US Marines and Navy Join Forces at Sea to Perfect Rapid Response and Amphibious Assault Operations.

The United States Navy and Marine Corps have launched Amphibious Squadron Marine Expeditionary Unit Integration Training (PMINT) with the Iwo Jima Amphibious Ready Group (IWO ARG) and the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU), as announced by the U.S. Department of Defense on April 2, 2025. The IWO ARG consists of amphibious warships, including the Wasp-class assault ship USS Iwo Jima, while the 22nd MEU is a rapid-response Marine Air-Ground Task Force composed of ground, aviation, and logistics elements. Conducting PMINT marks a critical phase in preparing the integrated force for upcoming global deployments and enhances their ability to operate as a fully unified expeditionary combat team.

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A U.S. Landing Craft Air Cushion (LCAC) from Assault Craft Unit 4 approaches the well deck of the Wasp-class amphibious assault ship USS Iwo Jima (LHD 7) during integrated training operations at sea with the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit. (Picture source: U.S. DoD)

The PMINT (Amphibious Squadron Marine Expeditionary Unit Integration Training) exercise serves as a cornerstone in the Navy-Marine Corps’ pre-deployment training cycle, designed to evaluate and enhance the interoperability and combined operational capabilities of the IWO ARG and the 22nd MEU. The goal is to forge a cohesive, expeditionary combat force capable of projecting American military power and executing a wide range of missions in support of U.S. strategic interests around the world.

The IWO ARG comprises three key U.S. Navy vessels: the USS Iwo Jima (LHD 7), a Wasp-class amphibious assault ship serving as the flagship; and two San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock ships, USS San Antonio (LPD 17) and USS Fort Lauderdale (LPD 28). These platforms are purpose-built for expeditionary warfare, offering robust capabilities for amphibious assaults, humanitarian assistance, and crisis response. The Wasp-class USS Iwo Jima serves as a mobile sea base, equipped with a full-length flight deck capable of supporting helicopters and STOVL (Short Take-Off Vertical Landing) aircraft such as the AV-8B Harrier II and the F-35B Lightning II.

The ship also features a well deck that accommodates landing craft and amphibious vehicles, allowing for rapid deployment of forces ashore. The San Antonio-class LPDs, USS San Antonio and USS Fort Lauderdale, transport and land Marines along with their equipment and vehicles using a combination of air cushion landing craft (LCAC), conventional landing craft, and rotary-wing aircraft. These ships also feature advanced command and control systems, making them vital for coordinating large-scale amphibious operations.

The 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit is one of the Marine Corps’ elite forward-deployed crisis response forces, consisting of approximately 2,200 Marines and Sailors. It is a Marine Air-Ground Task Force (MAGTF), integrating command, ground, aviation, and logistics components into a single cohesive force. The command element provides operational leadership and coordination for the MEU. The ground combat element is typically an infantry battalion reinforced with artillery, light armored vehicles, and tanks, capable of conducting sustained combat operations. The aviation combat element includes a reinforced helicopter squadron equipped with MV-22 Ospreys, CH-53E Super Stallions, AH-1Z Vipers, and potentially F-35Bs when deployed from LHD-class ships. The logistics combat element ensures the sustainment of the unit through supply, transportation, maintenance, and medical services.

PMINT highlights the critical interoperability between the U.S. Marine Corps and the Navy’s amphibious platforms. The 22nd MEU operates seamlessly from the Wasp-class and San Antonio-class ships, conducting ship-to-shore movements, aerial operations, and amphibious landings. Together, the IWO ARG and 22nd MEU form a flexible, scalable combat team capable of executing missions ranging from full-scale amphibious assaults and special operations to non-combatant evacuation and humanitarian disaster relief. The integration of advanced C4ISR (Command, Control, Communications, Computers, Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance) systems enhances coordination and precision during complex joint operations.

This Navy-Marine Corps synergy is a vital component of the United States’ ability to rapidly respond to emerging threats in contested maritime domains. Their joint training under PMINT ensures both services are ready to face modern security challenges and carry out missions across the full spectrum of military operations. These integrated forces project power and reinforce U.S. commitment to its allies and partners worldwide.

The successful completion of PMINT will pave the way for the next training phase, the Composite Training Unit Exercise (COMPTUEX), before the IWO ARG and 22nd MEU embark on a scheduled overseas deployment later this year. As part of the U.S. global force posture, the IWO ARG and 22nd MEU remain essential components of maritime security and crisis response.