West 2026: US Navy to explore tailored USMC operations as services close amphibious ship fleet gaps

USS Richard M McCool Jr , shown here, is the first LPD to be outfitted with an EASR suite. (HII)

As the US Navy (USN) and US Marine Corps (USMC) strive to close the availability gaps for the services to provide traditional full-scale amphibious fleet compositions, the USN is looking for ways to provide tailored USMC forces to meet combatant commander needs, according to Admiral Daryl Caudle, chief of naval operations (CNO).

“It all comes down to whether there's something I can do with the forces I have between [the] time period when the combatant commander can get an ARG [Amphibious Readiness Group] and MEU [Marine Expeditionary Unit],” Adm Caudle said on 10 February during a media roundtable at the West 2026 conference in San Diego, California.

Adm Caudle said he and General Eric Smith, USMC commandant, are working on developing such forces for to meet combatant commanders' request for certain capabilities “out of cycle”.

“Is there something I can do with him to utilise marine and naval forces in those gap periods?” the CNO asked. “I think there is.”

Adm Caudle added, “There is something tailorable. I don't think that's been explored full enough to see what that looks like.”

Marine Littoral Regiments could meet these needs, he noted, adding they represent a level that is not an MEU or a MAGTF (Marine Air-Ground Task Force).

Such “creativity” could enable the ability to deliver a more integrated naval power when it is needed, he said.

However, he pointed out, both naval leaders remain focused on improving amphibious readiness. “We are working on that every single day.”