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On August 1, 2026, the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit, operating as Littoral Combat Force-24, completed a Panama Canal transit aboard the amphibious transport dock USS San Antonio (LPD 17) while operating under United States Southern Command. It marked the first passage through the waterway by a Marine Expeditionary Unit since 2008, highlighting the Marine Corps’ emphasis on rapid global mobility, maritime dominance, and seamless power projection.
“This historic transit is a powerful testament to the flexibility and readiness of Littoral Combat Force-24,” said Col. Ryan Lynch, the commanding officer of LCF-24. “Our ability to seamlessly navigate this critical waterway alongside our Navy partners aboard the USS San Antonio demonstrates our capability to rapidly project power and respond to crises anywhere in the Southern Command area of responsibility. We are ready to operate straight from the sea, at a moment’s notice.”
Long a strategic artery for the United States and its allies, the Panama Canal enables naval forces to move swiftly between the Atlantic and Pacific, avoiding weeks of travel around South America. The passage supports a flexible, responsive posture, allowing ships and troops to surge quickly to address emerging crises across hemispheres.
The transit also serves as a proof point for the Littoral Combat Force construct and the modern Marine Air-Ground Task Force, demonstrating the unit’s ability to negotiate narrow waterways and project capabilities ashore without reliance on established bases—an approach aligned to contested littoral environments and the Corps’ role as a premier force-in-readiness.
Leaning on Navy–Marine Corps teamwork, the operation underscored interoperability between Marines of LCF-24 and Sailors of the USS San Antonio, reflecting an integrated naval force in support of Combatant Commander objectives.
By moving through the canal, the Blue-Green team demonstrated access across the U.S. Southern Command area of responsibility, spanning Central and South America and the Caribbean. The force outlined missions ranging from humanitarian disaster relief to strengthening regional partnerships and deterring aggression, and emphasized its ability to deliver tailored, decisive effects anywhere in the region.
The 24th MEU’s passage affirms the Navy–Marine Corps team’s readiness to respond rapidly across diverse conditions and locations.
