Photo Essay - BLT 1/5 settles in to new Okinawan home

Photo By Cpl. Codey Underwood | Lance Cpl. Nathan A. Sloniker, a rifleman with Battalion Landing Team 1st Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, and a native of Kansas City, Kan., packs his newly issued tactical gear here, Dec. 12. The Marines and Sailors from the BLT are currently transitioning to life and operations on Okinawa, and with the 31st MEU, by preparing themselves and all their equipment for pre-deployment training. The 31st MEU is the only continuously forward-deployed MEU and is the Marine Corps' force in readiness in the Asia-Pacific region.  

CAMP HANSEN, OKINAWA, JAPAN

12.12.2012

Story by Lance Cpl. Codey Underwood 

31st Marine Expeditionary Unit       

CAMP HANSEN, Japan - After arriving to become the Battalion Landing Team of the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, the Marines and Sailors of 1st Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, settle in to their Okinawan home to begin training for future deployments within the Asian-Pacific region.

The unit has a number of tasks to complete, including: drafting a pre-deployment training schedule, inspecting their administrative equipment, receiving a full issue of tactical gear from the Consolidated Issue Facility, settling into their new barracks and preparing their MEU specific equipment like the Combat Rubber Raiding Craft.

Once completed, the Marines and Sailors can jump right into pre-deployment training ranging from boat raids, mechanized raids and helicopter raids to non-combatant evacuations. The training ensures the BLT is fully capable of conducting a wide range of operations for the 31st MEU’s spring deployment.

• Date Taken: 12.12.2012
• Date Posted: 12.17.2012 21:31
• Story ID: 99453
• Location: CAMP HANSEN, OKINAWA, JP