The MEU Cycle

[thedrifter]

Wednesday, April 26, 2006
The MEU Cycle
Samantha Speaks

Preparing Marine Expeditionary Units for deployment is a long and intensive process of building, and training that is followed by rigorous examination. If the MEU passes all of the points required by Marine Corps Order 3502.3A, they become certified as Special Operations Capable (SOC) and can then be deployed. The cycle is hard year on the Marines, and sailors who are selected to be part of the MEU. Weakness in their training could be disastrous and failure to become certified is not an option.

Interim/Build-Up Period
Once a MEU (SOC) completes a six month deployment they remain Special Operations Capable for one month and prepared to respond to events around the world. At the end of this month all of the MEU’s major subordinate elements (MSEs) are released leaving the Command Element to being the cycle again with new elements and personnel.

During the Build-Up portion of this period selected personnel and MSEs are brought in, equipment is refitted, repaired or updated, and training exercises are planned. Once all of the new MSEs have arrived the Work-Up Period begins.

Work-Up Period
According to the 26th MEU’s website this period is often referred to as “crawl, walk, run.” The Marines and sailors follow a carefully planned curriculum that teaches individual, small unit, and unit tactics all the while melding the separate MEU elements into a unified, powerful and flexible force.

Skills are honed with training in the following areas: Urban Sniper, Mechanized and Motorized Raids, Noncombatant Evacuation Operations, Humanitarian Assistance, Mass Casualty, Scout Swimmer and Mountain Warfare

Skills are tested in the following exercises: Amphibious Squadron - MEU Integration Training (PMINT), Training in an Urban Environment Exercise (TRUEX), Expeditionary Strike Group Exercise (ESGEX), and the Special Operations Capable Certification Exercise (CERTEX).

Once CERTEX has been performed and passed the SOC designation is given to the MEU and they are ready for deployment.

Deployment
This is the six month period when the MEU is at sea ready to support any one of their defined missions. These missions include Conventional Operations (Amphibious Assaults and Raids); Tactical Recovery of Aircraft and Personnel (TRAP); Humanitarian Assistance (HA); Non-Combatant Evacuation Operations (NEO); and Security Operations.

In my next post we will examine a little more closely what goes on during the Work-Up Period.

Ellie

[thedrifter]

Monday, May 01, 2006
The MEU Work Up Period
180 Days of Highly Focused Preparation
Part One

It’s no coincidence that MEU’s have mottos like “Warriors at the Edge of Freedom”, and “A Certain Force in an Uncertain World”. These are the Marines and sailors who respond to world crises from military assaults to humanitarian missions. Whether making a forced entry, plucking personnel from hostile territory or providing humanitarian assistance, their working conditions are almost always the most dangerous one can imagine. So it is no wonder that for 180 days prior to a MEU’s deployment they train rigorously for every contingency; they must tweak their skills to perfection because failure is not an option.

Here are some brief descriptions of the kinds of training these Warriors are put through to hone their skills to a fine edge.

Urban Sniper Training: Combat in today’s world frequently takes place in urban environments creating new challenges for our Warriors. Snipers are generally trained for long range shots, but urban snipers function in close quarters, often shooting from high angles, through glass and in different temperatures. Close range concealment differs significantly from the traditional type that entails blending into the surrounding vegetation, and so new ways to set up a sniper’s hide must be learned. This training enables the Marines of the MEU to expertly function as snipers in the conditions presented by urban environments.

Mechanized/Motorized Raids: Sometimes the only way to get Marines safely to a hostile location is to transport them aboard AAVs (Amphibious Assault Vehicles.) In mechanized raids the AAV’s approach the target and lay down heavy fire with their machine guns, and then at just the right moment the back of the AAV drops and infantry Marines come running out to continue the raid. To do this successfully the infantry and track Marines have to learn how to function together as a team. Live practices teach the Marines and sailors to perform as a cohesive unit.

Raids often produce prisoners and so classes regarding enemy prisoner of war handling, the Geneva Convention and the conduct of casualty collection points are included in this training. Marines cross train for each other’s jobs so say if a combat engineer is wounded and can no longer perform his job, someone can fill his role and the raid continues.

The extra weapons of an AAV help overwhelm the enemy and provide transportation to the objective as well as armored protection for the Marines being transported. The infantry Marines provide additional safety and protection for the vehicles by increasing the amount of eyes on an objective. However, the AAV’s main mission is to get infantry Marines from ship to shore as fast as possible.

Noncombatant Evacuation Operations: Many times MEUs are called on to evacuate Americans living, working, or traveling abroad who are threatened by international crises and have no other means of escape. In preparation for such circumstances, all MEUs train to conduct Noncombatant Evacuation Operations (NEOs) under many different circumstances. During this training Marines learn how to setup Evacuation Control Centers (ECCs), conduct screening of potential evacuees, search them for dangerous items, when necessary, provide medical care and transport evacuees to safety.

In my next post I will cover the training for Humanitarian Assistance, Mass Casualty, Scout Swimmer and Mountain Warfare.

26 MEU Continues to 'SWET' Through Training

Ellie

[thedrifter]

Wednesday, May 03, 2006
The MEU Work Up Period
180 Days of Highly Focused Preparation
Part Two

By now it should be clear that MEU (SOC)s are extraordinary units used for extraordinary tasks. Even as these Marines and sailors set sail for their six month voyage they continue to train aboard their ships. Last year after being certified SOC and departing Camp Lejeune for their six month "float", the 22nd MEU (SOC) continued training exercises aboard their ships while enroute to their destination. Click the following links and you can read about their live fire exercises , aviation combat element exercises , and continued classes on life saving radio skills . The "tip of this spear" is continuously being sharpened and once again I will emphasize that failure is truly not an option with these Marines.

Let’s take a look at more of the training these marvelous Warriors go through during the Work Up Period.

Humanitarian Assistance: Called HAOs, Humanitarian Assistance Operations can present the Marines with many different challenges. Training prepares the Marines and sailors to be flexible so they can deal with whatever comes their way. Things like improvised explosive devices, hostile fire, and frustrated crowds waiting for food or medical assistance are all very real situations that may be faced by the Marines. They must respond to the needs of the people regardless of the circumstances.

Mass Casualty Evacuations: Mass casualties can result from many different scenarios such as nuclear, biological and chemical incidents, and aircraft collisions. Marines and sailors receive training on field medicine, and the complexities and challenges of stabilizing, triaging and evacuating casualties under the most extreme circumstances.

Scout Swimmer Training: Clandestine insertions using stealthy swimming techniques are sometimes necessary when other methods cannot be used. Imagine having to move through calm water that is as smooth as glass without being detected, all the while your legs are cramping from being in the extremely cold water, and oh by-the-way, some dangerous form of sea life just swam by you. By the end of this course these Marines know how to deal with any obstacles and can slowly and methodically move through water leaving ripples that are invisible to the naked eye.

Mountain Warfare Training: Sometimes units must move through a mountainous environment or a vertical obstacle, like a cliff face or a bridge. Techniques on how to rappel, control their decent, and move across a single strand and a triple strand rope bridge are essential for the Marine faced with these challenges, and that’s just what this training provides. Move over James Bond, here come the real men!

I have covered just a fraction of the pre-deployment training that these amazing people go through. How lucky we are to have such Warriors protecting us!

In my next post I will expand a little on the deployment period of the MEU (SOC), and will re-trace the last deployment of the 22nd MEU (SOC). By-the-way, they are just now arriving home to Camp Lejeune from their six month "float."

Ellie