Marines of the Amphibious Reconnaissance Platoon of

Marines of the Amphibious Reconnaissance Platoon of the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit push a combat rubber raiding craft into the ocean from the well deck ramp here, July 17. The platoon used the CRRC boats to insert multiple reconnaissance teams in support of an upcoming amphibious raid as part of exercise Talisman Saber 2013. The Marines and Sailors of the 31st MEU, Amphibious Squadron 11, and Expeditionary Strike Group 7 are training alongside a joint U.S. force that totals approximately 18,000 personnel, as well as approximately 9,000 Australian service members in the fifth iteration of Talisman Saber, a month-long biennial exercise designed to enhance multilateral collaboration in support of future combined operations, natural disaster, humanitarian and emergency response. The 31st MEU is the Marine Corps' force in readiness for the Asia Pacific region and the only continuously forward-deployed MEU. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by LCpl Tyler Dietrich)