• Military Menu                       

• Introduction
• Systems
• Facilities
• Agencies
• Industry
• Operations
• Countries
• Hot Documents
• News
• Reports
• Policy
• Budget
• Congress
• Links

• WMD
• Intelligence
• Homeland Security
• Space

Iwo Jima Expeditionary Strike Group MED 12 Deployment
LHD-7 Iwo Jima
"Uncommon Valor"

The Iwo Jima Amphibious Ready Group (ARG) marked a major milestone in their eight month deployment when surpassing their halfway point, July 27. The IWO ARG consists of amphibious dock landing ship USS Gunston Hall (LSD 44), multipurpose amphibious assault ship USS Iwo Jima (LHD 7), amphibious transport dock ship USS New York (LPD 21) and the embarked 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU). "The major highlight I've seen is the entire ARG/MEU team coming together to complete complex amphibious operations," said Capt. Arturo Garcia, commodore of Amphibious Squadron Eight. "We had to integrate three ships and their crews, a number of detachments, extra personnel to augment the staffs, and the elements of the MEU into a single team that has been able to successfully conduct numerous operations safely and efficiently." Since the start of deployment and immediately upon entering the U.S. 6th Fleet area of responsibility, the ARG/MEU team participated in bilateral training exercise African Lion 2012, off the coast of Morocco. Then the ARG/MEU team moved into the Red Sea to support exercise Eager Lion 2012, which included 19 countries from five different continents and more than 12,000 participants. The ARG/MEU team continued to provide support for maritime security operations in the U.S. 5th Fleet area of responsibility. Additionally, the MEU team capitalized on various sustainment training evolutions in an effort to maintain a keen fighting edge when faced with real-world contingency operations. Nearly 2,000 Sailors aboard the ships of the Iwo Jima Amphibious Ready Group (IWO ARG) are scheduled to return to their homeports Dec. 18th and 20th following a regularly scheduled deployment to the U.S. 5th and 6th Fleets areas of responsibility. The dock landing ship USS Gunston Hall (LSD 44) returned to Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek-Fort Story Dec. 18. USS Iwo Jima (LHD 7), the IWO ARG flagship, commanded by Capt. Grady Banister, and USS New York (LPD 21) will return to Naval Station Norfolk Dec. 20. This marked the completion of the first deployment for USS New York. Sailors and Marines assigned to the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit, commanded by Col. Frank Donovan, will offload in Morehead City, N.C., prior to the ships arriving in Norfolk. "The hard work and dedication demonstrated by the IWO ARG's Sailors and Marines exceeded expectations," said Capt. Arturo Garcia, IWO ARG commander. "The flexibility of the crews' response to national tasking in the U.S. 5th and 6th Fleet areas of responsibility in support of maritime security operations and theater security cooperation efforts is a testament to the capability and flexibility of amphibious forces. I also want to recognize and thank our families for their dedication and sacrifice on the homefront. It is their support that sustains us during deployments and allows us to respond to our nation's tasking."