Corporal Matthew G. Whitesell, an information operations non-commissioned officer, command element, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, and a native of Hurscher, Ill., colors a picture with a child of from the Wat Ta Kraw Elementary School during a community relations project in here, Feb. 14. Although a small gesture, Whitesell and the other Marines of the Expeditionary Military Information Support Operations Team 31 engage in such projects to help spread the MEU commander’s intent to the local population. Exercises such as Cobra Gold allow the 31st MEU to collaborate with partner countries in achieving mutual security goals, addressing shared concerns, and continuing to develop and enhance relationships. The 31st MEU is the only continuously forward-deployed MEU and is the Marine Corps’ force in readiness in the Asia-Pacific region.