31st MEU aviators soar in Philippines
Much is being written about maritime tensions in the South China Sea, but for pilots of the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) of the USMC it is very much business as usual.
Shephard visited the landing helicopter dock (LHD) USS Bonhomme Richard shortly after it traversed the South China Sea from Hong Kong to participate in the annual PHIBLEX exercise with the Philippines.
Lt Col Matthew Baldwin, commander of the 31st MEU’s Aviation Combat Element (ACE), spoke to Shephard aboard the LHD. He has 23 rotorcraft/tiltrotors and 400 marines under his command for the duration of the exercise, which constitutes
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