Scout swimmers with Company A, Battalion Landing Team 1st Battalion, 4th Marines, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, push onto the beach, Jan. 29. The Marines were conducting a small boat raid during the MEU’s Amphibious Integration Training in preparation for Exercise Cobra Gold 2012. The 31st MEU is the only continually forward-deployed MEU, and remains the nation's force-in-readiness in the Asia-Pacific region. - Scout swimmers with Company A, Battalion Landing Team 1st Battalion, 4th Marines, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, push onto the beach, Jan. 29. The Marines were conducting a small boat raid during the MEU’s Amphibious Integration Training in preparation for Exercise Cobra Gold 2012. The 31st MEU is the only continually forward-deployed MEU, and remains the nation's force-in-readiness in the Asia-Pacific region.

A squad of Marines with Company B., Battalion Landing Team 1st Battalion, 4th Marines, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, infiltrates a simulated town overtaken by insurgents during a mechanized raid exercise on the urban training facilities here, Jan. 28. The Marines conducted the raid during the MEU’s Amphibious Integration Training, in preparation for Exercise Cobra Gold 2012. The 31st MEU is the only continuously forward-deployed MEU and remains the Nations force in readiness in the Asia-Pacific region. - A squad of Marines with Company B., Battalion Landing Team 1st Battalion, 4th Marines, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, infiltrates a simulated town overtaken by insurgents during a mechanized raid exercise on the urban training facilities here, Jan. 28. The Marines conducted the raid during the MEU’s Amphibious Integration Training, in preparation for Exercise Cobra Gold 2012. The 31st MEU is the only continuously forward-deployed MEU and remains the Nations force in readiness in the Asia-Pacific region.

Marines with Battalion Landing Team 1st Battalion, 4th Marines, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit board the amphibious dock landing ship USS Tortuga (LSD-46) in here, Jan. 25. Elements of the 31st MEU, including BLT 1/4 and portions of Combat Logistics Battalion 31, are scheduled to participate in the multi-lateral training exercise Cobra Gold 2012 in the Kingdom of Thailand alongside military participants from South Korea, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Singapore and representatives from approximately 20 other countries. - Marines with Battalion Landing Team 1st Battalion, 4th Marines, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit board the amphibious dock landing ship USS Tortuga (LSD-46) in here, Jan. 25. Elements of the 31st MEU, including BLT 1/4 and portions of Combat Logistics Battalion 31, are scheduled to participate in the multi-lateral training exercise Cobra Gold 2012 in the Kingdom of Thailand alongside military participants from South Korea, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Singapore and representatives from approximately 20 other countries.

An Amphibious Assault Vehicle with AAV Platoon, Company B, Battalion Landing Team 1st Battalion, 4th Marines, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, hits the water, Jan. 26. The platoon was moving from shore to ship to embark for the 31st MEU’s next deployment in the Asia-Pacific region. The 31st MEU is the only continually forward-deployed MEU, and remains the nation's force-in-readiness in the Asia-Pacific region. - An Amphibious Assault Vehicle with AAV Platoon, Company B, Battalion Landing Team 1st Battalion, 4th Marines, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, hits the water, Jan. 26. The platoon was moving from shore to ship to embark for the 31st MEU’s next deployment in the Asia-Pacific region. The 31st MEU is the only continually 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.

An explosive ordinance disposal Marine with Company A., Battalion Landing Team 1st Battalion, 4th Marines, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, inspects a possible improvised explosive device for wires and other components during the events of a mock boat raid on the Kin Blue training area here, Jan. 13. During the course of the day, Co. A., known as Boat Co., assaulted the beach, recaptured a hostile-controlled town, cleared improvised explosive devices, secured a landing zone and eliminated any remaining enemy threats from 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. - An explosive ordinance disposal Marine with Company A., Battalion Landing Team 1st Battalion, 4th Marines, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, inspects a possible improvised explosive device for wires and other components during the events of a mock boat raid on the Kin Blue training area here, Jan. 13. During the course of the day, Co. A., known as Boat Co., assaulted the beach, recaptured a hostile-controlled town, cleared improvised explosive devices, secured a landing zone and eliminated any remaining enemy threats from 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.

Sgt. Donald Christensen, an explosive ordinance disposal technician with Company C., Battalion Landing Team 1st Battalion, 4th Marines, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, provides security for a CH-53 Super Stallion helicopter during Marine Expeditionary Unit Exercise here, Jan. 12. MEUEX is a multi-week training exercise conducted prior to every 31st MEU deployment. The 31st MEU is the only continually forward-deployed MEU, and remains the nation’s force-in-readiness in the Asia-Pacific region. - Sgt. Donald Christensen, an explosive ordinance disposal technician with Company C., Battalion Landing Team 1st Battalion, 4th Marines, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, provides security for a CH-53 Super Stallion helicopter during Marine Expeditionary Unit Exercise here, Jan. 12. MEUEX is a multi-week training exercise conducted prior to every 31st MEU deployment. The 31st MEU is the only continually forward-deployed MEU, and remains the nation’s force-in-readiness in the Asia-Pacific region.

Amphibious assault vehicles with Company B, Battalion Landing Team 1st battalion, 4th Marines, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, provide security during a mechanized raid here, Jan. 11. The raid was part of Marine Expeditionary Unit Exercise, a multi-week training exercise conducted prior to every deployment. The 31st MEU is the only continuously forward-deployed MEU and remains the nation’s force in readiness in the Asia-Pacific region. - Amphibious assault vehicles with Company B, Battalion Landing Team 1st battalion, 4th Marines, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, provide security during a mechanized raid here, Jan. 11. The raid was part of Marine Expeditionary Unit Exercise, a multi-week training exercise conducted prior to every deployment. The 31st MEU is the only continuously forward-deployed MEU and remains the nation’s force in readiness in the Asia-Pacific region.