In theUnited States Marine Corps, aMarine air–ground task force (MAGTF, pronouncedMAG-TAF) is the principal organization for all missions across the range of military operations. MAGTFs are a balanced air–ground,combined arms task organization of Marine Corps forces under a single commander that is structured to accomplish a specific mission. The MAGTF was formalized by the publishing of Marine Corps Order 3120.3 in December 1963, "The Marine Corps in the National Defense, MCDP 1-0". It stated:
A Marine air–ground task force with separate air ground headquarters is normally formed for combat operations and training exercises in which substantial combat forces of both Marine aviation and Marine ground units are included in the task organization of participating Marine forces.[1]
Since World War II, in many crises the United States Marine Corps has deployed projection forces, with the ability to move ashore with sufficient sustainability for prolonged operations. MAGTFs have long provided the United States with a broad spectrum of response options when U.S. and allied interests have been threatened and in non-combat situations which require critical response. Selective, timely andcredible commitment of air–ground units has, on many occasions, helped bring stability to a region and sent signals worldwide that the United States is willing to defend its interests, and is able to do so with a powerful force on short notice.[2]
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The four core elements of a Marine air–ground task force are:
The four core elements describe types of forces needed and not actual military units or commands. The basic structure of the MAGTF never varies, though the number, size, and type of Marine Corps units composing each of its four elements will always be mission dependent. The flexibility of the organizational structure allows for one or more subordinate MAGTFs to be assigned.
Seabees of theU.S. Navy may be deployed in support of a MAGTF.[3]
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AMarine expeditionary force (MEF), commanded by alieutenant general, is composed of aMEF headquarters group (MEF HQG), aMarine division (MARDIV), aMarine aircraft wing (MAW), and aMarine logistics group (MLG).
For comparison purposes, in relation to other U.S. ground and air combat forces, the MEF HQG may be considered as roughly analogous to a notional U.S. Army (USA)divisionheadquarters that also contains a combinedbattlefield surveillance brigade (BFSB)/maneuver enhancement brigade (Army MEB).[citation needed] This comparison is based on the fact that the MEF HQG contains several of the key components of the BSB and Army MEB (viz.,network support,military intelligence,military police, andlong-range surveillance) resident in its organiccommunications,intelligence,law enforcement, andradiobattalions and attachedforce reconnaissancecompany.[original research?]
The MARDIV, containing two or threeinfantryregiments, anartillery regiment, and several separate armored vehicle battalions (i.e.,tank,assault amphibian, and light armored reconnaissance) and othercombat support battalions (i.e.,reconnaissance,combat engineer, andheadquarters) is approximately equivalent to a notional U.S. Armylight infantrydivision organized with two or three brigade combat teams,division artillery (DIVARTY), a divisionsustainment brigade, adivision headquarters and headquarters battalion and others, and is reinforced with anarmored brigade combat team (ABCT).[citation needed] (While the tank battalion of a MARDIV has fewertanks than an ABCT, with 58 vice 90, respectively, the MARDIVassault amphibian vehicle (AAV) battalion has four companies of 42 AAVs each and is capable of transforming an entire Marine infantry regiment into anamphibiousmechanized infantry force.)[original research?]
The MAW, with itsaircraft groups (MAGs) andair control groups (MACGs), is comparable to a notional U.S. Air Force (USAF)numbered air force consisting of a mix of several USAFwings and USAcombat aviation brigades (nominally at least two of each).[citation needed] Lastly, the MLG and its organiclogistics regiments are the USMC organizational and functional equivalents of a USASustainment Command (Expeditionary) and its constituentsustainment brigades.[citation needed]
The MEF, which varies in size, is capable of conducting missions across the full range of military operations and to support and sustain itself for up to 60 days in an austere expeditionary environment. For example, theI Marine Expeditionary Force (I MEF) is composed of theI MEF Headquarters Group, the1st Marine Division, the3rd Marine Aircraft Wing and the1st Marine Logistics Group, all based on the West Coast. Two notable deployments of an entire MEF were when I Marine Expeditionary Force deployed in support ofOperations Desert Shield and Desert Storm. I MEF ultimately consisted of the 1st and2nd Marine Divisions as well as considerable Marine air and support units. I MEF also deployed to Somalia in December 1992 for the humanitarian relief effort there as well as deploying toKuwait beginning in 2002 and taking part in the2003 Invasion of Iraq.
The three Marine expeditionary forces are:
AMarine expeditionary brigade (MEB) is larger than aMarine expeditionary unit (MEU) but smaller than a MEF. The MEB, which varies in size, is capable of conducting missions across the full range of military operations and to support and sustain itself for up to 30 days in an austere expeditionary environment. It is constructed around a reinforcedinfantryregiment designated as aregimental combat team (RCT), a composite Marineaircraft group, and acombat logistics regiment (CLR), formerly known as a brigade service support group, all commanded by a battalion-sized command element designated as a MEB headquarters group. The MEB, commanded by a general officer (either amajor general or abrigadier general), is task-organized to meet the requirements of a specific situation. It can function as part of ajoint task force, as the lead echelon of the MEF, or alone.
The smallest type of MAGTF is the Marine expeditionary unit (MEU) Special Operations Capable (SOC), designated as an MEU (SOC), commanded by a colonel. The MEU is capable of conducting limited, specialized, and selected special operations missions and to support and sustain itself for up to 15 days in an austere expeditionary environment. The MEU is based on a reinforced Marine infantry battalion, designated as a battalion landing team (BLT), supported by a medium tiltrotor squadron (VMM) (reinforced), containing both fixed-wing and rotary-wing aircraft and aviation support detachments, and acombat logistics battalion (CLB), all commanded by a company-sized MEU headquarters group.
There are usually three MEUs assigned to each of the U.S. NavyAtlantic andPacific Fleets, with another MEU based onOkinawa. While one MEU is on deployment, one MEU is training to deploy and one is standing down, resting its marines, and refitting. Each MEU is rated as capable of performing special operations, though USMC's definition of this is not consistent with that of SOCOM. They are not considered special operations unit by the Department of Defense.
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