Marines and Sailors with the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, play with students while visiting an elementary school in the Philippines, Oct. 11, 2012.

The visits were part of a bilateral effort by US and Philippine armed forces to give back to the communities that help host Amphibious Landing Exercise 2013.

The 31st MEU is the only continuously forward-deployed MEU and is the Marine Corps' force in readiness in the Asia-Pacific region.

Photo by USMC Lance Cpl. Codey Underwood