The Wasp Amphibious Ready Group (ARG) and the embarked 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) are prepared to respond to crises in the Eastern Mediterranean.

The ARG, which includes amphibious assault ship USS Wasp, amphibious transport dock USS New York and dock landing ship USS Oak Hill pulled into Naval Support Activity Souda Bay, Greece, on July 8 after deploying from the US East Coast on June 1, according to a US Navy statement.

The Wasp ARG arrived in the Mediterranean late last month before conducting joint operations with the Eisenhower Carrier Strike Group and the British Royal Navy in the eastern Mediterranean on July 2.

The Wasp ARG's presence in the region will serve as a deterrent and enable the US military to respond to a multitude of contingencies, Pentagon spokesman Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder said in June when announcing the deployment.

The ARG has more than 4,500 sailors and Marines, and can support the MV-22 Osprey, AV-8B Harrier and F-35B Lightning II.

From the eastern Mediterranean, the Wasp ARG and the 24th MEU are capable of conducting a variety of missions, including responding to crises and conducting limited contingency operations.

Forward deployed

They can also support special forces, provide humanitarian assistance and conduct non-combat evacuations.

For its part, the 24th MEU is composed of a command element, Battalion Landing Team 1/8, Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 365 (Reinforced) and Combat Logistics Battalion 24 as the Logistics Combat Element.

With about 2,200 Marines, an MEU is the smallest Marine Air-Ground Task Force (MAGTF) in the US Fleet Marine Force.

When an MEU deploys, it is supported by an amphibious squadron consisting of an amphibious assault ship, an amphibious transport dock ship and a dock landing ship.

Each MEU is extremely versatile, forward deployed and often first to arrive at a crisis, whether it be natural disaster or combat mission.

The MAGTF is the basic structure for all deployed Marine Corps units and includes a ground combat element, an aviation combat element and a logistics combat element under a common command element.

The size of a MAGTF depends on its mission, but its structure never varies.