.gif)
2nd Marine Expeditionary Brigade (United States)
Encyclopedia
The 2nd Marine Expeditionary Brigade
is a formation of the II Marine Expeditionary Force (II MEF). It advertises itself as a "middleweight" crises response force of choice in the European
and Southern Command
Areas of Operation. It is able to "operate independently, as a service component, or to lead a Joint Task Force". Self-sufficient and interoperable
, the 2nd Marine Expeditionary Brigade possesses a mix of command and control, combat power and specialized logistics
. Operating as part of the greater Marine Corps
team and with support from the United States Navy
and other services, it can provide great operational reach. These capabilities afford the brigade commander the ability to sustain his force of 20,000 Marines, influence an area the size of West Virginia
, and support a city of 30,000–50,000 without dependence on host nation support or regional infrastructure.
units as Operation Desert Storm was getting under way. The exercise was designated Battle Griffin and took place in February–March 1991. The force comprised HQ Company 25th Marines, 3-25 Marines, Co E, 4th Reconnaissance Battalion, and 1-14 Marines.
The 2nd MEB became Task Force Tarawa
, commanded by Brigadier General Richard F. Natonski
, for Operation Iraqi Freedom, and, as TF Tarawa, was thus part of the 2003 invasion of Iraq
under I Marine Expeditionary Force. It became Task Force Leatherneck
, commanded by BGen Lawrence Nicholson during the 2009–10 deployment to Afghanistan
for NATO's International Security Assistance Force
(ISAF).
Marine Expeditionary Brigade
A Marine Expeditionary Brigade is a formation of the United States Marine Corps, a Marine Air-Ground Task Force of approximately 14,500 Marines and Sailors constructed around a reinforced infantry regiment, a composite Marine aircraft group, a logistics group and a command element...
is a formation of the II Marine Expeditionary Force (II MEF). It advertises itself as a "middleweight" crises response force of choice in the European
United States European Command
The United States European Command is one of ten Unified Combatant Commands of the United States military, headquartered in Stuttgart, Germany. Its area of focus covers and 51 countries and territories, including Europe, Russia, Iceland, Greenland, and Israel...
and Southern Command
United States Southern Command
The United States Southern Command , located in Miami, Florida, is one of nine Unified Combatant Commands in the United States Department of Defense. It is responsible for providing contingency planning and operations in Central and South America, the Caribbean The United States Southern Command...
Areas of Operation. It is able to "operate independently, as a service component, or to lead a Joint Task Force". Self-sufficient and interoperable
Interoperability
Interoperability is a property referring to the ability of diverse systems and organizations to work together . The term is often used in a technical systems engineering sense, or alternatively in a broad sense, taking into account social, political, and organizational factors that impact system to...
, the 2nd Marine Expeditionary Brigade possesses a mix of command and control, combat power and specialized logistics
Logistics
Logistics is the management of the flow of goods between the point of origin and the point of destination in order to meet the requirements of customers or corporations. Logistics involves the integration of information, transportation, inventory, warehousing, material handling, and packaging, and...
. Operating as part of the greater Marine Corps
United States Marine Corps
The United States Marine Corps is a branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for providing power projection from the sea, using the mobility of the United States Navy to deliver combined-arms task forces rapidly. It is one of seven uniformed services of the United States...
team and with support from the United States Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
and other services, it can provide great operational reach. These capabilities afford the brigade commander the ability to sustain his force of 20,000 Marines, influence an area the size of West Virginia
West Virginia
West Virginia is a state in the Appalachian and Southeastern regions of the United States, bordered by Virginia to the southeast, Kentucky to the southwest, Ohio to the northwest, Pennsylvania to the northeast and Maryland to the east...
, and support a city of 30,000–50,000 without dependence on host nation support or regional infrastructure.
Current subordinate units
- Headquarters elementCommand element (United States Marine Corps)In the United States Marine Corps, the command element or CE is the command and control force of a Marine Air-Ground Task Force . It provides C3I for the MAGTF.-Role within the MAGTF:...
: 5th Battalion 10th Marines5th Battalion 10th Marines5th Battalion 10th Marines is a US artillery battalion comprising three firing batteries and a headquarters battery. The battalion is stationed at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, USA and its primary weapon system is the M777A2 howitzer, with a maximum effective range of 30 km... - Ground combat elementGround combat elementIn the United States Marine Corps, the Ground combat element is the land force of a Marine Air-Ground Task Force . It provides power projection and force for the MAGTF.-Role within the MAGTF:...
: Regimental Combat Team 8 - Aviation combat elementAviation combat elementIn the United States Marine Corps, the aviation combat element or air combat element is the air arm of the Marine Air-Ground Task Force . It provides rotary-wing, tiltrotor, and fixed-wing aircraft, support equipment, pilots, maintenance personnel, as well as command and control assets to the...
: Marine Aircraft Group 40Marine Aircraft Group 40Marine Aircraft Group 40 is a composite United States Marine Corps aviation unit that is based in Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point and currently deployed to Afghanistan... - Logistics combat elementLogistics Combat ElementIn the United States Marine Corps, the Logistics Combat Element , formerly combat service support element, is the portion of the Marine Air-Ground Task Force responsible with providing logistical support...
: Combat Logistics Regiment 2Combat Logistics Regiment 2Combat Logistics Regiment 2 is a logistics regiment of the United States Marine Corps. The unit is based at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, North Carolina and falls under the command of the 2nd Marine Logistics Group and the II Marine Expeditionary Force .-Mission:CLR-2 provides direct support...
History
In 1991 the 2nd MEB made the first test of the Norway Air-Landed Marine Expeditionary Brigade (NALMEB), comprised completely of Marine Corps ReserveUnited States Marine Corps Reserve
The Marine Forces Reserve is the reserve force of the United States Marine Corps. It is the largest command in the U.S...
units as Operation Desert Storm was getting under way. The exercise was designated Battle Griffin and took place in February–March 1991. The force comprised HQ Company 25th Marines, 3-25 Marines, Co E, 4th Reconnaissance Battalion, and 1-14 Marines.
The 2nd MEB became Task Force Tarawa
Task Force Tarawa
Task Force Tarawa was the name given to the 2nd Marine Expeditionary Brigade during the 2003 invasion of Iraq. They were a Marine Air-Ground Task Force commanded by Brigadier General Richard F...
, commanded by Brigadier General Richard F. Natonski
Richard F. Natonski
Richard F. Natonski is a retired United States Marine Corps lieutenant general whose last assignment was as the Commander of U.S. Marine Corps Forces Command. He assumed the post in August 2008, having previously served as the United States Marine Corps Deputy Commandant for Plans, Policies and...
, for Operation Iraqi Freedom, and, as TF Tarawa, was thus part of the 2003 invasion of Iraq
2003 invasion of Iraq
The 2003 invasion of Iraq , was the start of the conflict known as the Iraq War, or Operation Iraqi Freedom, in which a combined force of troops from the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia and Poland invaded Iraq and toppled the regime of Saddam Hussein in 21 days of major combat operations...
under I Marine Expeditionary Force. It became Task Force Leatherneck
Task Force Leatherneck
Task Force Leatherneck or MEB-Afghanistan is a a Marine Air-Ground Task Force currently operating in Helmand Province, Afghanistan. The name was originally given to the 2nd Marine Expeditionary Brigade during its 2009-10 for Operation Enduring Freedom as part of Regional Command South...
, commanded by BGen Lawrence Nicholson during the 2009–10 deployment to Afghanistan
Afghanistan
Afghanistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, is a landlocked country located in the centre of Asia, forming South Asia, Central Asia and the Middle East. With a population of about 29 million, it has an area of , making it the 42nd most populous and 41st largest nation in the world...
for NATO's International Security Assistance Force
International Security Assistance Force
The International Security Assistance Force is a NATO-led security mission in Afghanistan established by the United Nations Security Council on 20 December 2001 by Resolution 1386 as envisaged by the Bonn Agreement...
(ISAF).
See also
- Marine Expeditionary UnitMarine Expeditionary UnitA Marine expeditionary unit , formerly called Marine amphibious unit , is the smallest Marine air-ground task force in the United States Fleet Marine Force...
- Marine Expeditionary ForceMarine Expeditionary ForceA Marine Expeditionary Force or MEF is the largest type of a Marine Air-Ground Task Force...