Left, Hospital Corpsman Abel Leon explains to Marines of Battalion Landing Team, 1st Battalion, 4th Marines, 31st MEU, where to administer a pressure dressing during basic first aid training aboard the forward-deployed amphibious dock landing ship USS Germantown (LSD 42). Elements of the 31st MEU embarked on Germantown to participate in Cobra Gold 2012, a multinational exercise held in the Kingdom of Thailand and designed to enhance interoperability with participating nations. - Left, Hospital Corpsman Abel Leon explains to Marines of Battalion Landing Team, 1st Battalion, 4th Marines, 31st MEU, where to administer a pressure dressing during basic first aid training aboard the forward-deployed amphibious dock landing ship USS Germantown (LSD 42). Elements of the 31st MEU embarked on Germantown to participate in Cobra Gold 2012, a multinational exercise held in the Kingdom of Thailand and designed to enhance interoperability with participating nations.

A Marine with Battalion Landing Team 1st Battalion, 4th Marines, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, colors with an orphan child during a visit here, Feb. 23. The Marines volunteered their time after successfully completing Exercise Cobra Gold 2012. Cobra Gold 2012 demonstrates the resolve of the U.S. and participating nations to increase interoperability and promote security and peace throughout 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 Marine with Battalion Landing Team 1st Battalion, 4th Marines, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, colors with an orphan child during a visit here, Feb. 23. The Marines volunteered their time after successfully completing Exercise Cobra Gold 2012. Cobra Gold 2012 demonstrates the resolve of the U.S. and participating nations to increase interoperability and promote security and peace throughout 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.

Marines and Sailors with Combat Logistics Battalion 31, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, till land at a child protection and development center here, Feb. 22. Marines and Sailors cultivated land around the center for the children to use as gardens. The event comes at the conclusion of exercise Cobra Gold 2012. CG12 demonstrates the resolve of the U.S. and participating nations to increase interoperability and promote security and peace throughout 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. - Marines and Sailors with Combat Logistics Battalion 31, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, till land at a child protection and development center here, Feb. 22. Marines and Sailors cultivated land around the center for the children to use as gardens. The event comes at the conclusion of exercise Cobra Gold 2012. CG12 demonstrates the resolve of the U.S. and participating nations to increase interoperability and promote security and peace throughout 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.

Edwin A. Ventura, the tactical safety officer for the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, speaks to a Marine during a mock amphibious assault here, Feb. 9. Working as the tactical safety officer, “Ace”, as he is commonly called, works tirelessly to ensure the Marines are mindful of safety at all times. The 31st MEU recently concluded Exercise Cobra Gold 2012 in the Kingdom of Thailand, where Ace’s watchful eye ensured the safety of the Marines participating. The 31st MEU is the only continuously forward deployed MEU and remains the nations’ force-in-readiness in the Asia-Pacific region. - Edwin A. Ventura, the tactical safety officer for the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, speaks to a Marine during a mock amphibious assault here, Feb. 9. Working as the tactical safety officer, “Ace”, as he is commonly called, works tirelessly to ensure the Marines are mindful of safety at all times. The 31st MEU recently concluded Exercise Cobra Gold 2012 in the Kingdom of Thailand, where Ace’s watchful eye ensured the safety of the Marines participating. The 31st MEU is the only continuously forward deployed MEU and remains the nations’ force-in-readiness in the Asia-Pacific region.

A Sailor with Amphibious Squadron 11, guides a Humvee, driven by a Marine with the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, onto a Navy landing craft here, Feb. 18. The vehicles were being loaded and brought back to the USS Germantown and USS Tortuga upon the conclusion of Exercise Cobra Gold 2012. CG 2012 demonstrates the resolve of the U.S. and participating nations to increase interoperability and promote security and peace throughout the Asia-Pacific region. The 31st MEU is the U.S.’s expeditionary force in readiness in the Asia-Pacific region. - A Sailor with Amphibious Squadron 11, guides a Humvee, driven by a Marine with the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, onto a Navy landing craft here, Feb. 18. The vehicles were being loaded and brought back to the USS Germantown and USS Tortuga upon the conclusion of Exercise Cobra Gold 2012. CG 2012 demonstrates the resolve of the U.S. and participating nations to increase interoperability and promote security and peace throughout the Asia-Pacific region. The 31st MEU is the U.S.’s expeditionary force in readiness in the Asia-Pacific region.

Gunnery Sgt. David Vanderwest, 33-year-old logistics chief for the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, (right) talks with U.S. Navy personnel about landing craft operations, Feb. 18. Vanderwest is one of the individuals essential in moving the 31st MEU from Okinawa aboard ships and on to many partner nations for exercises and operations. The 31st MEU is the U.S.’s expeditionary force in readiness in the Asia-Pacific region. - Gunnery Sgt. David Vanderwest, 33-year-old logistics chief for the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, (right) talks with U.S. Navy personnel about landing craft operations, Feb. 18. Vanderwest is one of the individuals essential in moving the 31st MEU from Okinawa aboard ships and on to many partner nations for exercises and operations. The 31st MEU is the U.S.’s expeditionary force in readiness in the Asia-Pacific region.

A U.S. Marine with Company B., Battalion Landing Team 1st Battalion, 4th Marines, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, role plays an enemy defender here, Feb. 16. U.S. Marines and their Royal Thai counterparts participated in military operations in urban terrain exercise where Thais integrated into the U.S. squads and trained in assaulting and defending a position. The training is part of exercise Cobra Gold 2012, a multi-lateral training event where participating nations train to increase interoperability and promote security and peace throughout 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 U.S. Marine with Company B., Battalion Landing Team 1st Battalion, 4th Marines, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, role plays an enemy defender here, Feb. 16. U.S. Marines and their Royal Thai counterparts participated in military operations in urban terrain exercise where Thais integrated into the U.S. squads and trained in assaulting and defending a position. The training is part of exercise Cobra Gold 2012, a multi-lateral training event where participating nations train to increase interoperability and promote security and peace throughout 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.

U.S. Marines with the Amphibious Reconnaissance Platoon, a part of the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, shoot M40A3 and M40A5 rifles alongside the Royal Thai Marine Corps and the Republic of Korea Navy SEALs during scout sniper training at Recon Camp, Kingdom of Thailand, Feb. 16. The training was part of Exercise Cobra Gold 2012, an annual multinational exercise co-hosted by Thailand and the U.S., which is designed to advance security throughout the Asia-Pacific region and enhance interoperability with participating nations. The 31st MEU is the U.S. expeditionary force in readiness in the Asia-Pacific region. - U.S. Marines with the Amphibious Reconnaissance Platoon, a part of the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, shoot M40A3 and M40A5 rifles alongside the Royal Thai Marine Corps and the Republic of Korea Navy SEALs during scout sniper training at Recon Camp, Kingdom of Thailand, Feb. 16. The training was part of Exercise Cobra Gold 2012, an annual multinational exercise co-hosted by Thailand and the U.S., which is designed to advance security throughout the Asia-Pacific region and enhance interoperability with participating nations. The 31st MEU is the U.S. expeditionary force in readiness in the Asia-Pacific region.

A Royal Thai Marine passes the ball as a U.S. Marine with Battalion Landing Team 1st Battalion, 4th Marines, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, attempts to stop him during a friendly soccer game here, Feb. 16. U.S. Marines were playing against Royal Thai Marines in a friendly, but intense game of soccer after completing their training during Exercise Cobra Gold 2012. CG 2012 demonstrates the resolve of the U.S. and participating nations to increase interoperability and promote security and peace throughout the Asia-Pacific region. The 31st MEU is the U.S.’s expeditionary force in readiness in the Asia-Pacific region. - A Royal Thai Marine passes the ball as a U.S. Marine with Battalion Landing Team 1st Battalion, 4th Marines, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, attempts to stop him during a friendly soccer game here, Feb. 16. U.S. Marines were playing against Royal Thai Marines in a friendly, but intense game of soccer after completing their training during Exercise Cobra Gold 2012. CG 2012 demonstrates the resolve of the U.S. and participating nations to increase interoperability and promote security and peace throughout the Asia-Pacific region. The 31st MEU is the U.S.’s expeditionary force in readiness in the Asia-Pacific region.

U.S. Marines with Company A, Battalion Landing Team 1st Battalion, 4th Marines, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, provide suppressing fire on targets with an M240B machine gun during a Combined Arms Live Fire Exercise here, Feb. 15. CALFEX was conducted during Exercise Cobra Gold 2012 and included units from the 31st MEU, U.S. Army, Royal Thai Army and the Royal Thai Marine Corps. CG 2012 demonstrates the resolve of the U.S. and participating nations to increase interoperability and promote security and peace throughout the Asia-Pacific region. The 31st MEU is the U.S.’s expeditionary force in readiness in the Asia-Pacific region. - U.S. Marines with Company A, Battalion Landing Team 1st Battalion, 4th Marines, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, provide suppressing fire on targets with an M240B machine gun during a Combined Arms Live Fire Exercise here, Feb. 15. CALFEX was conducted during Exercise Cobra Gold 2012 and included units from the 31st MEU, U.S. Army, Royal Thai Army and the Royal Thai Marine Corps. CG 2012 demonstrates the resolve of the U.S. and participating nations to increase interoperability and promote security and peace throughout the Asia-Pacific region. The 31st MEU is the U.S.’s expeditionary force in readiness in the Asia-Pacific region.