United States Sailors and Marines from across the globe came together for Large Scale Exercise (LSE) 2025, a biennial all-domain warfighting event that simulates complex, real-world threats. “Large Scale Exercise 2025 is how we prepare to fight and win — anywhere, anytime,” said Vice Adm. John Gumbleton, acting commander of U.S. Fleet Forces Command.
The exercise included service members in 22 time zones, six component commands and all seven U.S. numbered fleets in a demonstration of the Navy’s ability to integrate operations across vast distances. For the first time, LSE included Canadian, Japanese and NATO liaison teams in the control architecture, highlighting the strengths and advantages of U.S. alliances and partnerships, including security cooperation and interoperability. The teams embedded inside U.S. command nodes and simulated allied orders in real time.
Using a globally integrated live, virtual and constructive (LVC) maritime exercise model, the 10-day event from July 30 through August 8 simulated complex scenarios while promoting interoperability, tactical refinement and strengthened collaboration. LVC technology allowed service members from around the world to actively participate.
“Everything that we see on our screens, everything we see on our displays are exactly like what we would see if we were out operating,” said Rear Adm. Alexis Walker, commander of Carrier Strike Group 10, based at Norfolk Naval Station in Virginia. “That’s the beauty of a live virtual constructive environment.”
“We’re able to train how we fight,” Walker said, according to an article by WAVY-TV in Virginia. “That enables us to enhance our lethality and partnerships around the world.”
Walker said the simulated scenarios help the Navy sharpen its capabilities and maritime response. “Everything about this scenario is an unknown, and that’s exactly the way I would want it,” he said. “If I had all the information and knew how the game was going to play out, then my learning, my team’s learning gets diminished because we can kind of pregame it. It’s a great learning experience, just like in real life.”
For the first time, all 10 Fleet Maritime Operations Centers operated together during LSE 2025. The seamless execution of the exercise highlighted the depth of talent and the institutionalized nature of the Navy’s command and control process.
“At its core, LSE 2025 is about readiness. It allows us to refine how we command and control forces on a global scale; how we align efforts with interagency teammates, allies and partners; and how we generate and sustain combat power under pressure,” Gumbleton said. “One of our top priorities is validating the Global Maritime Response Plan, proving we can shift from steady-state operations to a full warfighting posture at speed, whenever and wherever we’re needed.”
The Global Maritime Response Plan is an evolving method to respond to a changing and globally contested world, training forces to rapidly shift from day-to-day operations to full-scale warfighting and surge warships faster than traditional deployments. The plan has been spearheaded by Adm. Daryl Caudle, chief of naval operations. Caudle, the former U.S. Fleet Forces commander, was confirmed by the U.S. Senate as the 34th chief of naval operations on July 31, the second day of LSE 2025.
Among the new scenarios LSE 2025 simulated were: sudden loss of satellite communications; missile strikes on fuel depots on shore; accelerated reserve mobilization timelines; and demands for humanitarian shipping corridors amid combat. Officials said these stressors were meant to force commanders to test the Global Maritime Response Plan, according to a story at Defense-Aerospace.com, a website that covers defense and aerospace news.
“This exercise provides an incredible opportunity to hone command and control across the most lethal amphibious task forces in the world, ensuring sea-lanes remain open and global commerce flows freely, maintaining peace and stability worldwide,” said Lt. Gen. Roberta “Bobbi” Shea, commander of Marine Forces Command. “LSE offers a glimpse into the future of warfare, pushing the boundaries of what’s possible and ensuring that our Navy-Marine Corps team remains the most advanced, agile and effective fighting force in the world.”
Navy strategists indicated that the 2027 iteration of LSE may become more of a hybrid model with some allied ships operating live, Defense-Aerospace.com reported.