Photo By Sgt. Angel Diaz Montes De Oca | U.S. Marines with Battalion Landing Team 1st Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, 31st...... read more read more
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U.S. Marines with Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron (VMM) 265 (Rein.) and Battalion Landing Team1st Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, executed a long-range helicopter insert exercise to Combined Arms Training Center Camp Fuji, Japan, Sep. 23, 2025, where they conducted combined arms live-fire training to maintain operational readiness, tactical proficiency, and enhance lethality while operating within the Indo-Pacific.
In less than 36-hours, two waves encompassing nearly 400 Marines assigned to BLT 1/7, were transported non-stop over 1,000 miles with eight MV-22Bs and four CH-53Es to CATC Camp Fuji, Japan from Marine Corps Air Station Futenma, Okinawa, Japan. The movement demonstrated the MEU’s ability to rapidly deploy a BLT from Okinawa to a forward deployed location utilizing only military aircraft, according to Maj. James Hurton, the operations officer for BLT 1/7. “This movement allowed the BLT to mass credible combat power at a location of our choosing along a very short timeline,” said Hurton. “This capability can be used to preposition forces within the Indo-Pacific Command area of responsibility should the need arise.” Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron (VMM) 265 (Rein.), the Marine Air Element attached to the 31stMEU, supported the movement by providing long-range logistical capabilities via MV-22B Ospreys and CH-53E Super Stallions.
This demonstration of multi-domain transport capabilities in support of combined-joint all domain operations allowed the Marines to depart and arrive at their location in a quick and organized manner. “This was a planning effort across all warfighting functions of the MEU, with the BLT and VMM working hand-in-hand throughout the planning and execution of the exercise.” said Hurton.
Training in the 7th fleet area of operations allows Marines to operate in a multitude of harsh geographical environments. CATC Camp Fuji, an integral part of the Unit Deployment Program, provides Marines the ability to experience an immersive environment where they can implement live-fire and high explosive training in a region defined by its unique environmental factors. The 31st MEU, the Marine Corps’ only continuously forward-deployed MEU, permanently positioned to provide a flexible and lethal force, ready to operate with our allies and partners, to contribute to deterrence, security, crisis response, and combat operations in the Indo-Pacific region.
| Date Taken: | 09.23.2025 |
| Date Posted: | 11.16.2025 18:44 |
| Story ID: | 550269 |
| Location: | GOTENBA, SHIZUOKA, JP |
| Web Views: | 20 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, 31st MEU | Demonstrating Force Projection and Combat Readiness, by LCpl Raul Sotovilla, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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