 14. The 31st MEU continues to prepare for potential humanitarian assistance in support of Operation Tomodachi in mainland Japan. Marines and sailors of the 31st MEU are making preparations for disaster relief efforts after an 8.9 earthquake and subsequent tsunami struck Japan causing widespread damage. The 31st MEU is heading to Japan to be ready to provide support if called upon.