Marine commandant: Every combatant command has requested an amphibious ready group

Naval Air Crewman (Helicopter) 2nd Class Chris Sanderson observes the Boxer Amphibious Ready Group transiting the Sulu Sea from an MH-60S Sea Hawk, April 26, 2026. U.S. Navy / Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Apprentice Sailor O’Rear The Marine Corps has long insisted that it needs enough amphibious ships to keep three ready groups deployed at all times, but the demand for those units is much higher than that, the service’s commandant said Thursday.Every combatant commander—from U.S. Central Command to Africa to Southern—has requested an ARG with a Marine Expeditionary Unit on board, Gen. Eric Smith told an audience at the Modern Day Marine conference in Washington, D.C. “I won't say how many of the ARG-MEUs our combat commanders ask for, but it is well north of three,” he said. “I'll just say that it is well north of three—like double that.”The 22nd MEU is off the coast of South America supporting Operation Southern Spear, the administration’s anti-drug trafficking effort, while the 31st MEU is in the Middle East supporting the U.S. blockade of Iran.They’ll soon be joined by the 11th MEU, Smith said, which just finished typhoon disaster response in the Northern Mariana Islands.“I just wish I had more of