 After securing Guadalcanal, admiral William Halsey Jr. ordered the occupation, both to develop the islands for future operations, and to prevent the Japanese from using them against American forces.Forces assigned to take the islands comprised around 10,000 men, including the 43rd Army Division and the 3rd Marine Raider Battalion.Though the target was undefended, there was still some risk of being discovered and attacked while en route, or a landing of enemy forces to dispute the islands.