CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. -- Marines and Sailors from I Marine Expeditionary Force conducted Strategic Mobility Exercise 18 to validate I MEF's ability to deploy the force in response to an unplanned crisis or contingency, June 16-24, 2018.
 
More than 50 subject-matter experts from throughout the Marine Air-Ground Task Force participated in the movement from Southwestern U.S. military installations to Anderson Air Force Base, Guam, and Naval Base Guam to coordinate the simulated reception of follow-on forces.  The purpose of the exercise was to rehearse the rapid movement of I MEF forces within a constrained timeline.
 
"This exercise provides relevant, purposeful and necessary repetitions for effective global crisis response expected of the world's finest expeditionary force," said Brig. Gen. Rick Uribe, deputy commanding general, I Marine Expeditionary Force.
 
The exercise included the physical muster of more than 4,800 Marines and Sailors from the I MEF Command Element, 1st Marine Division, 1st Marine Logistics Group and 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing at home stations throughout the Southwestern U.S. to certify I MEF's ability to conduct a no-notice response to an emerging threat or current crisis that requires the application of crisis-response force generation.
 
Media interested in additional information about the exercise should contact I MEF at (760) 763-7047 or IMEFCommStrat@usmc.mil.