US, Philippine Marines storm beach

TAGLAWAYAN BEACH, PALAWAN, Republic of the Philippines -A U.S. Marine from Fox Company, Battalion Landing Team 2nd Battalion, 7th Marines, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, and a Filipino Marine, secure the beach during a boat raid here Oct. 27. The raid was conducted as a part of Amphibious Landing Exercise 2012. The bilateral training is designed to build interoperability between the U.S. Marine Corps and Philippine Marines. (U.S. Marine Corps Photo by Lance Cpl. Brianna Turner/Released), Lance Cpl. Brianna Turner, 10/27/2011 7:13 AM

TAGLAWAYAN BEACH, PALAWAN, Republic of the Philippines-Philippine Marines and U.S. Marines from Fox Company, Battalion Landing Team 2nd Battalion 7th Marines, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, currently in support of 3rd Marine Expeditionary Brigade, carry a Combat Rubber Reconnaissance Craft during a boat raid here Oct. 27. The boat raid was conducted as part of Amphibious Landing Exercise 2012, a bilateral training exercise between the U.S. Marine Corps and Philippine Marines. The bilateral training is designed to build interoperability between the U.S. Marine Corps and Philippine Marines. (U.S. Marine Corps Photo by Lance Cpl. Brianna Turner/Released), Lance Cpl. Brianna Turner, 10/27/2011 7:14 AM

TAGLAWAYAN BEACH, PALAWAN, Republic of the Philippines-Philippine Marines and U.S. Marines from Fox Company, Battalion Landing Team 2nd Battalion 7th Marines, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, currently in support of 3rd Marine Expeditionary Brigade, carry a Combat Rubber Reconnaissance Craft during a boat raid here Oct. 27. The boat raid was conducted as part of Amphibious Landing Exercise 2012. The bilateral training is designed to build interoperability between the U.S. Marine Corps and Philippine Marines. (U.S. Marine Corps Photo by Lance Cpl. Brianna Turner/Released), Lance Cpl. Brianna Turner, 10/27/2011 7:14 AM

SIDENOTE:

I'VE ALWAYS THOUGHT OF BOAT COMPANIES AS BEING TRAINING GROUNDS FOR THE RECON INDOC...LOTS OF TIME IN THE WATER, AND LOTS OF PT.  BUT I DIGRESS.  CAN SOMEONE NAME A TIME WHEN AN MEU'S BLT ACTUALLY DEPLOYED ONE OF THESE ELEMENTS IN A COMBAT/NEAR COMBAT SITUATION?  I CAN'T RECALL OF EVEN ONE MISSION.  WITH THAT IN MIND WHY DO WE STILL HAVE THEM?