A Sailor with Amphibious Squadron 11, guides a Humvee from the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit onto USS Essex (LHD 2), Sept. 26. Marines and equipment were being loaded for the MEU’s upcoming patrol of the Asia-Pacific region. The 31st MEU is the only continuously forward-deployed MEU and remains the nation’s force in readiness in the Asia-Pacific region. - A Sailor with Amphibious Squadron 11, guides a Humvee from the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit onto USS Essex (LHD 2), Sept. 26. Marines and equipment were being loaded for the MEU’s upcoming patrol of the Asia-Pacific region. The 31st MEU is the only continuously forward-deployed MEU and remains the nation’s force in readiness in the Asia-Pacific region.

A Sailor with Amphibious Squadron 11 guides an AH-1W Cobra helicopter with Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 265 (Reinforced), 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, onto the flight deck of USS Essex (LHD 2), Sept. 28. The squadron flew onto USS Essex (LHD 2), joining the MEU for the deployment and upcoming certification exercises around Okinawa. The 31st MEU is the only continually forward-deployed MEU, and remains the nation’s force-in-readiness in the Asia-Pacific region. - A Sailor with Amphibious Squadron 11 guides an AH-1W Cobra helicopter with Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 265 (Reinforced), 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, onto the flight deck of USS Essex (LHD 2), Sept. 28. The squadron flew onto USS Essex (LHD 2), joining the MEU for the deployment and upcoming certification exercises around Okinawa. The 31st MEU is the only continually forward-deployed MEU, and remains the nation’s force-in-readiness in the Asia-Pacific region.

Capt. Dave Fluker (left), the commanding officer of USS Essex (LHD 2), Col. Andrew MacMannis, the commanding officer of the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, and Lt. Col. William Arick, the commanding officer of Combat Logistics Battalion 31, 31st MEU, speak with Vice Adm. Scott H. Swift, commander, U.S. 7th Fleet, Sept. 29. Swift visited Essex and was given a tour of the ship and briefed on MEU capabilities. The 31st MEU is currently preparing to conduct certification exercises. The 31st MEU is the only continually forward-deployed MEU, and remains the nation’s force-in-readiness in the Asia-Pacific region. - Capt. Dave Fluker (left), the commanding officer of USS Essex (LHD 2), Col. Andrew MacMannis, the commanding officer of the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, and Lt. Col. William Arick, the commanding officer of Combat Logistics Battalion 31, 31st MEU, speak with Vice Adm. Scott H. Swift, commander, U.S. 7th Fleet, Sept. 29. Swift visited Essex and was given a tour of the ship and briefed on MEU capabilities. The 31st MEU is currently preparing to conduct certification exercises. The 31st MEU is the only continually forward-deployed MEU, and remains the nation’s force-in-readiness in the Asia-Pacific region.

Marines with Weapons Company, Battalion Landing Team 2nd Battalion, 7th Marines, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, organize Radio Frequency Identification tags to be installed on each Humvee in preparation for the MEU's upcoming deployment. The 31st MEU is the only continuously forward-deployed MEU and remains the Nation's force in readiness in the Asia-Pacific region. - Marines with Weapons Company, Battalion Landing Team 2nd Battalion, 7th Marines, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, organize Radio Frequency Identification tags to be installed on each Humvee in preparation for the MEU's upcoming deployment. The 31st MEU is the only continuously forward-deployed MEU and remains the Nation's force in readiness in the Asia-Pacific region.

Lt. Gen. Kenneth J. Glueck Jr., the commanding general of III Marine Expeditionary Force and Marine Corps Bases Japan, speaks with Marines of Battalion Landing Team 2nd Battalion, 7th Marines, and Combat Logistics Battalion 31, both with the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, in Camp Hansen House of Pain fitness center, Sept. 20. During his visit, Glueck explained the importance of the 31st MEU, and encouraged the Marines to do their best during the MEU’s upcoming deployment. The 31st MEU is the only continuously forward-deployed MEU and remains the nation’s force in readiness in the Asia-Pacific region. - Lt. Gen. Kenneth J. Glueck Jr., the commanding general of III Marine Expeditionary Force and Marine Corps Bases Japan, speaks with Marines of Battalion Landing Team 2nd Battalion, 7th Marines, and Combat Logistics Battalion 31, both with the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, in Camp Hansen House of Pain fitness center, Sept. 20. During his visit, Glueck explained the importance of the 31st MEU, and encouraged the Marines to do their best during the MEU’s upcoming deployment. The 31st MEU is the only continuously forward-deployed MEU and remains the nation’s force in readiness in the Asia-Pacific region.

Marines from the Force Reconnaissance Platoon of the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, are extracted by an MH-60 Black Hawk helicopter during a realistic urban training exercise on the island of Guam, Sept. 16. The exercise serves as part of a multi-week series of training to prepare the Marines of the 31st MEU for their upcoming deployment. The 31st MEU is the United States' force in readiness for the Asia-Pacific region. - Marines from the Force Reconnaissance Platoon of the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, are extracted by an MH-60 Black Hawk helicopter during a realistic urban training exercise on the island of Guam, Sept. 16. The exercise serves as part of a multi-week series of training to prepare the Marines of the 31st MEU for their upcoming deployment. The 31st MEU is the United States' force in readiness for the Asia-Pacific region.

Marines with Company F, Battalion Landing Team 2nd Battalion, 7th Marines, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, pull a rubber craft ashore during a mock small-boat amphibious raid, Sept. 12. The raid was conducted to eliminate insurgents, destroy military equipment being stored by the enemy in the area and to turn the area over to local national police to ensure the enemy does not reestablish itself in the area. The 31st MEU is the only continuously forward-deployed MEU and remains the nation’s force in readiness in the Asia-Pacific region. - Marines with Company F, Battalion Landing Team 2nd Battalion, 7th Marines, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, pull a rubber craft ashore during a mock small-boat amphibious raid, Sept. 12. The raid was conducted to eliminate insurgents, destroy military equipment being stored by the enemy in the area and to turn the area over to local national police to ensure the enemy does not reestablish itself in the area. The 31st MEU is the only continuously forward-deployed MEU and remains the nation’s force in readiness in the Asia-Pacific region.

Marines from Company E, Battalion Landing Team 2nd Battalion, 7th Marines, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, unload from a CH-46E Sea Knight helicopter of Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 265 (Reinforced), also with the MEU, during a mock airfield seizure here, Sept. 9. The helicopter raid exercise is part of a series of training events to prepare the 31st MEU for its upcoming deployment. - Marines from Company E, Battalion Landing Team 2nd Battalion, 7th Marines, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, unload from a CH-46E Sea Knight helicopter of Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 265 (Reinforced), also with the MEU, during a mock airfield seizure here, Sept. 9. The helicopter raid exercise is part of a series of training events to prepare the 31st MEU for its upcoming deployment.

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.