A Marine requests permission to board the USS Bonhomme Richard during the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit’s embarkation with Amphibious Squadron 11 here, Jan 29. The unit is deploying for the regularly scheduled Spring Patrol and to participate in exercise Cobra Gold 2013 in the Kingdom of Thailand. Cobra Gold is a multilateral training exercise that the United States has participated in for more than three decades. 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 requests permission to board the USS Bonhomme Richard during the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit’s embarkation with Amphibious Squadron 11 here, Jan 29. The unit is deploying for the regularly scheduled Spring Patrol and to participate in exercise Cobra Gold 2013 in the Kingdom of Thailand. Cobra Gold is a multilateral training exercise that the United States has participated in for more than three decades. 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 Company A., Battalion Landing Team 1st Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, stage amphibious assault vehicles before a mechanized raid here, Jan 24. The raid began from the USS Germantown (LSD-42), located off the coast of Okinawa, as part of their pre-deployment training for Spring Patrol 2013. 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 Company A., Battalion Landing Team 1st Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, stage amphibious assault vehicles before a mechanized raid here, Jan 24. The raid began from the USS Germantown (LSD-42), located off the coast of Okinawa, as part of their pre-deployment training for Spring Patrol 2013. The 31st MEU is the only continuously forward-deployed MEU and is the Marine Corps’ force in readiness in the Asia-Pacific region.

Sergeant Jason R. Wether, the non-commissioned officer in charge of the recovery assets with Combat Logistics Battalion 31, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, and a native of Orlando, Fla., helps a young child from theNagomi Nursing Home for Children learn to bowl, here Jan 12. The children’s home, a privately-owned organization, brought 65 kids ranging from the ages of four to 18 to the base for a day of bowling and fun. The 31st MEU is the only continuously forward-deployed MEU and is the Marine Corps’ force in readiness in the Asia-Pacific region. - Sergeant Jason R. Wether, the non-commissioned officer in charge of the recovery assets with Combat Logistics Battalion 31, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, and a native of Orlando, Fla., helps a young child from theNagomi Nursing Home for Children learn to bowl, here Jan 12. The children’s home, a privately-owned organization, brought 65 kids ranging from the ages of four to 18 to the base for a day of bowling and fun. 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. Spencer Brown (left), a fire team leader from Company A., Battalion Landing Team 1st Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit and a native of Sandy, Utah , orders his team to advance toward the enemy during a mechanized raid here, Jan 11. The raid was part of the 31st MEU’s pre-deployment training for the Spring Patrol 2013, where the Marines and Sailors are scheduled to participate in Exercise Cobra Gold, an annual multi-lateral exercise. 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. Spencer Brown (left), a fire team leader from Company A., Battalion Landing Team 1st Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit and a native of Sandy, Utah , orders his team to advance toward the enemy during a mechanized raid here, Jan 11. The raid was part of the 31st MEU’s pre-deployment training for the Spring Patrol 2013, where the Marines and Sailors are scheduled to participate in Exercise Cobra Gold, an annual multi-lateral exercise. 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 the Special Operations Training Group, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, monitors the jump space for parachuting Marines on a C-130 Hercules aircraft during preliminary training here, Jan. 9. The training was part of the semiannual Realistic Urban Training Exercise, a long-range raid scenario to raise the proficiency of the MRF. The 31st MEU is the only continuously forward-deployed MEU and the Marine Corps’ force in readiness in the Asia-Pacific region. - A Marine with the Special Operations Training Group, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, monitors the jump space for parachuting Marines on a C-130 Hercules aircraft during preliminary training here, Jan. 9. The training was part of the semiannual Realistic Urban Training Exercise, a long-range raid scenario to raise the proficiency of the MRF. The 31st MEU is the only continuously forward-deployed MEU and the Marine Corps’ force in readiness in the Asia-Pacific region.

Marines and Sailors from Maritime Raid Force of the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit post security around the target building after completing a time sensitive raid here, Jan 7. The MRF is comprised of a security element from Battalion Landing Team 1st Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, Force Reconnaissance Platoon, and the Amphibious Reconnaissance Platoon, 31st MEU. 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 from Maritime Raid Force of the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit post security around the target building after completing a time sensitive raid here, Jan 7. The MRF is comprised of a security element from Battalion Landing Team 1st Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, Force Reconnaissance Platoon, and the Amphibious Reconnaissance Platoon, 31st MEU. 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 Battalion Landing Team 1st Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, throws a makeshift grappling hook at a concertina wire barrier during a live-fire exercise here, Jan 4. The Marines and Sailors of BLT 1/5 conducted this training to hone their combat skills in a jungle environment. 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 Battalion Landing Team 1st Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, throws a makeshift grappling hook at a concertina wire barrier during a live-fire exercise here, Jan 4. The Marines and Sailors of BLT 1/5 conducted this training to hone their combat skills in a jungle environment. The 31st MEU is the only continuously forward-deployed MEU and is the Marine Corps’ force in readiness in the Asia-Pacific region.

Marines with the Force Reconnaissance Platoon, part of the Maritime Raid Force, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, prepare for the explosive breach on the entrance of a notional enemy-held building during a capture or kill raid exercise here, Jan. 5. Part of a semiannual training package, the MRF is evaluated and critiqued by Special Operations Training Group, III Marine Expeditionary Force. The 31st MEU is the only continuously forward-deployed MEU and is the Marine Corps’ force in readiness in the Asia-Pacific region. - Marines with the Force Reconnaissance Platoon, part of the Maritime Raid Force, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, prepare for the explosive breach on the entrance of a notional enemy-held building during a capture or kill raid exercise here, Jan. 5. Part of a semiannual training package, the MRF is evaluated and critiqued by Special Operations Training Group, III Marine Expeditionary Force. The 31st MEU is the only continuously forward-deployed MEU and is the Marine Corps’ force in readiness in the Asia-Pacific region.