AT SEA -- Marines and Sailors of the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) embarked aboard the ships of the Bonhomme Richard Expeditionary Strike Group at Naval Facility White Beach, Okinawa, Japan, June 7, 2017. The regularly-scheduled deployment is designed to increase regional security, maintain unit readiness, and support U.S. allies and interests.

“We are excited to join our Navy partners on the 17.2 patrol. As the only continuously forward-deployed ARG/MEU team, we are the crisis response force of choice and are at our best when we are embarked with our Navy teammates in Amphibious Squadron 11 and Expeditionary Strike Group 7,” said the 31st MEU’s commander, Col. Tye R. Wallace.

Amphibious Squadron 11 (PHIBRON 11) and the 31st MEU partner on a routine and frequent basis, embarking aboard amphibious ships of the BHR ESG to support a number of Marine Corps amphibious operations, including aviation lift, ship to shore troop movement, and humanitarian assistance/disaster relief (HADR).

For this deployment, the Bonhomme Richard ESG is comprised of USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD 6), USS Green Bay (LPD 20), and USS Ashland (LSD 48).

The deployment is a chance to exercise the capabilities the Navy-Marine Corps team brings to the table in the Indo-Asia-Pacific region.

"We are glad to be back working together with the 31st MEU," said Capt. George Doyon, commander, PHIBRON 11. "We have the best Blue-Green integrated Navy and Marine Corps team in the world. We look forward to working side-by-side on this deployment, exercising a wide range of capabilities with our partners and allies."

The 31st MEU partners with PHIBRON 11 to form the amphibious component of the multi-mission BHR ESG. The 31st MEU and PHIBRON 11 combine to provide a cohesive blue-green team capable of accomplishing a variety of missions across the Indo-Asia-Pacific.