Organization of the Marine Corps

MAGTF Elements

• A command element (CE). • A ground combat element (GCE). • An aviation combat element (ACE). • A logistics combat element (LCE).

MEF Locations

• I MEF based in southern California and Arizona. • II MEF based in Virginia, North Carolina, and South Carolina. • III MEF based in Japan and Hawaii.

Types of MAGTFs

• Marine expeditionary force. • Marine expeditionary brigade. • Marine expeditionary unit. • Special purpose Marine air-ground task force.

Marine Expeditionary Brigade (MEB) Locations

- 1st MEB located in Camp Pendleton, CA (I MEF) standing MEB CE; rather, task organized from within I MEF as the situation requires). - 2d MEB located in Camp Lejeune, NC is aligned to II MEF (USEUCOM / USAFRICOM / USCENTCOM) (standing MEB CE). - 3d MEB located in Okinawa, Japan is aligned to III MEF (USINDOPACOM) (standing MEB CE). - 5th MEB located in Bahrain also serves as MARCENT (FWD) and is aligned to USCENTCOM (also known as Amphibious Task Force-51/5th MEB)

Marine Division

A Marine Division's mission is to provide forces for amphibious assaults or to execute other operations as may be directed. The Marine division must be able to provide the ground amphibious forcible-entry capability to an amphibious task force (ATF) and conduct subsequent land operations in any operational environment.

seven warfighting functions

Command and Control• Intelligence. • Maneuver. • Fires. • Logistics. • Force protection. • Information

Infantry Regiments

Each has three infantry battalions: 1st, 2d, and 3d. Three rifle companies are in each infantry battalion, so each regiment has nine rifle companies. In addition to the rifle companies, each battalion has a Headquarters and Service Company(H&SCo) and a Weapons Company (Wpns Co) Companies A,B,and C are always in the 1st Battalion. Companies E,F,and G are always in the 2d Battalion. Companies I, K, and L are always in the 3d Battalion.

Aviation Combat Element (ACE)

The ACE is task organized to conduct air operations, project combat power, and contribute to battlespace dominance in support of the MAGTF's mission by performing some or all of the six functions of Marine aviation. It is formed around an aviation headquarters with air control agencies, aircraft squadrons or groups, and combat service support units. It can vary in size and composition from an aviation detachment of specifically required aircraft to one or more Marine aircraft wings.

Command Element (CE)

The CE is the MAGTF headquarters. As with all other MAGTF elements it is task organized to provide the command and control capabilities necessary for effective planning, execution, and assessment of operations across the warfighting functions.

Ground Combat Element (GCE)

The GCE is task-organized to conduct ground operations, project combat power, and contribute to battlespace dominance in support of the MAGTF's mission. It is formed around an infantry organization reinforced with artillery, reconnaissance, amphibious assault, and engineer forces. The GCE can vary in size and composition, usually from a battalion to one or more Marine divisions.

Logistics Combat Element (LCE)

The LCE is task organized to provide all functions of tactical logistics necessary to support the continued readiness and sustainability of the MAGTF.

Marine Air-Ground Task Force (MAGTF)

The MAGTF is a balanced air-ground combined arms task organization of Marine Corps forces under a single commander structured to accomplish a specific mission. It is the Marine Corps' principal organization for all missions across the range of military operations. It is designed to fight, while having the ability to prevent conflicts and control crises

Marine Expeditionary Force (MEF)

The MEF is the Marine Corps' principal warfighting organization. It is capable of missions across a range of military operations, to include amphibious assault and sustained operations ashore in any environment. A permanent Command Element (CE). • A GCE of one or more Marine Divisions (MARDIV). • An ACE of one or more Marine Aircraft Wings (MAW). • A LCE of one or more Marine Logistics Groups (MLG). A MEF typically deploys by echelon with 60 days of sustainment

four elements of a Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU)

The MEU is the standard forward-deployed Marine expeditionary organization. A forward-deployed MEU provides an immediate sea-based response to meet Forward-presence and power projection requirements. Each MEU consists of: • A standing CE that may include additional assets such as command and control, force reconnaissance company, and signals intelligence capabilities from the radio battalion. • A GCE comprised of an infantry battalion reinforced with artillery, reconnaissance, engineers, tanks, light armored reconnaissance, assault amphibian units, and other attachments as required. This reinforced infantry battalion forms a battalion landing team (BLT). • An ACE consisting of a Marine medium tiltrotor squadron (VMM) is reinforced with detachments from a Marine heavy helicopter squadron (HMH), Marine light attack helicopter squadron (HMLA), Marine attack squadron (VMA), Marine unmanned aerial vehicle squadron (VMU), Marine air traffic control detachment (MATCD), Marine wing support squadron (MWSS), and Marine aviation logistics squadron (MALS). • A LCE consisting of a combat logistics battalion (CLB). The CLB has engineering, supply, transportation, landing support, medical, and maintenance capabilities

Marine Logistics Group

The MLG provides direct support (DS) to the MEF and sustained tactical logistics to each element in the MEF in the functional areas of logistics beyond the organic capabilities of supported units. It provides LCEs to smaller MAGTFs that train, rapidly task organize, deploy, employ, fight, and redeploy in order to provide general support (GS) and direct support (DS) logistics combat support to all elements of the MEF and smaller MAGTFs.

four elements of a Marine Expeditionary Brigade (MEB)

The Marine expeditionary brigade (MEB) is the "middle weight" MAGTF. It is a crisis response force capable of forcible entry and enabling the introduction of follow-on forces. It can serve as part of a joint or multinational force and its standing CE can serve as the nucleus of a MAGTF It is unique in that it is the smallest MAGTF with a fully capable aviation element that performs all six functions of Marine aviation and is self-sustaining for 30 days A MEB notionally consists of the following elements: • A CE may include additional assets such as command and control, force reconnaissance company, signals intelligence capabilities from the radio battalion, and engineering capabilities from the naval construction regiments. • A GCE is composed of an infantry regiment reinforced with artillery, reconnaissance, engineer, light armored reconnaissance units, assault amphibian units, and other attachments as required. • An ACE is composed of a Marine aircraft group comprised of combat assault transport helicopters, utility and attack helicopters, vertical/short takeoff and landing fixed-wing attack aircraft, air refuelers / transport aircraft, and other detachments as required. • A LCE is task organized around a combat logistics regiment. This element has engineering, supply, transportation, landing support for beach, port, and airfield delivery, medical and maintenance capabilities.

Marine Air Wing

The primary mission of Marine Corps aviation is to participate as the air component of the MAGTF in the seizure and defense of advance naval bases and to conduct such land operations as may be essential for the prosecution of a naval campaign.

Locations of the 7 MEUs

There are seven standing MEU CEs: the 11th, 13th, and 15th MEUs reside with I MEF; the 22nd, 24th, and 26th MEUs reside with II MEF; and the 31st MEU resides with III MEF.