AIR, LAND and SEA
When they say "Send in the Marines," a Marine Expeditionary Unit is
usually the first on scene.
What is a MEU?
America's small, unique, powerful force in readiness
With a strength of about 2,200 personnel, the MEU is normally built
around a reinforced battalion, a composite aircraft squadron, and by a
MEU Service Support group.
Commanded by a colonel, the MEU is employed to fulfill routine forward
deployments with fleets in the Mediterranean, the Western Pacific, and
periodically, the Atlantic and Indian Oceans. The MEU is deployed on up
to four Naval amphibious ships.
The ground combat element (GCE) is the battalion landing team (BLT),
an infantry battalion reinforced with artillery, amphibious assault vehicles,
light armored reconnaissance assets and other units as the mission and
circumstances require.
The aviation combat element (ACE) is a Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron
augmented with four types of helicopters into a composite squadron. These
units include CH-53E "Super Stallions," CH-46E "Sea Knights," UH-1N "Hueys,"
and AH-1W "Super Cobras." Ace assets may also include the fixed-wing aircraft
such as the AV-8B "Harrier" jet.
The combat service support element is the MEU Service Support Group
(MSSG) formed primarily from force service support groups assets. The MSSG
contains all the logistics specialists necessary to keep the GCE, ACE and
organic equipment functioning. Included within the MSSG are medical, dental,
maintenance, engineering, and other technical experts.
The command element (CE) provides command and control of the other three
elements. In addition to the MEU commander and his supporting staff, the
CE includes specialized detachments providing a direct action capability,
naval gunfire liaison capability, reconnaissance, and surveillance and
specialized communications and electronics warfare capabilities.
The MEU is unique in that its air and ground combat elements are combined
with combat service support under one commander.
This air/ground task force concept is designed to thoroughly exploit
the combat power inherent in air and ground assets by closely integrating
them into a single force. The MEU brings all the supplies it needs to sustain
itself for quick mission accomplishment or to pave the way for any follow-on
forces.
The MEU is an expeditionary intervention force with the ability to rapidly
organize for combat operations in virtually any environment.
West Coast
(Camp Pendleton, Calif.)
11th MEU
13th MEU
15th MEU
East Coast
(Camp Lejeune, NC)
22d MEU
24th MEU
26th MEU
Overseas
(Okinawa, Japan)
31st MEU
Back
to SHQ
