Major Gen. Christopher S. Owens (right), the commanding general of 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, stands next to flag officers from Japan (middle) and Thailand (left) outside the entrance of an evacuation control center during a multilateral non-combatant evacuation operation as a part of Cobra Gold 2013 here, Feb. 17. The training exercise involved Marines and Sailors of the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit alongside Royal Thai Marines, and troops from Japan, Indonesia, and Malaysia. Cobra Gold is the largest multinational exercise in the Asia-Pacific and helps develop the ability of all participants to effectively conduct humanitarian assistance and disaster relief operations. The 31st MEU is the only continuously forward-deployed MEU and is the Marine Corps’ force in readiness in the Asia-Pacific region.