Marine air–ground task force

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In the United States Marine Corps, a Marine Air–Ground Task Force (MAGTF, pronounced MAG-TAF) is the principal organization for all missions across the range of military operations. MAGTFs are a balanced air–ground, combined arms task organization of Marine Corps forces under a single commander that is structured to accomplish a specific mission. The MAGTF was formalized by the publishing of Marine Corps Order 3120.3 in December 1963, "The Marine Corps in the National Defense, MCDP 1-0". It stated:

A Marine air–ground task force with separate air ground headquarters is normally formed for combat operations and training exercises in which substantial combat forces of both Marine aviation and Marine ground units are included in the task organization of participating Marine forces.[1]

Since World War II, in many crises the United States Marine Corps has deployed projection forces, with the ability to move ashore with sufficient sustainability for prolonged operations. MAGTFs have long provided the United States with a broad spectrum of response options when U.S. and allied interests have been threatened and in non-combat situations which require critical response. Selective, timely and

credible commitment of air–ground units has, on many occasions, helped bring stability to a region and sent signals worldwide that the United States is willing to defend its interests, and is able to do so with a powerful force on short notice.[2]

NATO Map Symbol

Composition

The four core elements of a Marine air–ground task force are:

The four core elements describe types of forces needed and not actual military units or commands. The basic structure of the MAGTF never varies, though the number, size, and type of Marine Corps units composing each of its four elements will always be mission dependent. The flexibility of the organizational structure allows for one or more subordinate MAGTFs to be assigned.

U.S. Navy may be deployed in support of a MAGTF.[3]

Types

Marine expeditionary force (MEF)

A

MEF headquarters group (MEF HQG), a Marine division (MARDIV), a Marine aircraft wing (MAW), and a Marine logistics group (MLG)
.

For comparison purposes, in relation to other U.S. ground and air combat forces, the MEF HQG may be considered as roughly analogous to a notional U.S. Army (USA)

force reconnaissance company. [original research?
]

The MARDIV, containing two or three

division headquarters and headquarters battalion and others, and is reinforced with an armored brigade combat team (ABCT).[citation needed] (While the tank battalion of a MARDIV has fewer tanks than an ABCT, with 58 vice 90, respectively, the MARDIV assault amphibian vehicle (AAV) battalion has four companies of 42 AAVs each and is capable of transforming an entire Marine infantry regiment into an amphibious mechanized infantry force.) [original research?
]

The MAW, with its

sustainment brigades.[citation needed
]

The MEF, which varies in size, is capable of conducting missions across the full range of military operations and to support and sustain itself for up to 60 days in an austere expeditionary environment. For example, the

2003 Invasion of Iraq
.

The three Marine expeditionary forces are:

Marine expeditionary brigade (MEB)

A

aircraft group, and a combat logistics regiment (CLR), formerly known as a brigade service support group, all commanded by a battalion-sized command element designated as a MEB headquarters group. The MEB, commanded by a general officer (either a major general or a brigadier general), is task-organized to meet the requirements of a specific situation. It can function as part of a joint task force
, as the lead echelon of the MEF, or alone.

Marine expeditionary unit (MEU)

Main article: Marine expeditionary unit

The smallest type of MAGTF is the Marine expeditionary unit (MEU) Special Operations Capable (SOC), designated as an MEU (SOC), commanded by a colonel. The MEU is capable of conducting limited, specialized, and selected special operations missions and to support and sustain itself for up to 15 days in an austere expeditionary environment. The MEU is based on a reinforced Marine infantry battalion, designated as a battalion landing team (BLT), supported by a medium tiltrotor squadron (VMM) (reinforced), containing both fixed-wing and rotary-wing aircraft and aviation support detachments, and a combat logistics battalion (CLB), all commanded by a company-sized MEU headquarters group.

There are usually three MEUs assigned to each of the U.S. Navy

Okinawa
. While one MEU is on deployment, one MEU is training to deploy and one is standing down, resting its marines, and refitting. Each MEU is rated as capable of performing special operations, though USMC's definition of this is not consistent with that of SOCOM. They are not considered special operations unit by the Department of Defense.

See also

References

  1. ^ Simmons, The US Marines History, p. 237.
  2. ^ "What is a Marine Expeditionary Unit". Home of the Thundering Third. United States Marine Corps. Archived from the original on 17 November 2007. Retrieved 26 November 2007.
  3. ^ Seabee Operations in the MAGTF (PDF). Department of the Navy. November 1997 – via GlobalSecurity.org.

Bibliography

External links

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