Overview

• The Iwo Jima Amphibious Ready Group, including USS Iwo Jima, USS San Antonio and USS Fort Lauderdale, returned to Naval Station Norfolk to avoid Hurricane Erin after departing Aug. 14.
• More than 4,500 sailors and Marines with the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit are embarked for a mission the Navy calls a regularly scheduled deployment.
• Defense officials have told multiple outlets the force is bound for the southern Caribbean to support counter‑drug efforts, with operations tied to U.S. Southern Command.
• Additional U.S. assets reported for the regional posture include P‑8 Poseidon aircraft, at least one submarine and other warships, alongside the ARG’s F‑35B and rotary aviation.
• The deployment comes as amphibious readiness has been reported at about 41% and GAO found years of lost training time, with officials also warning Marines lack drug‑interdiction training and Mexico rejecting any U.S. troop presence on its soil.