NORFOLK, Va. (WAVY) — After 296 days, sailors and marines of the USS Iwo Jima walked back onto Naval Station Norfolk Saturday morning.
Iwo Jima Amphibious Ready Group deployed from Naval Station Norfolk
The IWO Amphibious Ready Group (IWO ARG) is comprised of USS Iwo Jima, USS San Antonio, and USS Fort Lauderdale. The IWO ARG was the first group of “expeditionary” naval assets called on to support Operation Southern Spear.
IWO ARG was deployed to the Caribbean in August 2025 to support missions aiming at disrupting illicit drug trafficking, according to the Navy.
“The exceptional performance of every sailor and marine is nothing short of extraordinary,” said Capt. Chris Farricker, USN Commodore, Amphibious Squadron 8. “Throughout this deployment, our Navy-Marine Corps team proved to the world what our nation’s military is capable of while executing a broad array of missions.”
USS Iwo Jima to return to Naval Station Norfolk after 10-month deployment
Approximately 2,000 sailors and marines walked off USS Iwo Jima, with family and friends welcoming many of them…