US Navy ships from the Iwo Jima amphibious ready group (ARG) entered the US 6th Fleet area of operations together with embarked 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) on February 21.
While in theater, the blue-green team’s 4,500 sailors and marines will train with international militaries
“Being in the U.S. 6th Fleet allows the Iwo Jima Amphibious Ready Group to operate closely with our allies and bring us closer to achieving our common goal of maintaining a secure maritime environment,” Capt. Jack Killman, commodore, Amphibious Squadron 4 said. “We look forward to strengthening longstanding relationships with our friends through the exchange of ideas and best practices.”
The Iwo Jima ARG embarks the 26th MEU and includes the Wasp-class amphibious assault ship USS Iwo Jima (LHD 7), the San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock ship USS New York (LPD 21) and the Harpers Ferry-class dock landing ship USS Oak Hill (LSD 51).