An official website of the United States government
Here's how you know
A .mil website belongs to an official U.S. Department of Defense organization in the United States.
A lock (lock ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .mil website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

Home : Media : News : News Article View
NEWS | May 5, 2021

Makin Island ARG, 15th MEU Arrive off Alaska for Northern Edge

By Lt. Joseph Pfaff USS Makin Island

PACIFIC OCEAN -- Marines and Sailors with the Makin Island Amphibious Ready Group (ARG) and embarked 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU), arrived off the coast of Alaska, May 2, to participate in Exercise Northern Edge 21, the largest joint exercise of 2021, led by U.S. Indo-Pacific Command.

Northern Edge 21 is designed to provide high-end, realistic war fighter training, develop and improve joint interoperability, and enhance the combat readiness of participating forces while utilizing Alaska's strategic location, vital to maintaining peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region.

The Makin Island ARG and 15th MEU will execute air operations from USS Makin Island (LHD 8) and USS San Diego (LPD 22), and air and amphibious operations from USS Somerset (LPD 25) while maneuvering in and from the Temporary Maritime Activities Areas in the Gulf of Alaska and over the Joint Pacific Alaska Range Complex. MEU forces will conduct joint training and land based operations at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Eielson Air Force Base, Fort Greely, Allen Army Airfield and Cold Bay, identified as a cluster base.

"We have an amazing opportunity to showcase and enhance the interoperability of this amphibious force with not only a carrier strike group, but with the Army and Air Force as well," said Capt. Henry Kim, Makin Island ARG commodore. "I'm looking forward to advancing expeditionary advanced base operations, especially in the austere northern environments near the arctic."

During Northern Edge 21, the Makin Island ARG and 15th MEU will leverage opportunities to test, proof, and experiment with potential future ARG/MEU employment options in support of joint forces to advance and inform service concepts and ensure continued viability of the ARG/MEU in today's evolving operating environment.

"As a forward deployed naval expeditionary force, along with our Makin Island ARG counterparts, 15th MEU is uniquely postured to validate and inform future capabilities and operating concepts," said Col. Fridrik Fridriksson, 15th MEU commanding officer. "As an Alaska native, I'm truly excited to be in my home state and for the opportunity to test our capabilities in a climate different to what we have experienced thus far during this deployment."

The Makin Island ARG and embarked 15th MEU provides the combatant commander with a responsive, flexible and forward-deployed asset capable of maritime power projection, contingency operations and crisis response, shaping the operational environment to protect the United States and allied interests in any threat environment.

CONNECT WITH USINDOPACOM
Facebook

Like Us
X
362,943
Follow Us

ENGAGE & CONNECT MORE WITH PACOM

                                                 

IN THE USINDOPACOM NEWS
Readout of Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III's Call With Indian Minister of Defense Rajnath Singh
Graphic intended for use as a placeholder for Statements and Press Releases without accompanying imagery.
March 18, 2024 - Pentagon Press Secretary Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder provided the following readout...

America Amphibious Ready Group Completes Exercise Iron Fist
U.S Marines with the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, U.S. Navy Sailors with the America Amphibious Ready Group, Japanese Ground Self-Defense Force Soldiers, and Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force sailors pose for a group photo following the Iron Fist 24 closing ceremony aboard the Osumi-class tank landing ship JS Kunisaki (LST-4003) in Okinawa, Japan, Mar. 17, 2024. The closing ceremony concluded training between the armed forces and awarded servicemembers for outstanding performance during Iron Fist 24. Iron Fist is an annual bilateral exercise designed to increase interoperability and strengthen the relationships between the U.S. Marine Corps, the U.S. Navy, the Japanese Ground Self-Defense Force, and the Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Juan K. Maldonado)
March 18, 2024 - Sailors assigned to the America Amphibious Ready Group (ARG), and Marines assigned to the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, celebrated the completion of the 18th iteration of Exercise Iron Fist, alongside members of the Japan...

USINDOPACOM Statement on DPRK Missile Launches
Graphic intended for use as a placeholder for Statements and Press Releases without accompanying imagery.
March 18, 2024 - We are aware of the DPRK’s March 17 ballistic missile launches and are consulting closely with our allies and partners. We have assessed these events did not pose an immediate threat to U.S. personnel or territory. The United...

US Space Forces Indo-Pacific executes Cobra Gold 2024
March 15, 2024 - U.S. Space Forces Indo-Pacific is taking a giant leap forward in multi-domain integration, leading U.S. space participation in Joint Exercise Cobra Gold 24 in Thailand, Feb. 27 – Mar. 8...

2nd Infantry/ROK-U.S. Combined Division Joins with ROK Forces for Air Assault Training Mission
A Republic of Korea Army CH-47F Chinook helicopter, 2nd Division/ROK-U.S. Combined Division, performs a sling load of a 12,000-pound High Mobility Multi-Wheeled Vehicle (HMMWV) while conducting combined air assault and ground training exercises during Freedom Shield 24, March 13, 2024, at the Korea Combined Training Center, South Korea. FS24, a holistic military training program, integrates ground, air, and naval elements, enhancing readiness through realistic combat simulations, interoperability, and live exercises refining troops’ combat skills. (U.S. Army photo by KPfc. Lee, Hyun Bin)
March 15, 2024 - The 2nd Infantry/ROK-U.S. Combined Division completes a large-scale joint air assault training operation in conjunction with the ROK 2nd Rapid Response Division, Army Aviation Command, Air Force's 5th Air Mobility Wing during...