AUGUST 18, 2025 – Sailors and Marines assigned to the Iwo Jima Amphibious Ready Group – 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable) departed for a regularly scheduled deployment, Aug. 14, 2025.
The Amphibious Ready Group’s primary mission is to conduct presence operations and safely embark Marines ashore to conduct a wide variety of contingency missions worldwide.
The Iwo Jima Amphibious Ready Group – 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable) also provides a flexible, forward naval presence by operating close to shore, allowing this specialized Navy-Marine Corps team to conduct missions, unique to the amphibious Navy, at a moment’s notice.
“The Iwo Jima Amphibious Ready Group – 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable) is an integral part of advancing our nation’s interests abroad and is a dynamic representation of our Navy’s 250 years of lethality and warfighting excellence,” said Navy Capt. Chris Farricker, commodore of Amphibious Squadron 8. “Our integrated Navy-Marine Corps warfighters are ready to execute the nation’s business and deliver quick and decisive combat power, no matter where we are tasked in today’s complex global environment.”
This deployment follows the Amphibious Ready Group – Marine Expeditionary Unit’s final certification event, the Composite Training Unit Exercise, the Navy’s most demanding predeployment assessment that concluded July 11, 2025.
More than 4,500 sailors and Marines assigned to the 22nd MEU comprise the force aboard the Amphibious Ready Group’s three amphibious ships: flagship USS Iwo Jima, and the San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock ships USS San Antonio and USS Fort Lauderdale.
“The Iwo Jima Amphibious Ready Group – 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable) is ready to serve as the nation’s force of choice, prepared to decisively respond to any crisis in support of our national interests,” said Marine Col. Tom Trimble, commanding officer of 22nd MEU (Special Operations Capable). “We are warfighters, manned, trained and equipped to win — anywhere, anytime.”
By Navy Chief Petty Officer Matthew Jackson
Commander, U.S. 2nd Fleet