Marine Air-Ground Task Forces (MAGTFs) are task organized to execute a variety of assigned missions. Their size is governed by the mission and potential opposition. Marine Air-Ground Task Forces are usually comprised of four elements.
COMMAND ELEMENT (CE)
Serves as the headquarters for command and coordination of ground,
aviation, and combat service support forces.
GROUND COMBAT ELEMENT (GCE)
May be an infantry battalion or up to one or more divisions. It
may include artillery, tanks, light armored and amphibious vehicles,
combat engineers and reconnaissance assets.
AVIATION COMBAT ELEMENT (ACE)
May be a composite helicopter squadron or up to one or more aircraft
wings. It executes missions ranging from air support, assault
support, air reconnaissance, anti-air warfare, or electronic warfare
and control.
COMBAT SERVICE SUPPORT ELEMENT (CSSE)
May be a combat service support detachment or up to a force service
support group. It provides dental, engineer, supply, motor transport,
military police and maintenance support.
CAPABILITIES
As part of a Navy/Marine Corps team, a MAGTF can:
A MAGTF may also work as:
A MAGTF deploys by airlift, sealift or a combination of both, and takes advantage of the combat potential inherent in a closely integrated air-ground team under the direction and control of a single commander.
The Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) is the smallest type of MAGTF. With a strength of about 2,200 personnel, the MEU is normally built around a reinforced infantry battalion, a composite aircraft squadron, and a MEU service support group.
Commanded by a colonel, the MEU is employed to fulfill routine forward deployments with U.S. Naval fleets in the Mediterranean, the Western Pacific, and periodically, the Atlantic and Indian Oceans. The MEU is deployed aboard up to four Naval amphibious ships.
The Ground Combat Element (GCE) is the battalion landing team (BLT), an infantry battalion reinforced with artillery, amphibious assault vehicles, light armored reconnaissance assets and other units as the mission and circumstances require.
The Aviation Combat Element (ACE) is a reinforced Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron equipped with four types of helicopters. These helicopters include CH-46E "Sea Knights," CH-53E "Super Stallions," UH-1N "Hueys," and AH-1W "Super Cobras." ACE assets may also include fixed-wing aircraft such as the AV-8B "Harrier" jet.
The Combat Service Support Element is the MEU Service Support Group (MSSG) formed primarily from force service support group assets. The MSSG contains all of the logistics specialists necessary to keep the GCE, ACE and organic equipment functioning. Included within the MSSG are medical, dental, maintenance, communication, engineering, and other technical experts.
The Command Element (CE) provides command and control of the three Major Subordinate Elements (MSEs). In addition to the MEU commander and his supporting staff, the CE includes specialized detachments providing a direct action capability, naval gunfire liaison capability, reconnaissance and surveillance, and specialized communications and electronics warfare capabilities.
The MEU is unique in that its air and ground combat elements are combined with combat service support under one commander.
The 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 it needs to sustain itself for quick mission accomplishment or to pave the way for any follow-on forces.
The MEU is an expeditionary intervention force with the ability to rapidly organize for combat operations in virtually any environment.