Lance Cpl. Teena M. Sifuentez , a food service specialist with Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 265 (Reinforced), 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, shows her excitement after finishing a blueberry pie here, June 28. An integrated team of Marines and Sailors work tirelessly each day to prepare more than 1,500 servings of home-style desserts for the four meals each day. 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. Teena M. Sifuentez , a food service specialist with Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 265 (Reinforced), 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, shows her excitement after finishing a blueberry pie here, June 28. An integrated team of Marines and Sailors work tirelessly each day to prepare more than 1,500 servings of home-style desserts for the four meals each day. 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. Sean J. McSweeney, an amphibious assault vehicle crewman with Company G., Battalion Landing Team 2nd Battalion, 4th Marines, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, and native of Palmyra, N.J., cleans the barrel of a .50 caliber machine gun inside an AAV here, June 29. The Marines and Sailors of the 31st MEU are constantly engaged in training, education and gear maintenance while embarked aboard the ship, taking advantage of their time at sea. 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. Sean J. McSweeney, an amphibious assault vehicle crewman with Company G., Battalion Landing Team 2nd Battalion, 4th Marines, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, and native of Palmyra, N.J., cleans the barrel of a .50 caliber machine gun inside an AAV here, June 29. The Marines and Sailors of the 31st MEU are constantly engaged in training, education and gear maintenance while embarked aboard the ship, taking advantage of their time at sea. The 31st MEU is the only continuously forward-deployed MEU and is the Marine Corps’ force in readiness in the Asia-Pacific region.

An MV-22 Osprey with Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 265 (Reinforced), 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, takes off from the flight deck during deck landing qualifications here, June 28. This deployment marks the first time the 31st MEU has deployed with the Osprey, which recently replaced the CH-46E Sea Knight helicopter. The 31st MEU is the only continuously forward-deployed MEU and is the Marine Corps’ force in readiness in the Asia-Pacific region. - An MV-22 Osprey with Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 265 (Reinforced), 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, takes off from the flight deck during deck landing qualifications here, June 28. This deployment marks the first time the 31st MEU has deployed with the Osprey, which recently replaced the CH-46E Sea Knight helicopter. 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 of Company G., Battalion Landing Team 2nd Battalion, 4th Marines, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, stand in formation as the description of the Fleet Marine Force pin is read during a ceremony here, June 28. Six corpsmen of Co. G. received their FMF pins following nearly a year of studying and testing. The pin signifies the corpsmen’s knowledge of Marine Corps history, traditions and operations. The 31st MEU is the only forward-deployed MEU and is the Marine Corps’ force in readiness in the Asia-Pacific region. - Marines and Sailors of Company G., Battalion Landing Team 2nd Battalion, 4th Marines, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, stand in formation as the description of the Fleet Marine Force pin is read during a ceremony here, June 28. Six corpsmen of Co. G. received their FMF pins following nearly a year of studying and testing. The pin signifies the corpsmen’s knowledge of Marine Corps history, traditions and operations. The 31st MEU is the only forward-deployed MEU and is the Marine Corps’ force in readiness in the Asia-Pacific region.

Marines and Sailors of the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit carry gear aboard the USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD-6) here, June 25. The 31st MEU embarked the ships of Amphibious Squadron 11 to begin their summer patrol of the Asia Pacific region. - Marines and Sailors of the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit carry gear aboard the USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD-6) here, June 25. The 31st MEU embarked the ships of Amphibious Squadron 11 to begin their summer patrol of the Asia Pacific region.

The oldest corpsman, at 40 years old, Chief Petty Officer William R. Janic Jr. (left), the independent duty corpsman and a native of Parkersburg, W.Va., and the youngest corpsman at 20 years old, Seamen Cory B. Manka (right), a platoon corpsman and a native of East Hampton, Conn., both with Battalion Landing Team 2nd Battalion, 4th Marines, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, cut the Hospital Corps’ birthday cake at the bowling center here, June 19. The birthday, marking 115 years of the Hospital Corps, was celebrated with an appreciation lunch, showing the gratitude that the Marines have for the corpsmen’s role in supporting a Marine infantry unit. The 31st MEU is the only continuously forward-deployed MEU and is the Marine Corps’ force in readiness in the Asia-Pacific region. - The oldest corpsman, at 40 years old, Chief Petty Officer William R. Janic Jr. (left), the independent duty corpsman and a native of Parkersburg, W.Va., and the youngest corpsman at 20 years old, Seamen Cory B. Manka (right), a platoon corpsman and a native of East Hampton, Conn., both with Battalion Landing Team 2nd Battalion, 4th Marines, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, cut the Hospital Corps’ birthday cake at the bowling center here, June 19. The birthday, marking 115 years of the Hospital Corps, was celebrated with an appreciation lunch, showing the gratitude that the Marines have for the corpsmen’s role in supporting a Marine infantry unit. 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 Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 265 (Reinforced), 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, operate fire hoses under the direction of firefighting instructors during training with the Mobile Aircraft Firefighting Training Device at the base fire station here, June 14. The Marines who participated in the training did not have firefighting occupations, but due to their work around aircraft, they are required to be first responders in the event an aircraft catches fire. 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 Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 265 (Reinforced), 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, operate fire hoses under the direction of firefighting instructors during training with the Mobile Aircraft Firefighting Training Device at the base fire station here, June 14. The Marines who participated in the training did not have firefighting occupations, but due to their work around aircraft, they are required to be first responders in the event an aircraft catches fire. The 31st MEU is the only continuously forward-deployed MEU and is the Marine Corps’ force in readiness in the Asia-Pacific region.

A scout swimmer with Company F., Battalion Landing Team 2nd Battalion, 4th Marines, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, provides a marker for the landing during a notional boat raid here, June 8. The training exercise allowed the force to practice every aspect of an amphibious raid, except for the use of a Navy ship as the starting point, before their upcoming deployment. The 31st MEU is the Marine Corps’ force in readiness for the Asia-Pacific region and is the only continuously forward-deployed MEU. - A scout swimmer with Company F., Battalion Landing Team 2nd Battalion, 4th Marines, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, provides a marker for the landing during a notional boat raid here, June 8. The training exercise allowed the force to practice every aspect of an amphibious raid, except for the use of a Navy ship as the starting point, before their upcoming deployment. The 31st MEU is the Marine Corps’ force in readiness for the Asia-Pacific region and is the only continuously forward-deployed MEU.

Marines with Company E., Battalion Landing Team 2nd Battalion, 4th Marines, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, enter through the window of a building controlled by enemy role players during a raid exercise here, June 5. The company conducted a raid on a notional enemy supply depot as part of the 31st MEU’s pre-deployment training package. 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 E., Battalion Landing Team 2nd Battalion, 4th Marines, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, enter through the window of a building controlled by enemy role players during a raid exercise here, June 5. The company conducted a raid on a notional enemy supply depot as part of the 31st MEU’s pre-deployment training package. The 31st MEU is the only continuously forward-deployed MEU and is the nation’s force in readiness in the Asia-Pacific region.

An amphibious reconnaissance sniper with the Maritime Raid Force of the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit searches for targets during a low-light, live-fire raid here, June 4. As a result of the realistic experience, the three integrated platoons of the MRF learned to operate more efficiently in support of crisis response missions for the 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. - An amphibious reconnaissance sniper with the Maritime Raid Force of the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit searches for targets during a low-light, live-fire raid here, June 4. As a result of the realistic experience, the three integrated platoons of the MRF learned to operate more efficiently in support of crisis response missions for the 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.