MANILA, Philppines -- USS Germantown (LSD 42) with embarked Marines of the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit will visit Manila, Philippines, to provide the crew and Marines an opportunity to experience the rich culture of the Philippines. The Germantown and embarked 31st MEU, part of the Bonhomme Richard Expeditionary Strike Group, have been conducting training together for nearly a month and half at sea.

Germantown and other ships of the Bonhomme Richard Expeditionary Strike Group are currently on a routine patrol in U.S. 7th Fleet area of operations in support of security and stability in the region. Germantown is forward-deployed to Sasebo, Japan. The 31st MEU is based out of Okinawa with units rotating every six months from the United States.