Overview

• USS Iwo Jima, USS San Antonio and USS Fort Lauderdale sailed from Naval Station Norfolk on August 14 with more than 4,500 sailors and Marines of the 22nd MEU, marking the first U.S.-based ARG/MEU mission since December.
• The departure ends an eight-month gap in homeport amphibious presence after maintenance failures disrupted the 2024 Boxer ARG cycle and contributed to a 46 percent readiness rate.
• A Navy pilot program launched this year will finalize amphibious ships’ overhaul work packages 500 days before signature availability and issue contracts a year out to reduce maintenance delays.
• Construction setbacks at Ingalls Shipbuilding have delayed delivery of America-class LHAs—including Bougainville (LHA-8) and Fallujah (LHA-9)—by about a year due to workforce issues.
• Acting CNO Adm. Jim Kilby and Marine leaders have pressed Congress for an expanded amphibious fleet to meet global force requirements and sustain ARG/MEU readiness.