A U.S. Navy pilot lands the MH-60S Sea Hawk helicopter during air assault training at Keflavik Air Base, Iceland, Oct. 17, 2018. The training was part of Exercise Trident Juncture. (Devin J. Andrews/U.S. Marine Corps)
A U.S. Navy pilot lands the MH-60S Sea Hawk helicopter during air assault training at Keflavik Air Base, Iceland, Oct. 17, 2018. The training was part of Exercise Trident Juncture. (Devin J. Andrews/U.S. Marine Corps)
U.S. Marines secure a landing strip after exiting a Marine Corps CH-53E Super Stallion during air assault training at Keflavik Air Base, Iceland, Oct. 17, 2018. The training was part of Exercise Trident Juncture. ( Devin J. Andrews/U.S. Marine Corps)
A CH-53E Sea Stallion prepares for take-off aboard USS Iwo Jima (LHD 7) while conducting an air assault in Icelandic terrain Oct. 17, 2018 as part of Exercise Trident Juncture 2018. (Margaret Gale/U.S. Marine Corps)
A Marine with 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit posts security at Keflavik Air Base, Iceland, Oct. 17, 2018, during Exercise Trident Juncture 18. (Joseph Atiyeh/U.S. Marine Corps)
Marines, assigned to the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit, embark a CH-53 Super Stallion helicopter, during a simulated air assault as part of exercise Trident Juncture 2018 in Keflavik, Iceland, Oct. 17, 2018. (Jonathan Nelson/U.S. Navy)
CH-53 Super Stallion helicopters, assigned to the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit, prepare to retrieve U.S. Marines during a simulated air assault as part of exercise Trident Juncture 2018 in Keflavik, Iceland, Oct. 17, 2018. (Jonathan Nelson/U.S. Navy)
U.S. Marines have kicked off a training operation in Iceland, conducting an air assault drill and battling the elements in the island nation’s picturesque environment.
Approximately 2,000 Marines from the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit are participating in the Iceland operations, which started Wednesday as part of Exercise Trident Juncture.
The Marines are joined by as many sailors, serving aboard the amphibious assault ship USS Iwo Jima, amphibious dock landing ship USS Gunston Hall and amphibious transport dock ship USS New York.
Together, the combined force plans on highlighting the power of the NATO alliance when it comes to amphibious operations.
“Trident Juncture is all about showcasing NATO as a defensive alliance, demonstrating our credible capability and deterring potential adversaries,” said Marine spokesman Maj. Adrian Rankine-Galloway.
“Ultimately, we want to demonstrate the Navy-Marine team’s ability to respond faster from longer ranges with greater capabilities across the range of military operations than other conventional forces.”
During the air assault portion Wednesday, Marines loaded into CH53E Super Stallion helicopters and MV-22 tiltrotor aircraft aboard ships, landed near the coast of the island and secured the area by setting up a bridgehead for further operations.
Next the Marines are heading inland to conduct cold weather training among Iceland’s jet-blue glaciers.
As Iceland has no standing armed forces of its own, American troops are being aided by Icelandic police and coast guard.
“[Iceland’s] landscape provides us with distinctive training opportunities, and we are appreciative to the government of Iceland for allowing us to conduct this portion of Trident Juncture in their country.” Rankine-Galloway said.
The Navy and Marines plan to continue amphibious operations in conjunction with Exercise Trident Juncture later this month in Norway, where a mock amphibious assault is planned.
About 50,000 NATO troops are taking part in this year’s exercise, the alliance’ largest exercise since 2002.egnash.martin@stripes.com Twitter: @Marty_Stripes
