NAHA, Okinawa, Japan -- Military members from the Marine Corps, Navy and Air Force join civilian volunteers to paint veterans’ crosses at the Tomari International Cemetery here, July 29. Through the efforts of one young Boy Scout, Gabriel Vasquez, military members from nearly every branch of service came together to revitalize a local cemetery where numerous veterans are buried. - NAHA, Okinawa, Japan -- Military members from the Marine Corps, Navy and Air Force join civilian volunteers to paint veterans’ crosses at the Tomari International Cemetery here, July 29. Through the efforts of one young Boy Scout, Gabriel Vasquez, military members from nearly every branch of service came together to revitalize a local cemetery where numerous veterans are buried.

A Marine with Battalion Landing Team 2nd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, fast-ropes out of a CH-46E Sea Knight helicopter from Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 262 (Reinforced), during a fast rope training evolution here, July 27. The 31st MEU is the Marine Corps’ force in readiness for the Asia Pacific region. - A Marine with Battalion Landing Team 2nd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, fast-ropes out of a CH-46E Sea Knight helicopter from Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 262 (Reinforced), during a fast rope training evolution here, July 27. The 31st MEU is the Marine Corps’ force in readiness for the Asia Pacific region.

KIN BLUE, Okinawa, Japan – Marines from the Tactical Recovery of Aircraft and Personnel team of the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, rush from the back of a CH-53E Super Stallion helicopter from Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 262 (Reinforced), during a training mission to rescue a downed pilot here, July 26. The 31st MEU is the Marine Corps' force in readiness for the Asia-Pacific region. - KIN BLUE, Okinawa, Japan – Marines from the Tactical Recovery of Aircraft and Personnel team of the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, rush from the back of a CH-53E Super Stallion helicopter from Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 262 (Reinforced), during a training mission to rescue a downed pilot here, July 26. The 31st MEU is the Marine Corps' force in readiness for the Asia-Pacific region.

Corporal Salvador Torres, a fire team leader with Battalion Landing Team 2nd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit ensures his team stays on line during fire and maneuver training here, July 23. The 31st MEU is the Marine Corps' force in readiness for the Asia Pacific region. - Corporal Salvador Torres, a fire team leader with Battalion Landing Team 2nd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit ensures his team stays on line during fire and maneuver training here, July 23. The 31st MEU is the Marine Corps' force in readiness for the Asia Pacific region.

KIN BLUE TRAINING AREA, Okinawa, Japan - Marines with Combat Logistics Battalion 31, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, escort simulated refugees through an evacuation control center here, July 18. The training exercise heightens the Marines' readiness for non-combatant evacuation operations that may be required as a result natural disaster or violent insurrection. The 31st MEU is the United States' force in readiness for the Asia Pacific. - KIN BLUE TRAINING AREA, Okinawa, Japan - Marines with Combat Logistics Battalion 31, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, escort simulated refugees through an evacuation control center here, July 18. The training exercise heightens the Marines' readiness for non-combatant evacuation operations that may be required as a result natural disaster or violent insurrection. The 31st MEU is the United States' force in readiness for the Asia Pacific.

CENTRAL TRAINING AREA, Okinawa, Japan - Marines with Company E., Battalion Landing Team 2nd Battalion, 1st Marines, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, rush across a courtyard during an urban raid here, July 16. More than 60 Marines engaged enemy role players with blank ammunition to secure six multi-level structures. The 31st MEU is the United States' force in readiness for the Asia Pacific region. - CENTRAL TRAINING AREA, Okinawa, Japan - Marines with Company E., Battalion Landing Team 2nd Battalion, 1st Marines, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, rush across a courtyard during an urban raid here, July 16. More than 60 Marines engaged enemy role players with blank ammunition to secure six multi-level structures. The 31st MEU is the United States' force in readiness for the Asia Pacific region.

CAMP HANSEN, Okinawa, Japan - Assaultmen from Battalion Landing Team 2nd Battalion, 1st Marines, 31st marine Expeditionary Unit, detonate a door during urban mobility breaching training here, July 17. Assaultmen use their knowlege of demolitions to clear mine fields, breach doors and windows, and engage targets with the Mark 153 Shoulder-lounched Multipurpose Assault Weapon. The 31st MEU is the United States force in readiness for the Asia Pacific region. - CAMP HANSEN, Okinawa, Japan - Assaultmen from Battalion Landing Team 2nd Battalion, 1st Marines, 31st marine Expeditionary Unit, detonate a door during urban mobility breaching training here, July 17. Assaultmen use their knowlege of demolitions to clear mine fields, breach doors and windows, and engage targets with the Mark 153 Shoulder-lounched Multipurpose Assault Weapon. The 31st MEU is the United States force in readiness for the Asia Pacific region.

Marines with Company G., Battalion Landing Team 2nd Battalion, 1st Marines, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, launch a volley of mortars for suppression during a live-fire exercise here, July 13. Following the conclusion of Exercise Hamel 2012, the Marines of Co. G. engaged in movement to contact drills, using what they learned from living in a woodland environment for the past three weeks. Exercise Hamel 2012 is a multi-national training evolution between the U.S. Marine Corps, Australian Army and New Zealand Army, aimed at certifying the Australian 1st Brigade for operational deployment. The 31st MEU is the only continuously forward-deployed MEU and is the nation’s force in readiness in the Asia-Pacific region. - Marines with Company G., Battalion Landing Team 2nd Battalion, 1st Marines, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, launch a volley of mortars for suppression during a live-fire exercise here, July 13. Following the conclusion of Exercise Hamel 2012, the Marines of Co. G. engaged in movement to contact drills, using what they learned from living in a woodland environment for the past three weeks. Exercise Hamel 2012 is a multi-national training evolution between the U.S. Marine Corps, Australian Army and New Zealand Army, aimed at certifying the Australian 1st Brigade for operational deployment. The 31st MEU is the only continuously forward-deployed MEU and is the nation’s force in readiness in the Asia-Pacific region.

Combat Rubber Raiding Craft from Company E., Battalion Landing Team 2nd Battalion, 1st Marine regiment, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, come ashore during boat raid training here, July 11. The raid was part of a pre-deployment training package. The 31st MEU is the United States force in readiness for the Asia Pacific region. - Combat Rubber Raiding Craft from Company E., Battalion Landing Team 2nd Battalion, 1st Marine regiment, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, come ashore during boat raid training here, July 11. The raid was part of a pre-deployment training package. The 31st MEU is the United States force in readiness for the Asia Pacific region.

Marines with the Maritime Raid Force, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, enter and secure rooms against armed aggressors during a raid here, July 9. The raid was part of the Realistic Urban Training Exercise, evaluated by Special Operations Training Group. It is designed to integrate unique individual and small unit skills in order to increase the proficiency for the 31st MEU's rapid response planning process in a challenging and unfamiliar environment. The 31st MEU is the United States' force in readiness for the Asia Pacific. - Marines with the Maritime Raid Force, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, enter and secure rooms against armed aggressors during a raid here, July 9. The raid was part of the Realistic Urban Training Exercise, evaluated by Special Operations Training Group. It is designed to integrate unique individual and small unit skills in order to increase the proficiency for the 31st MEU's rapid response planning process in a challenging and unfamiliar environment. The 31st MEU is the United States' force in readiness for the Asia Pacific.