The 23rd Marine Expeditionary Unit is composed of: a ground combat element, a aviation combat element, a logistics combat element, all separate from the main 11th Marine Division forces. The 23rd MEU is commanded by the Major/Colonel within the Division Command level, and is either deployed from the USS Chesty Puller. The 23rd embarks Marines and equipment onto the USS Chesty Puller amphibious warfare ship of the 4th Expeditionary Strike Group (ESG) which includes escort ships and submarines and (occasionally) the USS William Halsey to protect them from air, surface, and submarine threats.
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The 23rd Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU, pronounced "Myew or Mew") is the forward-deployed Marine Air-Ground Task Force (MAGTF) of the the 11th Marine Division. The 23rd MEU is an expeditionary quick reaction force, always deployed and ready for immediate response to any crisis, whether it be natural disaster or combat missions.
The mission of the 23rd MEU is to provide the 11th Marine Division with a forward-deployed, flexible sea-based Marine Air Ground Task Force, rapid-response force capable of conducting amphibious, crisis response, contingency operations 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. |
Ground Combat Element (GCE)
The ground combat element (GCE) is centered around the Battalion Landing Team (BLT), an infantry battalion reinforced with an artillery battery, amphibious assault vehicle platoon, combat engineer company, light armored reconnaissance company, tank company, reconnaissance company, and other units as the mission and circumstances require.
The reconnaissance company provides the basic element for the Maritime Special Purpose Force. This force consists of four elements: • The Assault Platoon (a direct action platoon augmented from Force Recon), • Security Platoon (a selected infantry platoon from the battalion landing team), • Reconnaissance and Surveillance Platoon, • Headquarters Platoon. Role within the 23rd MEU The Ground Combat Element (GCE), composed primarily of infantry units (infantry battalions (Separate from the 11th Marine Division's First Infantry Regiment) organized into battalion landing teams). The GCE organization contains a headquarters unit that provides command and control (management and planning for manpower, intelligence, operations and training, and logistics functions) as well as scout/sniper, aviation liaison/forward air controller, NBC defense, communications, service (supply, motor transport, weapons maintenance, and dining facility), and Navy combat medical and chaplain's corps personnel. The GCE also contains combat support units, including artillery, armor (tank, assault amphibian, and light armored reconnaissance), combat engineer (including EOD), and reconnaissance units. The GCE also contains organic combat service support, including a truck company, a military police/law enforcement company, and the division band. Organization The size of the GCE varies in proportion to the size of the Division. The 11th Marine Division holds an infantry regiment often reinforced with equipment and personnel from units (such as armor and artillery). While the 23rd Marine Expeditionary Unit commands a reinforced infantry battalion. Generally, Division postings are permanent, while MEU rotates the GCE, ACE, and LCE twice monthly. |
Aviation Combat Element (ACE)
The Aviation Combat Element (ACE) is the air arm of the 23rd Marine Expeditionary Unit. It provides rotary-wing, tiltrotor, and fixed-wing aircraft, support equipment, pilots, maintenance personnel, as well as command and control assets to the commander. It is organized of a composite squadron (reinforced) composed of a medium tiltrotor squadron augmented with detachments of heavy, light, and attack helicopters, one detachment of amphibious flight-deck-capable fixed-wing aircraft, and a Marine air control group detachment with tactical air command, air traffic control, direct air support, and anti-aircraft assets, as well as headquarters, communications, and support squadron personnel.
Role within the 23rd MEU The majority of aircraft usage within the 23rd MEU is for close air support or transport for the Ground Combat Element (GCE) or logistics combat element (LCE), however, other specialized missions are available. The six main functions include: assault support, anti-air warfare, offensive air support, electronic warfare, control of aircraft and missiles, and aerial reconnaissance. The Aviation Combat Element contributes the air power to the 23rd MEU includes all forms of Marine aircraft (fixed wing, helicopters, tiltrotor, and UAV) and aviation support units. The units are organized into detachments and squadrons, except for low altitude air defense units, which are organized into platoons, detachments, batteries, and a battalion. These units include pilots, flight officers, enlisted aircrewmen, aviation logistics (aircraft maintenance, aviation electronics, aviation ordnance, and aviation supply) and Navy aviation medical and chaplain's corps personnel, as well as ground-based air defense units, and those units necessary for command and control (management and planning for manpower, intelligence, operations and training, and logistics functions), aviation command and control (tactical air command, air defense control, air support control, and air traffic control), communications, and aviation ground support (e.g., airfield services, bulk fuels/aircraft refueling, crash rescue, engineer construction and utilities support, EOD, motor transport, ground equipment supply and maintenance, and security/law enforcement. Organization The size of the ACE varies in proportion to the size of the Division. The 11th Marine Division holds an Aviation Regiment, which is equivalent to a Wing, while the 23rd Marine Expeditionary Unit commands a reinforced Group. Generally, Division postings are permanent, while MEU rotates the GCE, ACE, and LCE twice monthly. |
Logistic Combat Element (LCE)
The Logistics Combat Element contains all the logistics specialists and equipment necessary for the MEU to support and sustain itself for up to 30 days in an austere expeditionary environment. It includes service support (postal and disbursing), medical, dental, intermediate maintenance, intermediate supply (consumables and secondary reparables), transportation (distribution and landing support), explosive ordnance disposal, utilities production and distribution, bulk fuels, internal communications, and various other technical experts.
The Logistics Combat Element is organized into a battalion, and has its own headquarters element for command and control (management and planning for manpower, intelligence, operations and training, and logistics functions) of its subordinate units and contains the majority of the combat service support units for the MAGTF, including: heavy motor transport, ground supply, heavy engineer support, ground equipment maintenance, and advanced medical and dental units, along with certain specialized groups such as air delivery, EOD, and landing support teams. The size of the LCE varies in proportion to the size of the Division. The 11th Marine Division holds an logistics combat engineer battalion subordinate to the First Infantry Regiment often reinforced with equipment and personnel from units (such as armor and artillery). While the 23rd Marine Expeditionary Unit also commands a reinforced logistics battalion. Generally, Division postings are permanent, while MEU rotates the GCE, ACE, and LCE twice monthly. |
4th Expeditionary Strike Group
The 23rd MEU has been deployed within the 4th Expeditionary Strike Group (ESG). The 4th ESG is composed of the USS Chesty Puller and (occasionally) the USS William Halsey that embark the necessary troops and equipment and are escorted by a guided missile cruiser (CG) and guided missile destroyers (DDG). littoral combat ships and submarine (SSN) support.
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The 23rd MEU maintains its subordinate elements in a three month cycle: one month stateside, and a two-month deployment aboard ship. These cycles ensure that at least one of the units within the 11th Marine Division are deployed forward at any given time.
Interim Period: Upon startup of a deployment, the 23rd Marine Expeditionary Unit remains "special operations capable" for approximately two months, prepared to respond to events around the world. The MEU will then release its major subordinate elements (MSEs). This period provides The Division Command 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 then begins intense pre-deployment training. Work-up Period: Training during work-up period is often referred to as "crawl, walk, run". The 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 but are not limited to: • 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 but are not limited to:
• Amphibious squadron—MEU integration training (PMINT) • Realistic urban training exercise (RUT) • Expeditionary strike group exercise (ESGEX) • Special operations capable certification exercise (CERTEX or SOCCEX); Deployment: Following the work-up period, the MEU deploys for two months in support of 11th Marine Division or other allied forces. During this time, the MEU is a forward-deployed, self-sustaining force that combatant commanders can direct to accomplish a variety of special operations and conventional missions. The missions may include but are not limited to: • Conventional operations (amphibious assaults and raids) • Tactical recovery of aircraft and personnel (TRAP) • Humanitarian assistance operations (HAO) • Noncombatant evacuation operations (NEO) • Security operations. |