U.S. Navy Bonhomme Richard strike group starts Asia patrol

U.S. Navy’s Bonhomme Richard Expeditionary Strike Group departed White Beach, Okinawa, Japan, to begin a routine regional patrol on March 8, 2017.

USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD 6), the USS Green Bay (LPD 20), and the USS Ashland (LSD 48), together with embarked marines and sailors of the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit will support U.S. Pacific Command theater security cooperation initiatives during the patrol.

“This patrol is an excellent opportunity to refine our crises response capabilities and further our partnership with Amphibious Squadron 11,” said Colonel Tye Wallace, commanding officer, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit. “We are looking forward to the patrol and I know we will return as a stronger Navy-Marine Corps team.”

The patrol is the culmination of a multi-month unit-level phased training and readiness cycle conducted by both the 31st MEU and ships of the BHR ESG.

More than 2,300 marines and sailors from the 31st MEU are embarking the ships of the BHR ESG, for a total composite of nearly 4,400 service members across the force.