Videos

U.S. 5TH FLEET AREA OF OPERATIONS (Dec. 7, 2017) - U.S. Marines and Sailors with the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit, Commander, Amphibious Squadron 3 and USS America give a motivating message to the U.S. Naval Academy and U.S. Military Academy for this year's Army-Navy football game aboard amphibious assault ship USS America (LHA 6). The 15th MEU and America Amphibious Ready Group are deployed to the U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations in support of maritime security operations to reassure allies and partners, and to preserve the freedom of navigation and the free flow of commerce in the region. (U.S. Marine Corps video by Sgt. Hannah Perkins)

U.S. 5TH FLEET AREA OF OPERATIONS - U.S. Marines and Sailors with the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit and America Amphibious Ready Group wish family and friends a happy Thanksgiving, Nov. 23, 2017. The 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit and America ARG are deployed to the U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations in support of maritime security operations to reassure allies and partners and to preserve the freedom of navigation and the free flow of commerce in the region. (U.S. Marine Corps video by Cpl. Hannah Perkins/Released)

ARABIAN GULF (Nov. 23, 2017) Secretary of the Navy Richard V. Spencer visited Sailors and Marines of the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit and the America Amphibious Ready Group aboard amphibious assault ship USS America (LHA 6) Thanksgiving Day. America is the flagship for the America Amphibious Ready Group and, with the embarked 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit, is deployed to the U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations in support of maritime security operations designed to reassure allies and partners and preserve the freedom of navigation and the free flow of commerce in the region. (U.S. Marine Corps video Sgt. Hannah Perkins)

Cpl. Smalling, a law enforcement Marine with the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit Command Element, shares a little bit about himself and his deployment. Smalling, the 15th MEU and America Amphibious Ready Group are deployed to the U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations in support of maritime security operations to reassure allies and partners, and to preserve the freedom of navigation and the free flow of commerce in the region.

The 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit’s Battalion Landing Team started their portion of Alligator Dagger 17, a two-week combat rehearsal in Djibouti, to increase proficiency and readiness in the 5th Fleet area of operation, by reintroducing basic marksmanship skills and weapons familiarization. “This basic sustainment training keeps the Marines’ edges sharp so we maintain that constant force of readiness,” said Staff Sgt. Rogan Nichols, the platoon sergeant for third platoon, Company A. “This is why we are known as the force in readiness, and it’s what our MEU is prepared for.” The BLT culminated the training by conducting squad supported live-fire, fire-and-movement attacks, which incorporated company organic assets as wells scout snipers exercising the combat orders process. The BLT successfully completed all training expectations and reinforced the strength of their teams from the bottom up making the BLT as a whole fundamentally more effective and responsive. “This training helped the Marines get to the next tier of confidence in their weapons systems, intimately learning about their day and night optics and how to use both in low-light and other harsh situations, as well as built a familiarity with rest of their gear issued for deployment,” Nichols added. The Battalion Landing Team worked in extreme conditions to prepare themselves as well as the rest of the 15th MEU for seamless and quick response to crises situations even in the most unforgiving terrain and climate. “This exercise acclimated us to operating in 5th Fleet’s environment,” said 1st Lt. Patrick Neichter, the platoon commander of 2nd platoon, Company B. “Alligator Dagger was necessary so we are prepared to respond to any type of crises situation while the 15th MEU is operating in the 5th Fleet area of operation.” From heat acclamation and building and using terrain models to conduct live-fire squad attacks, the BLT built their confidence of the key leaders as well as the small unit leaders perfecting readiness, the Marines’ leadership skills and the overall abilities of the 15th MEU.

U.S. 5TH FLEET AREA OF OPERATIONS – Section chiefs with Battery C., Battalion Landing Team, 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit explain in their own words why artillery is known as the king of battle. The battery Marines are participating in the Fire Support Coordination Exercise conducting fire missions in response to Joint Tactical Air Controllers call for fire against notional enemy positions during Alligator Dagger, Sept. 8, 2017. Alligator Dagger is an opportunity for the Blue-Green team to demonstrate they are a strong, flexible force ready to execute crisis response missions within the CENTCOM area of responsibility. The MEU-ARG’s flexibility to conduct aggregated or disaggregated operations makes it uniquely suited to consistently respond to mission sets TF 51/5 may task at particularly decisive points for combat operations or humanitarian missions setting them apart from their forward deployed counterparts.(U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. F Cordoba)

Cpl. Devonte Perry from New Bern, North Carolina and a chief dispatcher with Combat Logistics Battalion 15, the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit's Logistic Combat Element shares why he enlisted in the Marine Corps.

PACIFIC OCEAN -- U.S. Marines with C. Battery, 1st Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit's Battalion Landing Team conduct a deck shoot aboard USS Pearl Harbor (LSD 52), Aug. 7, 2017. The 15th MEU and America Amphibious Ready Group are operating in the U.S. 7th Fleet area of operations to enhance regional partnerships and serve as a ready-response capability for any type of contingency. (U.S. Marine Corps video by Cpl. F. Cordoba)

PACIFIC OCEAN -- The 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit and America Amphibious Ready Group practiced launching and recovering aircraft using visual cues only. This training ensures the blue-green team has the ability to conduct flight operations without the aid of radio, navigational, and Air Traffic Control Support. The 15th MEU and America ARG are operating in the U.S. 7th Fleet area of operations to enhance regional partnerships and serve as a ready-response capability for any type of contingency. (U.S. Marine Corps video by Cpl. Hannah Perkins)

The 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit and America Amphibious Ready Group completed its first training exercise of the Western Pacific Deployment. The training conducted in Hawai‘i allowed the Marines and Sailors to sustain skills developed during a comprehensive six-month pre-deployment training cycle. The 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit and America Amphibious Ready Group are operating in the U.S. 7th Fleet area of operations to enhance regional partnerships and serve as a ready-response capability for any type of contingency.