 Marines and sailors of the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit board ships from Amphibious Squadron 11 to deploy in support of Exercise Cobra Gold 2012. The unit spent months reinforcing their skills in amphibious operations, humanitarian aid, and disaster relief in preparation for the deployment. During the exercise we'll be conducting our normal new missions, amphibious raids, as well as amphibious assaults, hella-borne assaults, as well as our humanitarian disaster relief mission. The Marines are chomping at the bit to go and they are ready to leave Okinawa and start touring the Pacific and executing our mission and why we're over here. The unit will take part in multilateral training with Thai and South Korean forces to support regional security and the readiness of all nations involved. Marine Sergeant Paul Robbins Jr. Okinawa, Japan.