Marine expeditionary unit
A Marine expeditionary unit (MEU, pronounced as one syllable "
A MEU normally is composed of
- a reinforced USMC infantry battalion (designated as a Battalion Landing Team) as the ground combat element
- a composite medium tiltrotor squadron forming the aviation combat element
- a combat logistics battalion providing the logistics combat element
- a company-size command element serving as the MEU headquarters group.
Troop strength of a MEU is about 2,200 (normal and peacetime) to 4,400 (mobilization and wartime). A MEU is usually commanded by a colonel, and is deployed from amphibious assault ships. Currently, a MEU embarks personnel and equipment on the amphibious warfare ships of an expeditionary strike group (ESG), which also includes escort warships and submarines to protect them from air, surface, and submarine threats. For further protection and strong air support, an ESG is often deployed along with one or more carrier strike groups.
Attributes
The MEU is unique in that its air and ground combat elements are combined with a logistics combat element under one commander; other services do not unite the command of air and ground forces until much higher command levels.
The MEU's ground combat element also combines
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 and logistical support it needs to sustain itself for quick mission accomplishment or to prepare the way for follow-up forces. This self-sustainment allows more flexibility in disposition and operations of forces, and allows the MEU to initiate operations sooner and let support catch up later, without having to wait for external logistical support to begin a mission. Deployments on U.S. Navy amphibious assault ships allows MEUs to seabase around the globe, ready for deployment at short notice.
A typical MEU has approximately 2,200 members, including navy sailors. It is equipped with:
Qty | Nomenclature | Element
|
---|---|---|
7 to 16 | Light Armored Vehicle | ground |
15 | Assault Amphibious Vehicle | ground |
6 | 155mm howitzer: M777 | ground |
8 | M252 81mm mortar | ground |
8 | BGM-71 Tube-Launched, Optically-Tracked, Wire-Guided (TOW) missile weapon system | ground |
8 | FGM-148 Javelin anti-tank missile | ground |
4 to 6 | AH-1Z Viper attack helicopters
|
aviation |
3 | UH-1Y Venom light utility helicopters
|
aviation |
12 | MV-22A Osprey medium-lift tiltrotor aircraft
|
aviation |
4 | CH-53E Super Stallion heavy-lift transport helicopters
|
aviation |
6 | AV-8B Harrier V/STOL light-attack airplanes
|
aviation |
2 | KC-130 Hercules aerial re-fueler/transport airplanes
Note: usually maintained in the contiguous United States |
aviation |
2 | Reverse Osmosis Water Purification Unit
|
logistics |
1 | LMT 3000 water purification unit | logistics |
4 | Tractor, Rubber Tire, Articulated Steering | logistics |
2 | TX51-19M Rough Terrain Forklift | logistics |
3 | D7 bulldozer | logistics |
1 | Medium Tactical Vehicle Replacement dump truck | logistics |
4 | Mk48 Logistics Vehicle System | logistics |
7 | 500 gallon water containers | multiple |
63 | Humvee | multiple |
30 | Medium Tactical Vehicle Replacement trucks | multiple |
5 | Boeing Insitu RQ-21 Blackjack | aviation |
Many types of equipment are, or will soon, undergo a transitory phase as they are replaced. Some examples include the
Elements
Ground combat element
The
The Maritime Special Purpose Force is a subgroup of the MEU, formed for low-profile missions. The MSPF force consists of four elements: an assault platoon (a direct action platoon augmented from Force Recon), a security platoon (a selected infantry platoon from the battalion landing team), reconnaissance and surveillance assets, and a headquarters section. The total strength is approximately 350 members, including Navy sailors.
Aviation combat element
The
Logistics combat element
The
Command element
The
Expeditionary strike group
Recently, MEUs have been deployed within an
Before the ESG, MEUs were typically deployed as part of an amphibious ready group (ARG).
The MEU Cycle
MEUs maintain their subordinate elements in fifteen month cycles: nine months stateside (with six set aside for training), and a six-month deployment aboard ship. These cycles ensure that at least two of the seven MEUs are deployed forward at any given time.
Interim or buildup period: Upon completion of a deployment, the MEU remains "special operations capable" for approximately one month, prepared to respond to events around the world. They are not, however, considered a special operations unit by the Department of Defense. The MEU then releases its major subordinate elements (MSEs), retaining only its command element. This period provides the command element a chance to rotate select personnel and begin planning for the addition of newly assigned MSEs and “work-up” training. When the MSEs are received, the MEU begins six months of intense pre-deployment training.
Work-up period: Training during the six-month work-up period is often referred to as "crawl, walk, run". Marines and sailors progress through curriculum and exercises that teach individual, small unit, and unit tactics while integrating the separate MEU elements into a cohesive, flexible, and powerful force. The work-up period includes training in many combat and noncombat skills, to include:
- urban sniper
- mechanized and motorized raids
- non-combatant evacuation operations
- humanitarian assistance
- mass casualty
- scout swimmer
- jungle and/or mountain warfare
- riot control
Exercises conducted during the work-up period can include:
- Amphibious squadron—MEU integration training (PMINT)
- Realistic urban training exercise (RUT), formerly training in an urban environment exercise (TRUEX)
- Expeditionary strike group exercise (ESGEX)
- Special operations capable certification exercise (CERTEX or SOCCEX); prior to deployment, the MEU receives certification as special operations capable and then referred to as a "MEU(SOC)".
Deployment: Following the work-up period, the MEU deploys for six months in support of geographic
The missions may include:
- Conventional operations (amphibious assaults and raids)
- Tactical recovery of aircraft and personnel (TRAP)
- Humanitarian assistance operations (HAO)
- Noncombatant evacuation operations (NEO)
- Security operations.
List of MEUs
West Coast MEUs
West Coast MEUs fall under I Marine Expeditionary Force, and their main area of operations includes the western Pacific and Indian oceans (to include the Persian Gulf).[2]
East Coast MEUs
East Coast MEUs fall under II Marine Expeditionary Force and maintain presence in the Atlantic Ocean and Mediterranean Sea.[2]
Japan MEU
The 31st MEU is the only permanently forward-deployed MEU, maintaining a presence in the Pacific Ocean at all times as part of III Marine Expeditionary Force.[2]
Official Name | Insignia | Headquarters |
---|---|---|
31st Marine Expeditionary Unit | Marine Corps Base Camp Smedley D. Butler, Okinawa, Japan |
See also
- Marine expeditionary unit (special operations capable)
- Organization of the United States Marine Corps
- Regimental combat team
References
- ^ a b What is a MEU? Archived 2008-09-10 at the Wayback Machine II MEF website
- ^ a b c profile at GlobalSecurity.org
External links
- Media related to Marine Expeditionary Units at Wikimedia Commons