U.S. Marine Corps and U.S. Navy strengthen amphibious combat readiness during quarterly training.

The U.S. 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit and the U.S. Navy amphibious dock landing ship USS Harpers Ferry (LSD 49) conducted Quarterly Underway Amphibious Readiness Training 25.3 at Camp Pendleton, California, and in its coastal waters from May 28 to June 6, 2025. Designed to sharpen joint operational readiness, QUART 25.3 brought together air, sea, and ground components of I Marine Expeditionary Force and U.S. 3rd Fleet in a scenario replicating large-scale maritime conflict in both contested and permissive environments.
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U.S. Navy USS Harpers Ferry LSD 49 prepares for deck landing of US Marine Corps AH 1Z Viper during amphibious readiness training off Camp Pendleton, California, on June 3, 2025. (Picture source: U.S. DoD)

Quarterly Underway Amphibious Readiness Training, or QUART, plays a vital role in maintaining the combat readiness of U.S. Marine Corps forces by providing a consistent and realistic training cadence. Conducted four times per year, QUART enables expeditionary units to rehearse and validate full-spectrum amphibious operations in coordination with naval platforms. These exercises ensure that forward-deployed Marine Air-Ground Task Forces can rapidly respond to global crises with precision and cohesion. Within the framework of combat readiness, QUART serves as a critical proving ground for essential wartime skills such as ship-to-shore maneuver, distributed fires support, aviation deck operations, and dual-domain command and control.

The 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit, based at Camp Pendleton, California, is one of seven standing MEUs in the United States Marine Corps and serves as a forward-deployed, rapid-response force. It consists of a reinforced infantry battalion, a composite aviation squadron, and a combat logistics battalion, enabling it to conduct amphibious assaults, crisis response operations, and sustained combat missions across the full spectrum of military engagements. As part of the I Marine Expeditionary Force, the 15th MEU regularly trains with naval assets to ensure seamless interoperability and global readiness.

USS Harpers Ferry (LSD 49) is a Harpers Ferry-class dock landing ship commissioned in 1995 and currently homeported in San Diego, California. As part of Amphibious Squadron 5, the ship is designed to transport and launch amphibious craft, vehicles, and personnel using its well deck and flight deck. Equipped with advanced command and control capabilities, Harpers Ferry provides critical support for amphibious operations, including ship-to-shore logistics, aviation integration, and rapid troop deployment in expeditionary environments.

Throughout the ten-day training cycle, Marine Corps aviation assets including UH-1Y Venom, AH-1Z Viper, and CH-53E Super Stallion helicopters performed a series of qualification landings on USS Harpers Ferry. These operations were conducted under both day and night conditions as well as in poor weather, putting pilots, crews, and aircraft systems to the test under combat-relevant constraints. The air segment validated the ability of the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing to sustain rotary-wing flight operations in dynamic sea-based environments.

Simultaneously, Amphibious Combat Vehicles from the 3rd Assault Amphibian Battalion completed a full spectrum of certification drills. These included ship-to-shore movements carried out in both daylight and night scenarios, reinforcing the Marine Corps' capacity for rapid amphibious assault. Supporting fires were also exercised using M777 155 mm towed howitzers from the 2nd Battalion, 11th Marine Regiment, which were transported by LCACs of Assault Craft Unit 5 from ship to shore for precision beach landing missions.

A unique operational focus was placed on dual-node command and control as the 15th MEU operated simultaneously from Camp Pendleton and USS Harpers Ferry. This structure enabled seamless transitions in mission leadership between land and sea elements, enhancing agility in theater-level amphibious operations. Close coordination with Amphibious Squadron 5 simulated real-world command transitions, a critical element in future contested maritime campaigns.

As QUART 25.3 concluded, it marked a new benchmark in amphibious force readiness, highlighting the capability of U.S. expeditionary units to execute distributed operations across sea and shore. This advanced level of interoperability and realism sends a clear message about U.S. military preparedness and its ability to project force from austere coastal positions in response to emerging global threats.