Lance Cpl. Erik Brasile, fire team leader with 3rd platoon, Company G., Battalion Landing Team 2nd Battalion, 1st Marines, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, fires a round from his M203 grenade launcher during the siege of Raspberry Creek here, July 5. The major engagement of the multi-weeklong war during Exercise Hamel 2012, 50 Marines fend off the advancing Australian Army 1st Brigade before eventually being overrun. 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. - Lance Cpl. Erik Brasile, fire team leader with 3rd platoon, Company G., Battalion Landing Team 2nd Battalion, 1st Marines, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, fires a round from his M203 grenade launcher during the siege of Raspberry Creek here, July 5. The major engagement of the multi-weeklong war during Exercise Hamel 2012, 50 Marines fend off the advancing Australian Army 1st Brigade before eventually being overrun. 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.

Sgt. Matthew Sullivan, senior intelligence analyst with Battalion Landing Team 2nd Battalion, 1st Marines, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, prepares a RQ-11B Raven, an unmanned aerial vehicle, for flight here, July 4. This is the first time the Raven UAV system was flown in the Pacific Command area. The UAV is being utilized in support of Exercise Hamel 2012, a multi-national training evolution between the U.S. Marine Corps, Australian Army and New Zealand Army. The 31st MEU is the only continuously forward-deployed MEU and is the nation’s force in readiness in the Asia-Pacific region. - Sgt. Matthew Sullivan, senior intelligence analyst with Battalion Landing Team 2nd Battalion, 1st Marines, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, prepares a RQ-11B Raven, an unmanned aerial vehicle, for flight here, July 4. This is the first time the Raven UAV system was flown in the Pacific Command area. The UAV is being utilized in support of Exercise Hamel 2012, a multi-national training evolution between the U.S. Marine Corps, Australian Army and New Zealand Army. 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 the Maritime Raid Force engage targets during rapid target engagement training, July 6. Snipers from the Amphibious Reconnaissance Platoon and Scout Snipers came together to train and provide a demonstration to Japanese Ground Self Defense Forces. The 31st MEU is the United States' force in readiness for the Asia Pacific. - Marines with the Maritime Raid Force engage targets during rapid target engagement training, July 6. Snipers from the Amphibious Reconnaissance Platoon and Scout Snipers came together to train and provide a demonstration to Japanese Ground Self Defense Forces. The 31st MEU is the United States' force in readiness for the Asia Pacific.

Lance Cpl. Theodore Kavich, a fire team leader with 3rd platoon, Company G., Battalion Landing Team 2nd Battalion, 1st Marines, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, directs his fire team’s fields of fire during a response to contact drill here, June 30. Kavich, a 20-year-old from Pasadena, Calif., is deployed with the 31st MEU to Australia in support of Exercise Hamel 2012, the multi-national training evolution between the U.S. Marines and Australian and New Zealand Armies. The 31st MEU is the only continuously forward-deployed MEU and is the nation’s force in readiness in the Asia-Pacific region. - Lance Cpl. Theodore Kavich, a fire team leader with 3rd platoon, Company G., Battalion Landing Team 2nd Battalion, 1st Marines, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, directs his fire team’s fields of fire during a response to contact drill here, June 30. Kavich, a 20-year-old from Pasadena, Calif., is deployed with the 31st MEU to Australia in support of Exercise Hamel 2012, the multi-national training evolution between the U.S. Marines and Australian and New Zealand Armies. 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, conduct a response to contact drill here, June 30. The Marines of 3rd platoon with Weapons platoon reinforcements have set up in defensive positions in and around the simulated town of Raspberry Creek, in preparation for the advance of the Australian Army’s 1st Brigade. The coming assault is one of the key battles of Exercise Hamel 2012, the multi-national training evolution between the Australian Army, U.S. Marines and New Zealand Army, serving as 1st Brigade’s certification exercise. 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, conduct a response to contact drill here, June 30. The Marines of 3rd platoon with Weapons platoon reinforcements have set up in defensive positions in and around the simulated town of Raspberry Creek, in preparation for the advance of the Australian Army’s 1st Brigade. The coming assault is one of the key battles of Exercise Hamel 2012, the multi-national training evolution between the Australian Army, U.S. Marines and New Zealand Army, serving as 1st Brigade’s certification exercise. The 31st MEU is the only continuously forward-deployed MEU and is the nation’s force in readiness in the Asia-Pacific region.