MARINE CORPS AIR STATION YUMA, Ariz.- Capt. Nicholas Dimitruk stands in front of an AV-8B Harrier on the flightline at MCAS Yuma. Dimitruk is a forward air controller with Battalion Landing Team 3rd Battalion, 5th Marines, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, and a native of Wimbledon, England. Dimitruk and the Marines of BLT 3/5 are currently assigned to the 31st MEU as the ground combat element and are conducting pre-deployment preparations in support of the regularly scheduled Fall Patrol of the Asia-Pacific region. - MARINE CORPS AIR STATION YUMA, Ariz.- Capt. Nicholas Dimitruk stands in front of an AV-8B Harrier on the flightline at MCAS Yuma. Dimitruk is a forward air controller with Battalion Landing Team 3rd Battalion, 5th Marines, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, and a native of Wimbledon, England. Dimitruk and the Marines of BLT 3/5 are currently assigned to the 31st MEU as the ground combat element and are conducting pre-deployment preparations in support of the regularly scheduled Fall Patrol of the Asia-Pacific region.

Lance Corporal William Schwappach, left, throws a football as part of a company-level barbecue and sports group function here, Aug. 22. The Marines are with Company K and Battery K, who are both with Battalion Landing Team 3rd Battalion, 5th Marines, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit. The event involved softball, volleyball, tug-of-war, football and a variety of food. Schwappach is a radio operator with the battery and a native of West Palm Beach, Florida. The 31st MEU is the force of choice in the Asian-Pacific region and the only continuously forward-deployed MEU. - Lance Corporal William Schwappach, left, throws a football as part of a company-level barbecue and sports group function here, Aug. 22. The Marines are with Company K and Battery K, who are both with Battalion Landing Team 3rd Battalion, 5th Marines, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit. The event involved softball, volleyball, tug-of-war, football and a variety of food. Schwappach is a radio operator with the battery and a native of West Palm Beach, Florida. The 31st MEU is the force of choice in the Asian-Pacific region and the only continuously forward-deployed MEU.

First Lieutenant Andrew H. Walker engages targets at unknown distances with the Beretta M9 pistol during the Australian Army Skill at Arms Meeting May 3, 2014. The AASAM is an annual weapons based competition where Armed Forces from around the globe compete against one another. Walker is the assistant logistics officer for Battalion Landing Team 3rd Battalion, 5th Marines, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, and a native of Raleigh, North Carolina. Walker was selected to join the Marine Corps shooting team for the AASAM as a result of his high placement during the 2014 Marine Corps Competition-in-Arms Program Western Division Matches and several years of civilian competitive shooting. - First Lieutenant Andrew H. Walker engages targets at unknown distances with the Beretta M9 pistol during the Australian Army Skill at Arms Meeting May 3, 2014. The AASAM is an annual weapons based competition where Armed Forces from around the globe compete against one another. Walker is the assistant logistics officer for Battalion Landing Team 3rd Battalion, 5th Marines, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, and a native of Raleigh, North Carolina. Walker was selected to join the Marine Corps shooting team for the AASAM as a result of his high placement during the 2014 Marine Corps Competition-in-Arms Program Western Division Matches and several years of civilian competitive shooting.

Petty Officer 3rd Class Traciemarie D. San Juan, shown here, was recently was presented with the Navy / Marine Corps Achievement Medal for her actions in stabilizing a Marine World War II veteran after he suffered a cardiac arrest while attending the 69th Reunion of Honor ceremony at Iwo To (the island formerly known as Iwo Jima). The ceremony, held Mar. 19, 2014, was a tribute to the veterans who fought at the Battle of Iwo Jima. San Juan assisted in the stabilizing and transporting of the veteran from Iwo To to the Guam Naval Hospital onboard a C-130 Super Hercules for further medical evaluation. San Juan is a corpsman with Health Service Support Platoon, Combat Logistics Battion-31, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, and is a native of Napa, California. - Petty Officer 3rd Class Traciemarie D. San Juan, shown here, was recently was presented with the Navy / Marine Corps Achievement Medal for her actions in stabilizing a Marine World War II veteran after he suffered a cardiac arrest while attending the 69th Reunion of Honor ceremony at Iwo To (the island formerly known as Iwo Jima). The ceremony, held Mar. 19, 2014, was a tribute to the veterans who fought at the Battle of Iwo Jima. San Juan assisted in the stabilizing and transporting of the veteran from Iwo To to the Guam Naval Hospital onboard a C-130 Super Hercules for further medical evaluation. San Juan is a corpsman with Health Service Support Platoon, Combat Logistics Battion-31, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, and is a native of Napa, California.

Marines with Company K, Battalion Landing Team 3rd Battalion, 5th Marines, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, run toward their next objective as part of a company squad competition at Camp Hansen, Aug. 8. The competition started at 5 a.m. with one squad starting every twenty minutes. There were seven total stations the BLT Marines had to complete, which included a physical circuit course where the Marines performed squad pushups, jumping lunges and air squats. Another station challenged the Marines to answer infantry-related questions for points that helped toward their overall time. They concluded the competition with a swim before using their rifles to shoot at targets while moving from position to position. The 31st MEU is the force of choice for the Asia-Pacific region and is the only continuously forward-deployed MEU. - Marines with Company K, Battalion Landing Team 3rd Battalion, 5th Marines, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, run toward their next objective as part of a company squad competition at Camp Hansen, Aug. 8. The competition started at 5 a.m. with one squad starting every twenty minutes. There were seven total stations the BLT Marines had to complete, which included a physical circuit course where the Marines performed squad pushups, jumping lunges and air squats. Another station challenged the Marines to answer infantry-related questions for points that helped toward their overall time. They concluded the competition with a swim before using their rifles to shoot at targets while moving from position to position. The 31st MEU is the force of choice for the Asia-Pacific region and is the only continuously forward-deployed MEU.

U.S. Marines and soldiers with the Japan Ground Self Defense Force shake hands following the conclusion of the Japan Observer Exchange Program (JOEP) at Camp Hansen, Aug. 7. The JGSDF soldiers integrated with Battalion Landing Team 3rd Battalion, 5th Marines, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, as part of JOEP since June 23. The involvement of the JGSDF soldiers in the MEU’s regularly-scheduled training comes in response to the April 2012 U.S.-Japan Security Consultative Committee, also known as the 2+2, statement calling for the enhancement of the Asia-Pacific Region’s security and defense cooperation. The 31st MEU is the Nation’s force in readiness for the Asia-Pacific region and is the only continuously forward deployed MEU. - U.S. Marines and soldiers with the Japan Ground Self Defense Force shake hands following the conclusion of the Japan Observer Exchange Program (JOEP) at Camp Hansen, Aug. 7. The JGSDF soldiers integrated with Battalion Landing Team 3rd Battalion, 5th Marines, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, as part of JOEP since June 23. The involvement of the JGSDF soldiers in the MEU’s regularly-scheduled training comes in response to the April 2012 U.S.-Japan Security Consultative Committee, also known as the 2+2, statement calling for the enhancement of the Asia-Pacific Region’s security and defense cooperation. The 31st MEU is the Nation’s force in readiness for the Asia-Pacific region and is the only continuously forward deployed MEU.