Col. Andrew R. MacMannis, commanding officer, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (seated, second from right), sits with other Marine Corps senior leaders as a child of the Oshima Island community speaks about his experiences Jan. 12. The children expressed their gratefulness for the disaster relief efforts of the 31st MEU. The official visit to Oshima Island and Kesennuma City, Miyagi Prefecture was to review community recovery progress since Operation Tomodachi and to discuss potential humanitarian assistance and disaster relief capabilities to better prepare for future support requirements. During the visit, members of the 31st MEU were able to revisit areas where they provided disaster relief assistance during recovery efforts ten months earlier. Senior leaders with the group include Lt. Gen. Kenneth J. Glueck, commanding general, III Marine Expeditionary Force and Maj. Gen. Peter J. Talleri, commanding general, Marine Corps Installations Pacific. The 31st MEU is the only continually forward deployed MEU, and remains America's force in readiness in the Asia-Pacific region.