Sgt. Maj. Matthew J. Grither, command sergeant major for Combat Logistics Battalion 31, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit and a native of St. Louis, MI, swings with a child of the Nagomi Nursing Home for Children here, Dec. 22. Marines and Sailors of CLB-31 visited the home to play with the children and hand out toys donated from the Toys for Tots program. The 31st MEU is the only continuously forward-deployed MEU and is the Marine Corps’ force in readiness in the Asia-Pacific region. - Sgt. Maj. Matthew J. Grither, command sergeant major for Combat Logistics Battalion 31, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit and a native of St. Louis, MI, swings with a child of the Nagomi Nursing Home for Children here, Dec. 22. Marines and Sailors of CLB-31 visited the home to play with the children and hand out toys donated from the Toys for Tots program. The 31st MEU is the only continuously forward-deployed MEU and is the Marine Corps’ force in readiness in the Asia-Pacific region.

A series of satellite dishes receive and send data to the communications tent during the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit’s Communications Exercise here, Dec. 16 through 21. As part of the communications section’s pre-deployment training, COMMEX refreshes the skills of the communications Marines and ensures the equipment is fully functional prior to every MEU deployment. The 31st MEU is the only continuously forward-deployed MEU and is the Marine Corps’ force in readiness in the Asia-Pacific region. - A series of satellite dishes receive and send data to the communications tent during the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit’s Communications Exercise here, Dec. 16 through 21. As part of the communications section’s pre-deployment training, COMMEX refreshes the skills of the communications Marines and ensures the equipment is fully functional prior to every MEU deployment. The 31st MEU is the only continuously forward-deployed MEU and is the Marine Corps’ force in readiness in the Asia-Pacific region.

Marines, Sailors and their families of the Command Element, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, help themselves to a buffet-style meal during the 31st MEU’s Command Element Christmas party at the United Services Organization here, Dec. 14. Prior to the holiday leave period, the Command Element service members and their families came together for a home-cooked holiday meal and to treat their children to a visit from Santa Claus. The 31st MEU is the only continuously forward-deployed MEU and is the Marine Corps’ force in readiness in the Asia-Pacific region. - Marines, Sailors and their families of the Command Element, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, help themselves to a buffet-style meal during the 31st MEU’s Command Element Christmas party at the United Services Organization here, Dec. 14. Prior to the holiday leave period, the Command Element service members and their families came together for a home-cooked holiday meal and to treat their children to a visit from Santa Claus. The 31st MEU is the only continuously forward-deployed MEU and is the Marine Corps’ force in readiness in the Asia-Pacific region.

Marines and Sailors with Combat Logistics Battalion-31, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, carry simulated casualties onto CH-46E Sea Knight helicopters from Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron-262 (Reinforced), during a mass casualty evacuation exercise here, Dec. 14. Marines and Sailors of CLB-31 secured a landing zone, triaged simulated casualties and evacuated them by priority as part of their preparatory training for the upcoming spring deployment. The 31st MEU is the Marine Corps’ force in readiness for the Asia-Pacific region and the only continuously forward-deployed MEU. - Marines and Sailors with Combat Logistics Battalion-31, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, carry simulated casualties onto CH-46E Sea Knight helicopters from Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron-262 (Reinforced), during a mass casualty evacuation exercise here, Dec. 14. Marines and Sailors of CLB-31 secured a landing zone, triaged simulated casualties and evacuated them by priority as part of their preparatory training for the upcoming spring deployment. The 31st MEU is the Marine Corps’ force in readiness for the Asia-Pacific region and the only continuously forward-deployed MEU.

CAMP HANSEN, Okinawa, Japan – The company guidons for Battalion Landing Team 1st Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, stand outside the battalion headquarters here, Dec. 12. The Marines and Sailors from the BLT are currently transitioning to life and operations on Okinawa, and with the 31st MEU, by preparing themselves and all their equipment for pre-deployment training. The 31st MEU is the only continuously forward-deployed MEU and is the Marine Corps' force in readiness in the Asia-Pacific region. - CAMP HANSEN, Okinawa, Japan – The company guidons for Battalion Landing Team 1st Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, stand outside the battalion headquarters here, Dec. 12. The Marines and Sailors from the BLT are currently transitioning to life and operations on Okinawa, and with the 31st MEU, by preparing themselves and all their equipment for pre-deployment training. The 31st MEU is the only continuously forward-deployed MEU and is the Marine Corps' force in readiness in the Asia-Pacific region.

A Marine with Combat Logistics Battalion 31, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, fires an M249 squad automatic weapon at multiple targets during a live-fire training exercise here, Dec. 12. The Marines and Sailors of CLB-31 used the training to refresh their skills in crew-served weapons for their role in providing security in support of convoy operations, humanitarian aid and disaster relief, and mass casualty operations. The 31st MEU is the only continuously forward-deployed MEU and is the Marine Corps' force in readiness in the Asia-Pacific region. - A Marine with Combat Logistics Battalion 31, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, fires an M249 squad automatic weapon at multiple targets during a live-fire training exercise here, Dec. 12. The Marines and Sailors of CLB-31 used the training to refresh their skills in crew-served weapons for their role in providing security in support of convoy operations, humanitarian aid and disaster relief, and mass casualty operations. The 31st MEU is the only continuously forward-deployed MEU and is the Marine Corps' force in readiness in the Asia-Pacific region.

Lance Cpl. James S. Gummoe (left), a satellite communications operator and a native of Huncasville, Conn., and Lance Cpl. Mark S. Howden (right), a radio technician and a native of Anaheim, Calif., both with the communications detachment of the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, configure the operating software for a Support Wide Area Network (SWAN) here, Dec. 6. For the past few weeks, the Marines of the commdet conducted operations checks of all their equipment, ensuring all of the gear is ready for the Spring deployment. The 31st MEU is the only continuously forward-deployed MEU and is the Marine Corps' force in readiness in the Asia-Pacific region. - Lance Cpl. James S. Gummoe (left), a satellite communications operator and a native of Huncasville, Conn., and Lance Cpl. Mark S. Howden (right), a radio technician and a native of Anaheim, Calif., both with the communications detachment of the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, configure the operating software for a Support Wide Area Network (SWAN) here, Dec. 6. For the past few weeks, the Marines of the commdet conducted operations checks of all their equipment, ensuring all of the gear is ready for the Spring deployment. The 31st MEU is the only continuously forward-deployed MEU and is the Marine Corps' force in readiness in the Asia-Pacific region.

Cpl. Miles Cooley, chief sniper for the Scout Sniper Platoon, Headquarters & Service Company, Battalion Landing Team 2nd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (second left) stands with other Marines of the SSP and a Republic of the Philippines Marine sniper during training exercises of the Philippine Bilateral Landing Exercise. - Cpl. Miles Cooley, chief sniper for the Scout Sniper Platoon, Headquarters & Service Company, Battalion Landing Team 2nd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (second left) stands with other Marines of the SSP and a Republic of the Philippines Marine sniper during training exercises of the Philippine Bilateral Landing Exercise.

Lance Cpl. Kevin M. Adams, a CH-46E mechanic for Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 262 (Reinforced), 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, and native of Covington, Ga, accepts a certificate of appreciation from U.S. Consul General Alfred R. Magleby here, Dec. 5. The service members spent several weeks volunteering their time to teach English to Okinawa students in local information technology schools and were commended by the U.S. Consul General for their community service. The 31st MEU is the Marine Corps’ force-in-readiness for the Asia-Pacific region and the only continuously forward-deployed MEU. - Lance Cpl. Kevin M. Adams, a CH-46E mechanic for Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 262 (Reinforced), 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, and native of Covington, Ga, accepts a certificate of appreciation from U.S. Consul General Alfred R. Magleby here, Dec. 5. The service members spent several weeks volunteering their time to teach English to Okinawa students in local information technology schools and were commended by the U.S. Consul General for their community service. The 31st MEU is the Marine Corps’ force-in-readiness for the Asia-Pacific region and the only continuously forward-deployed MEU.

Marines and Sailors with 1st Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, hold accountability formations here, Dec.2, after arriving to assume their role as the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit's Battalion Landing Team. “The Professionals” of 2nd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, are being replaced by members of “The Old Breed” to begin training for the 31st MEU's spring deployment. - Marines and Sailors with 1st Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, hold accountability formations here, Dec.2, after arriving to assume their role as the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit's Battalion Landing Team. “The Professionals” of 2nd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, are being replaced by members of “The Old Breed” to begin training for the 31st MEU's spring deployment.