Marines salute during a relief and appointment ceremony aboard amphibious assault ship USS America, March 11. - Marines salute during a relief and appointment ceremony aboard amphibious assault ship USS America, March 11.

Marines with Charlie Company, Battalion Landing Team, 1st Battalion 5th Marines, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, and Japanese Amphibious Rapid Deployment Brigade service members communicate during a simulated bilateral small-boat raid on Kin Blue, Okinawa, Japan, Feb. 9. - Marines with Charlie Company, Battalion Landing Team, 1st Battalion 5th Marines, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, and Japanese Amphibious Rapid Deployment Brigade service members communicate during a simulated bilateral small-boat raid on Kin Blue, Okinawa, Japan, Feb. 9.

Japan Ground Self-Defense Force Service Members disembark from an MV-22B Osprey with U.S. Marines while conducting Vertical Assault training during exercise Forest Light Western Army at Camp Takayubaru, Kumamoto, Japan, Jan. 28. - Japan Ground Self-Defense Force Service Members disembark from an MV-22B Osprey with U.S. Marines while conducting Vertical Assault training during exercise Forest Light Western Army at Camp Takayubaru, Kumamoto, Japan, Jan. 28.

A Marine with Charlie Company, Battalion Landing Team, 1st Battalion, 4th Marines, speaks into a handheld radio during a simulated helicopter raid as part of the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit’s MEU Exercise at Ie Shima Training Facility, Okinawa, Japan, Dec. 11, 2018. BLT 1/4 is the Ground Combat Element for the 31st MEU. MEUEX is the first in a series of pre-deployment training events that prepare the 31st MEU to deploy at a moment’s notice. The 31st MEU, the Marine Corps' only continuously forward-deployed MEU, provides a flexible force ready to perform a wide-range of military operations across the Indo-Pacific region. - A Marine with Charlie Company, Battalion Landing Team, 1st Battalion, 4th Marines, speaks into a handheld radio during a simulated helicopter raid as part of the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit’s MEU Exercise at Ie Shima Training Facility, Okinawa, Japan, Dec. 11, 2018. BLT 1/4 is the Ground Combat Element for the 31st MEU. MEUEX is the first in a series of pre-deployment training events that prepare the 31st MEU to deploy at a moment’s notice. The 31st MEU, the Marine Corps' only continuously forward-deployed MEU, provides a flexible force ready to perform a wide-range of military operations across the Indo-Pacific region.

MCTSSA conducts systems operability testing aboard USS Wasp - Marine Corps Tactical Systems Support Activity engineers and technical experts tested various command and control systems in the afloat environment aboard the amphibious assault ship USS Wasp (LHD 1) Jan. 11, while in port at Commander Fleet Activities Sasebo. (From left to right: Capt. Caleb Wu, MCTSSA naval systems integration officer; Patrick Truxillo, George Scott, Joe St. Onge, Carl Bell). (Photo courtesy of U.S. Marine Corps) (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Benjamin F. Davella III)

1st Lt. Laura Derouin, platoon commander, Landing Support Platoon, Combat Logistics Battalion 31, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, observes landing support specialists connect a load to a MV-22B Osprey tiltrotor aircraft from Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 262 (Reinforced), 31st MEU, as part of external lift operations training at Landing Zone Falcon, Okinawa, Japan, Dec. 8, 2016. The units conducted the training to complete qualifications for the 31st MEU's upcoming spring deployment. As the Marine Corps' only continuously forward-deployed unit, the 31st MEU air-ground-logistics team provides a flexible force, ready to perform a wide range of military operations, from limited combat to humanitarian assistance operations, throughout the Indo-Asia-Pacific region. - 1st Lt. Laura Derouin, platoon commander, Landing Support Platoon, Combat Logistics Battalion 31, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, observes landing support specialists connect a load to a MV-22B Osprey tiltrotor aircraft from Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 262 (Reinforced), 31st MEU, as part of external lift operations training at Landing Zone Falcon, Okinawa, Japan, Dec. 8, 2016. The units conducted the training to complete qualifications for the 31st MEU's upcoming spring deployment. As the Marine Corps' only continuously forward-deployed unit, the 31st MEU air-ground-logistics team provides a flexible force, ready to perform a wide range of military operations, from limited combat to humanitarian assistance operations, throughout the Indo-Asia-Pacific region.

Japan Ground Self Defense Force personnel carry supplies from a U.S. Marine Corps MV-22B Osprey tiltrotor aircraft from Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 265, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, in Hakusui Sports Park, Kyushu island, Japan, April 20, 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. - Japan Ground Self Defense Force personnel carry supplies from a U.S. Marine Corps MV-22B Osprey tiltrotor aircraft from Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 265, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, in Hakusui Sports Park, Kyushu island, Japan, April 20, 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.

Supplies await to be loaded onto an MV-22B Osprey belonging to Marine Medium Tiltroter Squadron 265 (Reinforced). 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit April 18, 2016 at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan. 31st MEU Marines are in Iwakuni to support the Government of Japan’s relief efforts in response to the earthquakes that struck the island of Kyushu earlier this week. The 31st MEU is the only continually forward-deployed MEU and remains the Marine Corps’ force-in-readiness in the Asia-Pacific region. - Supplies await to be loaded onto an MV-22B Osprey belonging to Marine Medium Tiltroter Squadron 265 (Reinforced). 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit April 18, 2016 at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan. 31st MEU Marines are in Iwakuni to support the Government of Japan’s relief efforts in response to the earthquakes that struck the island of Kyushu earlier this week. The 31st MEU is the only continually forward-deployed MEU and remains the Marine Corps’ force-in-readiness in the Asia-Pacific region.