31st MEU Update - Marine Assistance in Japan

31ST MEU CONTINUES RELIEF EFFORTS

USS ESSEX, Off the coast of Japan - The 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit continues relief efforts off the northeast coast of Honshu in support of Operation Tomodachi.

The MEU arrived off the coast March 19, after the 9.0-magnitude earthquake and subsequent tsunami devastated the region on March 11. As of March 25, the unit has delivered more than 50,000 pounds of supplies via helicopter to affected areas including; Myako, Hamanaki, Yamada and Oshima Island.

"The Marines and Sailors that are part of the 31st MEU are motivated and dedicated to helping the Japanese. We have spent quite a bit of time training for humanitarian aid situations, and we even practiced that type of mission during our last few exercises," said Col. Andrew MacMannis, 31st MEU commanding officer. "Now the time has come to do this in a real world scenario, and the Marines and sailors will exercise the skills they learned to bring help to those in need."

CH-53E Super Stallion and CH-46E Sea Knight helicopters, with Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 262 (Reinforced), 31st MEU, have delivered tons of supplies, including more than 1,500 pounds of blankets, 23,000 pounds of potable water and approximately 15,000 pounds of health and comfort packages.

Heavy and medium lift helicopters of the 31st MEU, operating from the Essex, are transferring badly-needed materials from primary distribution points at undamaged facilities to secondary, smaller hubs in the disaster area in order to get relief aid closer to those in need.

Once the supplies are delivered by Marine helicopters, Japanese Self-Defense Force members and local citizens join the Marines and sailors to help unload and then distribute the relief supplies to locals in need.

"The 31st MEU brings a tremendous amount of capabilities to this situation. Our MEU is configured ideally to support humanitarian aid and disaster relief operations. Transportation is one of the biggest capabilities we have," said MacMannis.

A medical team from USS Essex flew to the JS Hyuga March 25 to meet up with Japanese medical personnel, and then moved ashore to determine potential medical needs and areas where the 31st MEU medical staff could provide assistance.

The MEU also has a Forward Command Element in Sendai, Japan, responsible for coordinating potential relief efforts with the Japanese government.

The 31st MEU continues to work closely with the JSDF to accomplish the mission at the request of the Japanese government. Because of the longstanding and close working relationship between the two nations, the 31st MEU is able to coordinate with the JSDF to rapidly respond with critically needed capabilities and supplies in support of the ongoing relief mission. They prepared to deliver robust air, ground, and maritime security, medical and and dental health services; plus engineering assets as directed.

The 31st MEU is the only continually forward-deployed MEU, and remains the nation's force-in-readiness in the Asia-Pacific region.

The 31st MEU includes more than 2,200 Marines and Sailors and is comprised of four elements: the Command Element; Battalion Landing Team 2nd Battalion, 5th Marines; Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 262 (Reinforced) and CLB-31.

The 31st MEU provides a forward-deployed, flexible, sea-based force capable of supporting the ongoing Japanese humanitarian assistance and disaster relief operations as directed.