31st Marine Expeditionary Unit

ABOARD USS GREEN BAY (LPD-20), At Sea (Aug. 22, 2016) – U.S. Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class Torien Collins, an aviation boatswain's mate, directs sailors away from a U.S. Marine Corps MV-22B Osprey tiltrotor aircraft from Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 262 (reinforced), 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, on the flight deck of the USS Green Bay (LPD-20), at sea, Aug. 22, 2016. Marines of the 31st MEU are currently embarked on ships of the USS Bonhomme Richard Expeditionary Strike Group for a regularly scheduled fall patrol of the Asia-Pacific region. The 31st MEU combines air-ground-logistics into a single unit with one commander, and is task-organized to address a range of military operations in the Asia-Pacific region, from force projection and maritime security to humanitarian assistance and disaster relief. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Darien J. Bjorndal, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit/ Released)

ABOARD USS GERMANTOWN (LSD-42), At Sea (Aug. 21, 2016) - U.S. Marines with Battalion Landing Team, 2nd Battalion, 4th Marines, riding Assault Amphibious Vehicles, boarded the USS Germantown (LSD-42) while underway as part of the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit and Bonhomme Richard Amphibious Ready Group, Aug. 21, 2016. The 31st MEU is the Marine Corps’ only continuously forward-deployed Marine Air-Ground Task Force, and is task-organized to address a wide variety of military operations in the Asia-Pacific region, from force projection and maritime security to humanitarian assistance and disaster relief. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Jorge A. Rosales/released)

ABOARD USS BONHOMME RICHARD (LHD-6), At Sea (Aug. 24, 2016) – An MV-22B Osprey with Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 262 (Reinforced), 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, approaches the flight deck of the USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD-6), during normal flight operations at sea, Aug. 24, 2016. The 31st MEU is the Marine Corps’ only continuously forward-deployed Marine Air-Ground Task Force, and is task-organized to address a wide variety of military operations in the Asia-Pacific region – from force projection and maritime security to humanitarian assistance and disaster relief in cooperation with host countries and partner militaries. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Jay A. Parks/ Released)

U.S. Marine Corps Col. Tye R. Wallace addresses the Marines and Sailors assigned to the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit for the first time since setting sail on the USS Bonhomme Richard, at sea, in Japan on Aug. 22, 2016. The 31st MEU is currently underway and on patrol around the Asia-Pacific region. The 31st MEU is the Marine Corps’ only continuously forward-deployed Marine Air-Ground Task Force, and combines air-ground-logistics into a single team capable of addressing a wide variety of military operations in the Asia-Pacific region – from force projection and maritime security to humanitarian assistance and disaster relief in cooperation with host countries and partner militaries.(U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Jay Parks, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit/ Released)

WHITE BEACH, Okinawa, Japan, (Aug. 20, 2016) – Marines with the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit wait on the gangplank before boarding the USS Bonhomme Richard at White Beach, Okinawa, Japan, Aug. 20, 2016. The 31st MEU is embarked aboard the ships of the Bonhomme Richard Amphibious Ready Group during a regularly scheduled patrol of the Pacific region.

Sgt. Maj. James Roberts, off-going sergeant major of the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, relinquishes the sword of office during his relief and appointment ceremony and retirement ceremony to Col. Tye R. Wallace, commanding officer of the 31st MEU, and oncoming MEU Sgt. Maj. Jim Lanham, Aug. 10, 2016 at Camp Hansen, Okinawa, Japan. Roberts retired after 30 years of service, completing his enlistment with a tour as sergeant major of the 31st MEU. The 31st MEU led several humanitarian assistance and disaster relief operations across the Pacific region, as well as various bilateral and multilateral exercises with Pacific partner nations, during Roberts’ tenure as the 31st MEU’s senior enlisted advisor.

U.S. Marines with the Maritime Raid Force, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit clear a water treatment facility at Koror, Palau on July 21, 2016. The Marines are conducting training in Palau to ensure familiarity with Palau's complex urban environment. The training events were planned out with local authorities to provide an opportunity for realistic training with minimal inconvenience to the community and environment. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Jorge A. Rosales/ Released)

Marines with III Marine Expeditionary Force participated in a culminating event as part of a Marine Corps Martial Arts Program Instructor course July 28, 2016 at Camp Hansen in Okinawa, Japan. The Marines went through a three-week course which challenged them mentally and physically, pushing them past their limits. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Samantha Villarreal/Released)

A Marine with Helo Company, 2nd Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit trecks through the jungle June 25, 2016 at the Jungle Warfare Training Center in Okinawa, Japan during scenario based training. The training was part of Marine Expeditionary Unit Exercise in preparation for the 31st MEU's upcoming fall deployment (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Samantha Villarreal/Released)

Marines with Helo Company, 2nd Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit prepare to board MV-22B Ospreys as part of scenario based training in preparation for the 31st MEU's upcoming fall deployment June 25, 2016 at Camp Hansen in Okinawa, Japan.(U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Samantha Villarreal/Released)

Marines from F Company, 2nd Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, carry a combat rubber raid craft to the shore in preparation for nighttime raid operations at Kin Blue, Okinawa, Japan during scenario based training. The training was part of Marine Expeditionary Unit Exercise in preparation for the 31st MEU's upcoming fall deployment. The F Co., 2/4 Marines primary mission is to conduct amphibious landing and covert raid operations in support of the 31st MEU.

U.S. Marines and Japanese service members load supplies into MV-22B Osprey, assigned to the Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 265 (Reinforced), 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, in Japan Ground Self Defense Force Takayumaru Camp April 18, 2016. The supplies were in support of the relief effort after a series of earthquakes struck the island of Kyushu. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Samantha Villarreal)

Marines and Japanese service members load supplies into MV-22B Ospreys with Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 265 (Reinforced), 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit in Japan Ground Self Defense Force Takayumaru Camp April 18, 2016. The supplies are in support of the relief effort after a series of earthquakes struck the island of Kyushu. The 31st MEU is the only continually forward-deployed MEU and remains the Marine Corps' force-in-readiness in the Asia-Pacific region. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Samantha Villarreal/Released)

U.S. Marine Cpl. Christopher Lee, with Alpha Company, Battalion Landing Team 1st Battalion, 5th Marines, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, uses hand signals to communicate with other AAV-P7/A1 Amphibious Assault Vehicles while conducting a combined amphibious assault on Dogu Beach, South Korea, as part of Ssang Yong 16, March 12, 2016. Ssang Yong is a biennial combined amphibious exercise conducted by U.S. forces with the Republic of Korea Navy and Marine Corps, Australian Army and Royal New Zealand Army forces in order to strengthen interoperability and working relationships across a wide range of military operations. The Marines and sailors of the 31st MEU are in Korea as part of their spring deployment to the Asia-Pacific region. Lee, a native of Haslet, Texas, is a crew chief with Alpha Co., BLT 1/5,31st MEU. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Carl King Jr./Released)

U.S. Marines with Alpha Company, Battalion Landing Team 1st Battalion, 5th Marines, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, conduct a combined amphibious assault on Dogu Beach, South Korea, in AAV-P7/A1 Amphibious Assault Vehicles as part of Ssang Yong 16, March 12, 2016. Ssang Yong is a biennial combined amphibious exercise conducted by U.S. forces with the Republic of Korea Navy and Marine Corps, Australian Army and Royal New Zealand Army Forces in order to strengthen interoperability and working relationships across a wide range of military operations. The Marines and Sailors of the 31st MEU are in Korea as part of their spring deployment to the Asia-Pacific region. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Carl King Jr./Released)

U.S. ships from the Boxer and Bonhomme Richard Amphibious Ready Groups sail with the Dokdo Amphibious Ready Group from the Republic of Korea during Ssang Yong 2016, at sea, March 8, 2016. The U.S. Navy and Marine Corps team are committed to the ROK-U.S. alliance and conduct exercises regularly to ensure interoperability and maintain strong working relationships. Ssang Yong familiarizes American armed forces with the Korean Peninsula and builds upon the strong preexisting relationship between the two militaries. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Darien J. Bjorndal, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit/ Released)