Sgt. David Washington (left), artillery technician with Combat Logistics Battalion 31, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, and Amanda Sandoval, wife of Gunnery Sgt. Ramiro Sandoval, logistics chief with CLB-31, natives of Alexandria, Va. And McAllen, Texas respectively, participate in a mixed couple’s game during the Four Lenses class at the Ocean Breeze Club here, April 26. The class is offered to all Marines and spouses of the 31st MEU, allowing them to gain insight about their and their spouses’ personality traits. - Sgt. David Washington (left), artillery technician with Combat Logistics Battalion 31, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, and Amanda Sandoval, wife of Gunnery Sgt. Ramiro Sandoval, logistics chief with CLB-31, natives of Alexandria, Va. And McAllen, Texas respectively, participate in a mixed couple’s game during the Four Lenses class at the Ocean Breeze Club here, April 26. The class is offered to all Marines and spouses of the 31st MEU, allowing them to gain insight about their and their spouses’ personality traits.

Sergeant Guadalupe Menera, a data network specialist with Combat Logistics Battalion 31, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, and a native of Escondido, Calif., plays atop a jungle gym alongside American and Japanese children during a visit here, April 20. Twenty-one service members and some family members donated part of their Saturday to play with local orphans, and provide an American-style barbecue of cheeseburgers and hot dogs. The Marines and Sailors of the 31st MEU are dedicated to matching their excellence in expeditionary capabilities with excellence as members of the Okinawan community. - Sergeant Guadalupe Menera, a data network specialist with Combat Logistics Battalion 31, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, and a native of Escondido, Calif., plays atop a jungle gym alongside American and Japanese children during a visit here, April 20. Twenty-one service members and some family members donated part of their Saturday to play with local orphans, and provide an American-style barbecue of cheeseburgers and hot dogs. The Marines and Sailors of the 31st MEU are dedicated to matching their excellence in expeditionary capabilities with excellence as members of the Okinawan community.

A Philippine reconnaissance Marine demonstrates how to cook a duck during a jungle survival course for U.S. Marines and sailors from Company B., Battalion Landing Team 1st Battalion, 5th Marines, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, as a part of exercise Balikatan 2013 here, April 12. Balikatan is a Filipino term that means “shoulder-to-shoulder” and characterizes the spirit of the exercise, focusing on Philippine-U.S. partnership and shared commitment to the mutual defense treaty. The 31st MEU is the only continuously forward-deployed MEU and is the Marine Corps’ force in readiness in the Asia-Pacific region. - A Philippine reconnaissance Marine demonstrates how to cook a duck during a jungle survival course for U.S. Marines and sailors from Company B., Battalion Landing Team 1st Battalion, 5th Marines, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, as a part of exercise Balikatan 2013 here, April 12. Balikatan is a Filipino term that means “shoulder-to-shoulder” and characterizes the spirit of the exercise, focusing on Philippine-U.S. partnership and shared commitment to the mutual defense treaty. 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 Philippine Marine Corps practice knife techniques alongside U.S. Marines and Sailors with Company B., Battalion Landing Team 1st Battalion, 5th Marines, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, as a part of exercise Balikatan 2013 in Ternate, Philippines, April 10. As treaty allies, the Armed Forces of the Philippines and U.S. military have a longstanding relationship that has contributed to regional security and stability. 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 Philippine Marine Corps practice knife techniques alongside U.S. Marines and Sailors with Company B., Battalion Landing Team 1st Battalion, 5th Marines, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, as a part of exercise Balikatan 2013 in Ternate, Philippines, April 10. As treaty allies, the Armed Forces of the Philippines and U.S. military have a longstanding relationship that has contributed to regional security and stability. The 31st MEU is the only continuously forward-deployed MEU and is the Marine Corps’ force in readiness in the Asia-Pacific region.

U.S. Marines look on as Philippine Marines fire their M-14 rifles at targets during a combat marksmanship program shoot as part of exercise Balikatan 2013 here, April 8. Marines and Sailors from Company B., Battalion Landing Team 1st Battalion, 5th Marines, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, and Philippine Marines fired side by side, improving their interoperability with one another. Balikatan 2013 helps maintain a high level of interoperability and enhances military-to-military relations and combined combat capabilities. The 31st MEU is the only continuously forward-deployed MEU and is the Marine Corps’ force in readiness in the Asia-Pacific region. - U.S. Marines look on as Philippine Marines fire their M-14 rifles at targets during a combat marksmanship program shoot as part of exercise Balikatan 2013 here, April 8. Marines and Sailors from Company B., Battalion Landing Team 1st Battalion, 5th Marines, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, and Philippine Marines fired side by side, improving their interoperability with one another. Balikatan 2013 helps maintain a high level of interoperability and enhances military-to-military relations and combined combat capabilities. 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 B., Battalion Landing Team 1st Battalion, 5th Marines, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, and Marines from the Philippine Marine Corps salute the flag while the U.S. and Philippine national anthems play during the opening ceremony of exercise Balikatan 2013 here, April 7. Now in its 29th iteration, this exercise gives U.S Marines the opportunity to train alongside their Philippine counterparts and become more familiar with the Pacific 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 and Sailors with Company B., Battalion Landing Team 1st Battalion, 5th Marines, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, and Marines from the Philippine Marine Corps salute the flag while the U.S. and Philippine national anthems play during the opening ceremony of exercise Balikatan 2013 here, April 7. Now in its 29th iteration, this exercise gives U.S Marines the opportunity to train alongside their Philippine counterparts and become more familiar with the Pacific 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.