24th Marine Expeditionary Unit
24th Marine Expeditionary Unit | |
---|---|
Active | May 1982 – present |
Country | United States of America |
Branch | United States Marine Corps |
Type | Marine Air Ground Task Force |
Role | Forward-deployed, rapid-response force |
Size | 2,200 |
Part of | II Marine Expeditionary Force |
Garrison/HQ | MCB Camp Lejeune, North Carolina |
Nickname(s) | 24th MEU |
Engagements |
|
Commanders | |
Current commander | Colonel Todd E. Mahar |
Notable commanders | Richard F. Natonski James L. Jones |
The 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit (24th MEU) is one of seven
Its stated mission[citation needed] is to provide geographic combatant commanders with a forward-deployed, rapid-response force capable of conducting conventional amphibious and selected maritime special operations at night or under adverse weather conditions from the sea, by surface and/or by air while under communications and electronics restrictions.
Current subordinate units
- Ground Combat Element: 1st Battalion, 8th Marines
- Aviation Combat Element: VMM-365(Rein)
- Logistics Combat Element: Combat Logistics Battalion 24
History
Early years
What is today the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) was activated at various times as the 24th Marine Amphibious Unit (MAU) in the 1960s and 1970s to participate in exercises and operations in the North Atlantic,
In May 1982, it was redesignated the 24th MAU and served twice as part of the multinational peace-keeping force in
It continued to make routine six-month deployments to the Mediterranean during the next six years while also providing forces for operations in the Persian Gulf.
The 24th MAU was redesignated the 24th MEU in February 1988.
1990s
On 16 April 1991, following
and Operation Provide Comfort II, the MEU delivered food, supplies and medicine and transported Kurds to "safe havens" and temporary tent cities.The 24th MEU SOC (Special Operations Capable) took part in
The MEU then turned eastward, entering the Adriatic Sea, where from May to June 1994, it served in support of Operation Provide Promise and Operation Deny Flight in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Immediately upon returning from its six-month deployment, the 24th MEU redeployed to the waters of the Caribbean, off the coast of Haiti. The MEU served there from July to August 1994 as part of Operation Support Democracy.
In June 1995, elements of the 24th MEU launched a daring, daylight Tactical Recovery of Aircraft and Personnel mission to rescue Air Force Captain Scott O'Grady, who had been shot down over Bosnia and Herzegovina six days earlier.
In 1996, the MEU served as a contingency force in the Adriatic Sea in support of
In 1998, the MEU was diverted from its regular deployment schedule to provide a forward presence in the
During November and December 1998, Marines from the 24th MEU were called upon to provide security for the American
From 1999 to 2001, the 24th MEU participated in numerous multinational military exercises and conducted peace support operations in Kosovo.
Global War on Terror
On April 25, 2001, USS Kearsarge ARG and 24th MEU began its deployment, where the ship hosted the annual USO Gala in Naples, Italy, participated in several large amphibious operations (Trident D'OR, Alexander the Great and Albanian Phibliex), and provided support to the president of the United States during the G8 Summit in Genoa, Italy. On Sept. 11, 2001, Kearsarge and the 24th MEU were underway in the Mediterranean Sea as the World Trade Centers and Pentagon were attacked by terrorists (United Airlines Flight 93 and American Airlines Flight 11 crashed into the World Trade Center in the Financial District of Lower Manhattan, New York City, United States). Prior to the events of September 11, 2001, the 24th MEU was scheduled to be relieved by the 26th MEU in October of 2001. During this deployment, Marines & Sailors on the USS Kearsarge visited 12 ports in seven different countries. Amphibious Ready Group (ARG) ships USS Kearsarge, USS Ponce and USS Carter Hall returned home on Oct. 15, 2001. 24th MEU (SOC), Battalion Landing Team 2/8 (BLT 2/8), Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 266 (HMM 266), MEU SERVICE SUPPORT GROUP 24 (MSSG 24).
In August 2002, the 24th MEU departed Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune. During its nine-month deployment, the MEU participated in Operation Dynamic Response in Kosovo and Operation Iraqi Freedom before returning home in May 2003.
In July 2004, the MEU departed for Iraq again. The deployment marked the first time in recent history that an MEU did not deploy as part of an
On 18 July 2006, it was announced that the MEU, along with the
In February 2008, the 24th MEU began deploying its Marines to Kandahar, Afghanistan. They began their combat operations in April 2008. Marines of the 24th MEU flooded into the Taliban-held town of
As the war in Afghanistan shifts from the expulsion of the Taliban to the stabilization of the country, the role for the MEU also shifts to a mission of winning hearts and minds. This involves close coordination with local Afghan leaders and roles as peace makers instead of just soldiers.[4]
2010 Haiti earthquake
After the devastating
2012 Deployment as Expeditionary Crisis Response Force
From 27 March to 20 December 2012, the 24th MEU deployed as an expeditionary crisis response force and theater reserve with the Iwo Jima Amphibious Ready Group, which consisted of the amphibious assault ships USS Iwo Jima, USS New York, and USS Gunston Hall. They sailed throughout the Navy's 5th Fleet and 6th Fleet areas of responsibility, conducting training operations and planning for real-world crisis response. The MEU took part in two major multilateral events; Exercise African Lion 12 in Morocco and Exercise Eager Lion 12 in Jordan. The majority of the MEU also conducted extensive training packages in Kuwait and Djibouti, Africa, while smaller Travelling Contact Teams dispersed throughout Africa to share experiences with militaries in Tanzania, Uganda, Kenya and Rwanda. The MEU was scheduled to return from deployment around Thanksgiving but was extended until the middle of December in order to support potential crisis response missions.
Exercise African Lion 12
African Lion 12 was the first operational event for the 24th MEU. It took place from 7–18 April 2012 and focused on the sharing of tactics, procedures, and cultures between each military. The 24th MEU was involved in several significant events with the Royal Moroccan Armed Forces, including an amphibious raid,
Exercise Eager Lion 12
From 8–30 May 2012, the 24th MEU took part in Exercise Eager Lion 12, the largest recurring, annual exercise in
Expeditionary Crisis Response Force
The last half of the 24th MEU's 2012 deployment focused on their duties as an expeditionary crisis response force. After the attack on the U.S. embassy in Benghazi, Libya, the MEU began extensive planning for potential missions to aid and/or evacuate U.S. citizens throughout the region in a number of countries that included Sudan, Lebanon, Egypt, Yemen, Tunisia, Syria and Pakistan. The threat of regional unrest resulted in an extension in the 5th Fleet area of responsibility. The MEU was later extended in November to continue serving as a ready, crisis response force throughout the Mediterranean region in 6th Fleet. This second extension led to the MEU returning home a month later than originally scheduled. They returned to North Carolina on 20 December 2012[16]
The 24th MEU's inherent task organization and flexibility allowed them to adapt to an ever-changing security environment and generate concurrent mission plans.[citation needed] The MEU/ARG even prepared to conduct disaggregated operations so the ships and staffs could be separated physically but still execute missions with "Alpha" and "Bravo" command and control elements, therefore maximizing efficiency and economy of MEU organic assets.
The crisis response mission was the hallmark of the 24th MEU deployment.[17] The MEU commander, Colonel Francis L. Donovan, spent his post-deployment months briefing military and civilian leaders—including members of the Office of the Secretary of Defense, Congress, Department of the Navy, and Headquarters of the Marine Corps— about the capabilities of the Marine Expeditionary Unit as America's premier crisis response force. During more than 30 separate briefings, Donovan presented details that explained how a MEU is best organized to take on crisis response missions, especially now that physical distance is no longer a serious limiting factor since MEUs have the extended range advantage of MV-22B Ospreys and the refueling assets of KC-130J Hercules, both aircraft organic to a MEU.
Special-Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force Crisis Response
On 21 March 2013, Col. Scott F. Benedict took over command of the 24th MEU from Col. Frank L. Donovan. Less than four months later, in July, the 24th MEU command element deployed to Moron Air Base, Spain, to take over command and control functions of
2015 Deployment
The MEU deployed from Dec 2014 to July 2015 to U.S. 5th and 6th Fleet. Highlights of the deployment included support to contingency efforts in Yemen, augment of security on U.S. Navy Mine Counter Measure ships, and support to Maritime Interdiction Operations. During the 221-day deployment, the ARG/MEU supported two Military Assisted Departures; participated in over 30 joint operations, activities, and actions; and conducted nine Theater Security Cooperation engagements. The USS Iwo Jima spent 155 days underway in U.S. 5th Fleet, at one time steaming for 84 consecutive days between ports, in order to provide critical support to Gulf Cooperation Council nations after the evacuation of the U.S. Embassy in Yemen and departure of President Hadi from Yemen. The MEU supported the Iwo Jima Amphibious Ready Group's presence operations during 160 overt Bab al-Mandeb Strait transits.
The MEU composited as a full Marine Air-Ground Task Force (MAGTF) 26 May 2014, and began their Pre-deployment Training Program for their 2015 deployment. During the PTP, the MEU took part in Realistic Urban Training (RUT), PHIBRON/MEU Integration (PMINT), ARG/MEU Exercise (ARG/MEU Ex), Composite Training Unit Exercise (COMPTUEX), and Bold Alligator 15 before setting sail on their deployment in the middle of December.
The MEU entered the U.S. 6th Fleet on 20 December and the three ships of the Iwo Jima Amphibious Ready Group—USS Iwo Jima, USS New York, and USS Fort McHenry—steamed into the Mediterranean, each conducting separate port visits in Italy, Spain, and Israel. The Marines from USS New York took part in Amphibious Landing Exercise East with Israeli Defense Forces.
On 10 January, the ARG/MEU entered U.S. 5th Fleet and assumed alert postures in response to declining conditions in Yemen. On 13 February, as the security situation in Yemen continued to deteriorate, the ARG/MEU supported the evacuation of U.S. citizens from Yemen at the request of the Department of State. Primarily, ARG/MEU assets were on alert to conduct contingency missions during the departure, including a quick reaction force, casualty evacuation, and recovery assets in case of a Tactical Recovery of Aircraft and Personnel. The ARG/MEU also provided significant planning and Command and Control capabilities to the contingency support effort.
After the evacuations, the ARG/MEU deployment evolved into an atypical maritime- focused deployment. As events in Yemen unfolded, the ARG/MEU became the central focus of U.S. 5th Fleet, supporting sea control and maritime security operations in the Gulf of Aden. The forces embarked on the USS Iwo Jima maintained presence in the Gulf of Aden for the majority of the rest of the deployment, but went ashore to Djibouti for several iterations of sustainment training. Meanwhile, the Marines and Sailors aboard the New York and Fort McHenry took part in several training events and military-to-military exercises. The Fort McHenry conducted Exercise Iron Magic in the UAE, Exercise Eagle Resolve in Kuwait, Exercise Eager Lion in Jordan, and Exercise Sea Soldier in Oman. The New York conducted sustainment training in Kuwait and Djibouti.
At the end of April, a small contingent of the MEU embarked on the Mine Countermeasures Ship USS Sentry to augment the ship's security during a transit through the Strait of Bab al-Mandeb. This was the first of two operations where MEU Marines augmented ship security on MCMs to increase the ship's force protection. The ARG/MEU also supported several training events with Special Operations Forces while in U.S. 5th Fleet, to include Subject Matter Expert Exchanges in Bahrain and Kuwait.
The MEU/ARG entered U.S. 6th Fleet on 19 June and Marines off New York conducted the unit's final Theater Security Cooperation Exercise with Greece. The MEU/ARG closed out the deployment with port visits in Spain, Portugal, France, and Montenegro. The ARG/MEU returned to the U.S. on 17–20 July.[citation needed]
2016 Haiti Hurricane Matthew
During their pre-deployment workup, the 24th MEU was directed to provide HA/DR support to Haiti in October 2016, after their country was devastated by Hurricane Matthew. The Marines were embarked aboard USS Iwo Jima and USS Mesa Verde.
2017 Deployment
The 24th MEU embarked upon the Bataan Amphibious Ready Group (BATARG) on March 1, 2017 out of
24th MEU commanding officers
Col. Thomas M. Stokes Jul 1982 – May 1983 | Col. Timothy J. Geraghty May 1983 – Jan 1984 |
Col. Myron C. Harrington Jan 1984 – Oct 1985 | Col. Gordon W. Keiser Oct 1985 – May 1988 |
Col. Ronald R. Matthews May 1988 – June 1990 | Col. James L. Jones Aug 1990 – June 1992 |
Col. Matthew E. Broderick Jul 1992 – Apr 1994 | Col. Martin R. Berndt Apr 1994 – Jan 1996 |
Col. Richard F. Natonski Jan 1996 – Apr 1998 | Col. Richard T. Tryon May 1998 – Aug 2000 |
Col. Richard P. Mills Aug 2000 – Jun 2003 | Col. Ronald J. Johnson Jun 2003 – Apr 2005 |
Col. Peter Petronzio Apr 2007 – Sept 2010 | Col. Robert G. Petit Sept 2010 – Feb 2011 |
Lt. Col. Jason E. Waldron Feb 2011 – May 2011 | Col. Francis L. Donovan May 2011 – Mar 2013 |
Col. Scott F. Benedict Mar 2013 – Sept 2015 |
Col. Ryan S. Rideout Sept 2015 – Dec 2017 |
Col. Eric D. Cloutier Dec 2017 - Nov 2021 | Col. Ryan M. Hoyle Nov 2021 - Jun 23 |
Col. Todd E. Mahar Jun 23 - |
Unit awards
A unit citation or commendation is an award bestowed upon an organization for the action cited. Members of the unit who participated in said actions are allowed to wear on their uniforms the awarded unit citation. The 24th MEU has been presented with the following awards:
Navy Presidential Unit Citation | ||
Joint Meritorious Unit Award w/ 1 oak leaf | Navy Unit Commendation w/ 7 service stars | Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation w/ 7 service stars |
Marine Corps Expeditionary Medal | National Defense Service Medal w/ 2 service stars | Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal w/ 3 service stars |
campaign star
|
campaign star
|
campaign stars
|
campaign star
|
Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal | Global War on Terrorism Service Medal |
In popular culture
Colonel Terry L. Childers, played by Samuel L. Jackson, in the 2000 film Rules of Engagement, is telling his friend Colonel Hayes Hodges, played by Tommy Lee Jones, that he was taking command of 24th MEU.
In the 1998 movie,
Logo
The 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit's logo is composed of many distinct parts.
The symbols in the center of the logo represent each facet of the force. The shield means defense. The Marine Corps' coat of arms, the Eagle, Globe and Anchor, is emblazoned on the shield surrounded by the words "Sea, Land, and Air". The Trident represents maritime roots and ability to strike from the sea, and the upturned sword represents readiness. The 24th MEU's use of the arrow in its logo is unique among MEUs.[citation needed]
Annual Warrior Competition
The 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit 2nd Force Reconnaissance Company won the 2010 Annual Warrior Competition against tactical units from all over the world.[19][20]
See also
- Marine Air-Ground Task Force
- List of Marine Expeditionary Units
- Organization of the United States Marine Corps
- Special Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force - Crisis Response - Africa
References
- Notes
- This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the United States Marine Corps.
- ISBN 978-1-59797-425-7. p. xv.
- ^ "U.S. Marines launch Afghan operation". CNN. Archived from the original on 2 May 2008.
- ^ "US Marines "kill 400 Taliban" in Afghan operation". Reuters. 9 July 2008.
- ^ "Afghanistan: The Forgotten War". NOW on PBS.
- ^ Ewing, Philip (20 January 2010). "Nassau ARG, 24th MEU, tapped for Haiti". Marine Corps Times. Archived from the original on 7 March 2012. Retrieved 20 January 2010.
- ^ a b Talton, Trista (20 January 2010). "24th MEU joining Haiti relief effort". Marine Corps Times. Archived from the original on 18 January 2012. Retrieved 21 January 2010.
- ^ Faram, Mark D. (19 January 2010). "Bataan ARG to begin arriving in Haiti today". Navy Times. Retrieved 20 January 2010.
- ^ Lamothe, Dan (8 February 2010). "24th MEU, Nassau ARG complete Haiti work". Marine Corps Times. Archived from the original on 11 February 2010. Retrieved 9 February 2010.
- ^ Fisher III, Robert L. (16 April 2012) "Moroccans join 24th MEU for Amphibious 'Day at the Beach' during African Lion 12" [1]
- ^ Bonham, Nichole. (7 April 2012) "US and Moroccan intel analysts exchange ideas during African Lion 12" [2]
- ^ Larson, Joshua W. (14 April 2012) "24th Marine Expeditionary Unit 'Raven' flies the skies of Morocco" [3]
- ^ U.S. Navy 6th Fleet (11 April 2012) "MV-22 Osprey crashes during military exercise" [4]
- ^ Whittle, Richard. (16 August 2012) "Marines Find Pilot Errors Caused Fatal V-22 Morocco Crash" [5] Archived 7 December 2012 at the Wayback Machine AOL Defense.
- ^ Larson, Joshua W. (8 May 2012) "U.S. Marines, Jordanian leaders gather to prepare for Eager Lion 12" [6]
- ^ Larson, Joshua W. (6 June 2012) "24th Marine Expeditionary Unit wraps up Eager Lion 12" [7]
- ^ Shuford, Robert E. (16 December 2012) "24th Marine Expeditionary Unit returns from deployment" [8]
- ^ Fisher III, Robert L. (5 February 2013) "Marine crisis response force deactivates after extended deployment" [9]
- ^ Schogol, Jeff (16 May 2017). "New Marine artillery unit arrives in Syria ahead of Raqqa offensive". Marine Corps Times. Sightline Media Group. Retrieved 23 July 2021.
- ^ "Chinese Special Forces Take 1st Place at 'Elite Warriors Olympics'". 27 May 2014.
- ^ "U.S. Marines take first, third place at".
- Bibliography
- Web