ATLANTIC OCEAN – In a strategic effort to inform future defense policy and resource allocation, a delegation from the Office of the Secretary of Defense, Cost Assessment & Program Evaluation (OSD CAPE) and the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense, Policy (OUSD(P)) recently embarked with the Iwo Jima Amphibious Ready Group and the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable) during their Composite Training Unit Exercise (COMPTUEX). Conducted aboard the USS Iwo Jima (LHD 7) off the east coast of the United States from July 8-9, this visit provided a firsthand look at the ARG/MEU's critical role in national defense.

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ATLANTIC OCEAN – A bipartisan Senate Staff Delegation witnessed the critical importance of amphibious readiness and naval integration firsthand during the Amphibious Squadron 8 (PHIBRON 8) and 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit's (MEU) Integration (PMINT) exercise, held off the coast of Virginia and North Carolina from April 4-5, 2025. The delegation, comprised of Senate Military Legislative Assistants, Military, Defense and National Security Advisors, observed the complex coordination required to unite the air, ground and logistics elements of the 22nd MEU with the Iwo Jima Amphibious Ready Group (IWO ARG). The IWO ARG consists of its flagship, the Wasp-class amphibious assault ship USS Iwo Jima (LHD 7) and the two San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock ships USS San Antonio (LPD 17) and USS Fort Lauderdale (LPD 28).

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MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. – The 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) recently completed the Marine Air-Ground Task Force (MAGTF) Interoperability exercise, an event designed to assess the MEU’s warfighting capabilities in a simulated peer-threat environment. Conducted from Jan. 28 to Feb. 11, 2025, the exercise included a range of full-mission profiles to validate integration across various combat and support functions.

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The 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) is enhancing its intelligence capabilities, demonstrating greater lethality through integration of the Identity and Attribution Activities (IA2) cell. This unique capability, composed of U.S. Marine Corps criminal investigators and explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) technicians, leverages the Marine Corps' exclusive combination of forensic exploitation and technical EOD expertise. This specialized cell is manned, trained and equipped to support tactical intelligence operations within the MEU and across various U.S. government agencies.

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TALLINN, Estonia — The Wasp-class amphibious assault ship USS Kearsarge (LHD 3), flagship of the Kearsarge Amphibious Ready Group (ARG) and 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU), arrived in Tallinn, Estonia for a scheduled port visit, May 27, 2022.

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The San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock ship USS Arlington (LPD 24), attached to the Kearsarge Amphibious Ready Group (ARG), arrived in Alexandroupoli, Greece for a scheduled port visit, May 21, 2022.

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