The 4,500 sailors and Marines of the Boxer Amphibious Ready Group will return to Naval Base San Diego on Wednesday following a successful seven-month deployment with in the 5th and 7th fleet areas.
The group includes the amphibious assault ship USS Boxer, amphibious transport dock USS John P. Murtha and amphibious dock landing ship USS Harpers Ferry.
Embarked on the ships are the personnel of the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit, Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 21, Assault Craft Unit 5, Beachmaster Unit 1, Fleet Surgical Team 5, and Tactical Air Control Squadron 11.
The ready group conducted maritime security operations in the Persian Gulf, Arabian Sea, Indian Ocean and Pacific Ocean.
The Navy typically keeps two or three amphibious ready groups constantly at sea to support a Marine landing in the event of a crisis.