Marine Air-Ground Task Force
Marine Air-Ground Task Forces form the fundamental structure of all United States Marine Corps operations. They always have the same four components; they differ in the size of each component.
- Command element
- Aviation combat element
- Ground combat element
- Combat service support element
| Organization | Typical command | Typical air component | Typical ground component | Typical support component |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) | Colonel | Squadron | Battalion | Group |
| Marine Expeditionary Brigade (MEB) | Brigadier general-major general | composite Marine aircraft group | reinforced infantry regiment, | brigade service support group. |
| Marine Expeditionary Force (MEF) | Lieutenant general | 1 or more Wing | 1 or more Division | 1 or more force service support groups. |
Marine Expeditionary Unit
This is the basic forward-deployed, at-sea Marine organization, teamed with a Navy Expeditionary Strike Group.
Marine Expeditionary Brigade
It can function as part of a joint task force, as the lead echelon of the Marine expeditionary force (MEF), or alone.
Marine Expeditionary Force
The largest Marine air-ground task force (MAGTF) and the Marine Corps principal warfighting organization, particularly for larger crises or contingencies. It is task-organized around a permanent command element and normally contains one or more Marine divisions, Marine aircraft wings, and Marine force service support groups. The Marine expeditionary force is capable of missions across the range of military operations, including amphibious assault and sustained operations ashore in any environment. It can operate from a sea base, a land base, or both.
A MEF may also split into a forward echelon and a main headquarters, with the MEF commander at either location. The MEF Forward may prepare for the full MEF, or, as is the case in Iraq, operate as a stand-alone Marine or joint headquarters.
I MEF
Based at Camp Pendleton, California, this is the major command in the western U.S. It has a forward echelon currently functioning as the headquarters of Multinational Force-West in Iraq. .