Amphibious ready group

An amphibious ready group (ARG) of the United States Navy consists of a naval element—a group of warships known as an Amphibious Task Force (ATF)—and a landing force (LF) of U.S. Marines (and occasionally U.S. Army soldiers), in total about 5,000 people.

Together, these elements and supporting units are trained, organized, and equipped to perform amphibious operations.

Amphibious forces must be capable of performing missions ranging from humanitarian assistance and disaster relief to major theater war (MTW).

Among other national resources, they are particularly well placed to provide a demonstration of the United States's commitment and resolve to friends and allies as well as adversaries.

One ARG/MEU, known as Task Force 76/Expeditionary Strike Group 7, is forward based in Sasebo and Okinawa, Japan.