A Marine with Battalion Landing Team 1st Battalion, 4th Marines, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit stands guard over Japanese civilians and international media as they come off helicopters with Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 265, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit. The role playing civilians were returning from a non-combatant evacuation operation exercise conducted by Marines and sailors from Combat Logistics Battalion-31 and BLT 1/4, 31st MEU, as well as five other participating nations, during Exercise Cobra Gold 2012. Cobra Gold 2012 demonstrates the resolve of the U.S. and participating nations to increase interoperability and promote security and peace throughout the Asia-Pacific region. The 31st MEU is the only continuously forward-deployed MEU and remains the nation's force in readiness in the Asia-Pacific region.