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Assault amphibious vehicles assigned to Golf Company, Battalion Landing Team 2/8, 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit, stage on the beach of Karan Island, Saudi Arabia, April 20, 2020. The Bataan Amphibious Ready Group and 26th MEU are conducting routine sustainment training in the U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations in order to enhance the Navy-Marine Corps team's ability to employ low-signature, operationally relevant and strategically mobile crisis response forces to project power over key maritime terrain. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Gary Jayne III)

Photo by Cpl. Gary Jayne III

26th Marine Expeditionary Unit Begins Sustainment Training on Saudi Arabian islands

21 Apr 2020 | Capt. Melissa Heisterberg II Marine Expeditionary Force

The 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit, embarked aboard the Bataan Amphibious Ready Group, began routine sustainment training on Karan and Kurayn islands, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, on April 20.

The training has been pre-planned and coordinated with Saudi Arabia in order for the BATARG and 26th MEU to conduct mission essential training, including an amphibious assault and an amphibious raid.

“The sustainment training on Karan and Kurayn islands not only increases the MEU’s readiness but also reassures our regional partners that we stand ready to defend and deter aggression,” said Col. Trevor Hall, commanding officer of the 26th MEU.

This unique training opportunity allows the ARG/MEU to maintain its proficiency as an integrated naval force across the full spectrum of maritime operations.
“This important island training provides our Navy-Marine Corps team an integrated ship-to-shore combat capability and further enhances our readiness to carry out any mission as a premier crisis response team in the U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations,” said Capt. Lance Lesher, commodore of the BATARG. “This training also illustrates our strong defense relationship with Saudi Arabia, and our continued commitment to the security and stability of the region.”

ARG/MEUs operate continuously across the globe and provide the geographic combatant commanders with a forward-deployed, flexible and responsive sea-based Marine Air-Ground Task Force. Together, the Navy-Marine Corps team enables the joint force to partner, persist and operate in contested or potentially contested maritime domains. Training such as this improves and sustains the ARG/MEUs core responsibility as a crisis response force.

The BATARG and 26th MEU are operating in the Arabian Gulf to ensure maritime stability and security in the U.S. Central Command region through the employment of strategically mobile forces with the ability to project power in the maritime domain.


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