NORFOLK, Va. – More than 4,000 U.S. Navy Sailors and Marines in the USS Wasp Amphibious Ready Group are scheduled to depart from Norfolk on June 25.
The USS Wasp ARG is commanded by Capt. Byron Ogden, commander, Amphibious Squadron (PHIBRON) 6, and includes the multipurpose amphibious assault ship USS Wasp (LHD 1), and the amphibious transport dock USS San Antonio (LPD 17), both homeported at Naval Station Norfolk; and the amphibious dock landing ship USS Whidbey Island (LSD 41), homeported at Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek-Fort Story.
The 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU), stationed at Camp Lejeune, N.C., is commanded by Col. Todd P. Simmons and the Marine Air Ground Task force (MAGTF) is comprised of a Battalion Landing Team, Aviation Combat Element (reinforced), Combat Logistics Battalion, and the MEU Headquarters Command Element.
Additional embarked units are: Navy Beach Group (NBG) 2 with detachments from Assault Craft Unit (ACU) 2, ACU 4, Beachmaster Unit (BMU) 2, Tactical Air Control Squadron (TACRON) 22, Fleet Surgical Team (FST) 2, and Helicopter Sea Combat (HSC) Squadron 22.
The group is embarking on a six-month deployment in support of maritime security operations, crisis response, theater security cooperation and to provide a forward naval presence in the U.S. Navy’s 5th and 6th Fleet areas of operation.
RELATED:
Marines, sailors complete F-35B night operation testing aboard the USS Wasp
