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| 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit | |
|---|---|
 31st MEU Crisis Response Force Insignia | |
| Active | 1 March 1967 – May 1985 9 September 1992 – present |
| Allegiance |  United States |
| Branch |  United States Marine Corps |
| Type | Marine Air Ground Task Force |
| Role | Forward-deployed expeditionary Crisis Response ForceMarine Air-Ground Task Force Crisis Response Force |
| Size | Around 2,200 Marines and Sailors |
| Part of | III Marine Expeditionary Force |
| Garrison/HQ | Camp Hansen, MCB Camp Butler |
| Nickname(s) | SAVAGE |
| Motto(s) | Ready, Partnered, Lethal |
| Anniversaries | Activated 1 March 1967 |
| Engagements | Vietnam War Operation Union Operation Eagle Pull Operation Frequent Wind Multinational Force in Lebanon Operation Southern Watch Operation Desert Fox Operation Iraqi Freedom Operation Phantom Fury Operation Caring Response Operation Tomodachi |
| Website | https://www.31stmeu.marines.mil/ |
| Commanders | |
| Current commander | Colonel Chris P. Niedziocha |
The 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (31st MEU) is one of seven Marine Expeditionary Units in existence in the United States Marine Corps. The Marine Expeditionary Unit is a Marine Air Ground Task Force with a strength of about 2,200 Marines and sailors. The 31st MEU consists of a company-sized command element, a battalion landing team (BLT), (an infantry battalion reinforced with artillery, amphibious vehicles and other attachments), a medium tiltrotor squadron (reinforced), (which includes detachments of short take-off, vertical landing airplanes and heavy, light, and attack helicopters), and a combat logistics battalion. The 31st MEU is based at Camp Hansen, Marine Corps Base Camp Smedley D. Butler, Okinawa, Japan. The 31st MEU is the only permanently forward-deployed MEU, and provides a flexible and lethal force ready to perform a wide range of military, humanitarian, and diplomatic operations as the premier crisis response force in the Indo-Pacific region.
The 31st MEU is the only MEU that retained a battalion landing team small boat capability to conduct raids.[1][2]
- ^ Mirsch, CAPT Andrew (June 2018). "Man the Boats". US Naval Institute. Retrieved 6 November 2023.
- ^ United States Marine Corps (29 October 2015). "Policy for Marine Expeditionary Units (MEU)" (PDF). Marine Corps Order 3120.13. Department of Navy. p. 9. Retrieved 6 November 2023.