USS Iwo Jima LHD 7

06/06/2026

U.S. Sailors, assigned to the Iwo Jima Amphibious Ready Group, execute various operations aboard Wasp-class amphibious assault ship USS Iwo Jima (LHD 7) while underway in the Caribbean Sea, Aug. 14, 2025 to May 29, 2026. Iwo Jima returned to Naval Station Norfolk following a ten-month deployment as part of the Iwo Jima Amphibious Ready Group. More than 4,000 Sailors and Marines assigned to the IWO ARG deployed to the Caribbean in support of the U.S. Southern Command mission, Department of War-directed operations, and the President’s priorities to disrupt illicit drug trafficking and protect the Homeland.

06/05/2026

06/05/2026

Enlisted to Officer: USS Iwo Jima’s Newest Mustangs

As enlisted Sailors in the U.S. Navy move up in the ranks, they have many different career paths that they can take. For some, being an officer is atop their list of goals and there are many different avenues to accomplish a move into the wardroom.

For first class petty officers and senior Sailors, the limited duty officer program is a route that can be pursued. When senior Sailors are promoted to chief, most rates have the opportunity to commission as a chief warrant officer. These Sailors become “Mustangs”—enlisted Sailors who promote to officer through an in-service commissioning pathway—highly valued subject matter experts in their respective jobs and enter a new position of leadership in the fleet.

Read more: https://www.dvidshub.net/news/566630/enlisted-officer-uss-iwo-jimas-newest-mustangs



U.S. Navy | Commander Naval Surface Force Atlantic | Surface Warriors | Amphibious Squadron 8

06/05/2026

U.S. Sailors, assigned to the Iwo Jima Amphibious Ready Group, launch MV-22B Osprey tiltrotor aircrafts and an MH-60S Seahawk helicopter off the flight deck of Wasp-class amphibious assault ship USS Iwo Jima (LHD 7) during flight operations while underway in the Caribbean Sea, May 1, 2026. Iwo Jima is now operating in the Atlantic Ocean following its deployment to the U.S. Southern Command area of responsibility.

U.S. military forces remain deployed to the U.S. Southern Command area of responsibility in support of Operation SOUTHERN SPEAR, Department of War-directed operations, and the president’s priorities to disrupt illicit drug trafficking, deter malign actors and protect the homeland through continuous presence.



U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) | U.S. Navy | Commander Naval Surface Force Atlantic | Surface Warriors | Amphibious Squadron 8

06/05/2026

Iwo Jima’s Boatswain’s Mates: A Look at the Navy’s Professional Mariners

USS Iwo Jima’s (LHD 7) Deck Department is the backbone, which supports operations aboard the Wasp-class amphibious assault ship. Each vertebra comprises U.S. Navy Sailors, who create the links needed to ensure mission success, as well as, safe and efficient evolutions. The Sailors are known as Boatswain’s Mates.

“Boatswain’s Mates are the professional mariners of the [Iwo Jima] and the Navy,” said Master Chief Boatswain’s Mate Jiamon Poe, leading chief petty officer for Iwo Jima’s Deck Department. “We operate the amphibious warfare equipment. This is important because our main mission is to deliver Marines to the beach safely.”

Read more: https://www.dvidshub.net/news/566627/iwo-jimas-boatswains-mates-look-navys-professional-mariners



U.S. Navy | Commander Naval Surface Force Atlantic | Surface Warriors

06/04/2026

Casualty Care: Iwo Jima’s Role II Mission

Outside the skin of the ship, Wasp-class amphibious assault ship USS Iwo Jima (LHD 7) is a floating airfield. On the busy flight deck, the pilots of MH-60S Sea Hawk helicopters and MV-22B Osprey tiltrotor aircraft await Sailors from the ship’s Air department to direct them into the skies as part of a clear mission—project power.

Just below the flight deck, another less-seen but equally as critical operation is at play— a medical synergy that marks the Navy’s amphibious assault ships as one of the most capable floating medical platforms in the world. With four operating rooms, a 15-bed Intensive Care Unit, and a hospital ward that can expand to hundreds of beds during a crisis, Iwo Jima and its integrated medical team is a bedrock of the Navy’s ability to stay in the fight, saving and protecting lives at sea 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Read more: https://www.dvidshub.net/news/566689/casualty-care-iwo-jimas-role-ii-mission



U.S. Navy | Navy Medicine | Commander Naval Surface Force Atlantic | Surface Warriors | Amphibious Squadron 8

06/04/2026

MV-22B Osprey tiltrotor aircrafts land on the flight deck of Wasp-class amphibious assault ship USS Iwo Jima (LHD 7) while underway in the Caribbean Sea, April 29, 2026.

U.S. military forces are deployed to the Caribbean in support of the U.S. Southern Command mission, Department of War-directed operations, and the president’s priorities to disrupt illicit drug trafficking and protect the homeland.



U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) | U.S. Navy | U.S. Fleet Forces Command | Commander Naval Surface Force Atlantic | Surface Warriors | Amphibious Squadron 8

06/04/2026

U.S. Sailors, assigned to the Iwo Jima Amphibious Ready Group, conduct a replenishment-at-sea with Lewis and Clark-class dry cargo ship USNS Medgar Evers (T-AKE 13) from Wasp-class amphibious assault ship USS Iwo Jima (LHD 7) while underway in the Caribbean Sea, April 25, 2026. Iwo Jima is now operating in the Atlantic Ocean following its deployment to the U.S. Southern Command area of responsibility.

U.S. military forces remain deployed to the U.S. Southern Command area of responsibility in support of Operation SOUTHERN SPEAR, Department of War-directed operations, and the president’s priorities to disrupt illicit drug trafficking, deter malign actors and protect the homeland through continuous presence.



U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) | U.S. Navy | Commander Naval Surface Force Atlantic | Surface Warriors | Amphibious Squadron 8

06/04/2026

From the Foundry to the Fight: USS Iwo Jima’s Integrated Training Team

In today’s dynamic global environment, the U.S. Navy is often called upon first to respond to events due to its enduring presence around the world. As evidenced by worldwide events within the last year, the fleet remains at the tip of the spear, tasked with shaping the battlespace and delivering combat power at sea and ashore. As the Navy’s warriors operate at sea, they must innovate, train, and build capacity and capability aboard the Nation’s warships in order to respond to any environment, any time while keeping the ship in the fight.

To combat incidents that may arise aboard warships such as Wasp-class amphibious assault ship USS Iwo Jima (LHD 7), the Navy has designated the creation of specialized training teams to help prepare the crew. These training teams include damage control, anti-terrorism, medical, aviation, visual information, combat systems, seamanship, and engineering.

Read more: https://www.dvidshub.net/news/566640/foundry-fight-uss-iwo-jimas-integrated-training-team



U.S. Navy | Commander Naval Surface Force Atlantic | Surface Warriors | Amphibious Squadron 8

06/03/2026

Iwo’s Calibration Lab: Gauging Success One Piece of Equipment at a Time

The efficient and proper operational use of equipment is one of the cornerstones of keeping a U.S. Navy ship running smoothly. Aboard Wasp-class amphibious assault ship USS Iwo Jima (LHD 7), the U.S. Sailors and Marines of the Aircraft Intermediate Maintenance Department’s (AIMD) calibration lab work together to ensure all gauged equipment meets the specifications provided by the manufacturer, is up-to-date, and running properly without fault.

Thousands of pieces of equipment require some form of calibration during their life-cycle. Equipment the calibration lab may work on includes temperature and pressure gauges, torque wrenches, multimeters, power sensors, and attenuators. Sailors and Marines ensure all devices aboard Iwo Jima are accurately reading measurements to prevent damage or casualties to machinery that is vital to keeping the ship running in good order.

Read more: https://www.dvidshub.net/news/566632/iwos-calibration-lab-gauging-success-one-piece-equipment-time



U.S. Navy | Commander Naval Surface Force Atlantic | Surface Warriors | Amphibious Squadron 8