1/28/2011
31st MEU Capt. Caleb Eames
United States Marine Corps
Public Affairs Office, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Release number: 01-11
Date: January 28, 2011
Japan Cell: 090-2768-2681
caleb.eames@essex.usmc.mil
WHITE BEACH, OKINAWA, Japan —
Marines and Sailors with the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit have boarded Navy ships of Amphibious Squadron 11 and are scheduled to depart Jan. 29, to begin a regular patrol of the Asia-Pacific region.
While on patrol, the 31st MEU is scheduled to participate in annual Theater Security Cooperation exercises in the region, beginning with the bilateral exercise Cobra Gold 2011 with partner nation military forces in the Kingdom of Thailand.
The 31st MEU provides a forward-deployed, flexible sea-based force capable of conducting amphibious operations, crisis response and limited contingency operations in the Asia-Pacific area.
Embarked aboard the ships, the 31st MEU constantly hones skills necessary to conduct essential amphibious and aviation ship-to-shore operations wherever called upon.
The 31st MEU has responded to many contingencies throughout past years, including providing humanitarian assistance and disaster relief when directed. The MEU conducted four HADR operations in the last two years, including providing assistance after Super Typhoon Megi struck the Philippines last year.
The 31st MEU includes more than 2,200 Marines and Sailors, and is comprised of the following major parts. The Command Element is based in Okinawa, Japan; the Ground Combat Element, Battalion Landing Team 2nd Battalion, 5th Marines is based out of Camp Pendleton, Calif.; the Air Combat Element, comprised of Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 262 (Reinforced), based in Okinawa and Marine Attack Squadron 211 from Yuma, Az.; and the Combat Logistics Element, Combat Logistics Battalion 31, also of Okinawa.
The 31st MEU is the only continually forward-deployed MEU, and remains the nation’s force-in-readiness in the Asia-Pacific region.
US Marines
