CAMP HANSEN, Okinawa, Japan -- The Marines and Sailors of 2nd Battalion, 5th Marines, joined the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) in Okinawa, Japan, May 21, 2018. This is the second time that the battalion has been the Ground Combat Element (GCE) of the 31st MEU within the last two years.

Battalion Landing Team (BLT) 2/5 replaced 1st Battalion, 1st Marines, as the GCE of the 31st MEU. BLT 1/1 started their first rotation with the 31st MEU in November of 2017. These six month rotations give each BLT a chance to gain experience while also ensuring that the 31st MEU stays forward, flexible and ready.

"We are glad to welcome BLT 2/5 back to Okinawa and the 31st MEU,” said Col. Tye R. Wallace, commanding officer of the 31st MEU. “They did a great job last time they were here and I look forward to integrating them back in to the MEU team for the Fall Patrol 2018."

BLT 2/5 is well known not only for being the most decorated battalion, but also for their motto: “Retreat, Hell!” Around 1,200 Marines from BLT 2/5 joined the 31st MEU. During their rotation, they will participate in combined arms exercises, mechanized and amphibious raids and Fall Patrol 2018.

“We were a part of the 31st MEU in the spring of 2017 and we’re excited to be back in Okinawa for another rotation,” said Lt. Col. Jay A. Lappe, commanding officer of BLT 2/5. “It’s always good to test the knowledge and skills that we’ve been building on to see how much we’ve grown.”

The 31st MEU is the only continuously forward-deployed MEU and is capable of accomplishing a wide variety of military operations including humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, regional security and non-combatant evacuation.