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Marine Expeditionary Unit Exercises

In 1991 there were six permanent MEUs, three on the US east coast and three on the west coast. At any given time, two MEUs were forward deployed, two others were in training, and the remaining two were either standing up, standing down, or in transit. While MEU headquarters were permanent organizations, the units assigned to them rotated on a 15-month cycle (nine months stateside and six months deployed). A normal deployment included the "work up," a six-month training and familiarization program that welded separate MAGTF units into a unified combat-ready force; a six-month deployment, known as a "pump"; and the return trip which included the turnover, wash down, and homebound transit.

All elements come together for six months of training then deploy for six months as a forward-deployed, self-sustaining Marine Air-Ground Task Force. There are seven MEU's in the Corps, three on each coast of the United States and one in Okinawa, Japan [the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit was activated on 09 September 1992]. The East Coast MEUs maintain a near-constant presence in the Mediterranean, while the West Coast MEUs deploy to the Western Pacific, to include the Persian Gulf. Each MEU follows a similar work-up/deployment cycle.

Work-Up Period The MSEs are assigned to the MEU's command approximately six months prior to the scheduled Mediterranean Deployment. During this six month "work-up" period, referred to as a "crawl, walk, run period," intensive training in individual, small unit, and unit training progresses to complete integrated training for the MSEs. This training is accomplished through completing a number of courses and work-up exercises.

The six-month pre-deployment schedule for the MEU involves intense training designed to mold the separate MEU elements into a seamless fighting force. Highlights of the training courses include Helicopter Rope Suspension Training (HRST), Urban Radio Reconnaissance Course and Combat Rubber Reconnaissance Craft Coxswain Course. Some courses conducted include: Urban Sniper, Mechanical and Boat Raids, Noncombatant Evacuation Operations, Humanitarian Assistance, Mass Casualty, Scout Swimmer and Mountain Warfare. Other courses, which are slated to kick off throughout the pre-deployment, are the Medical Operations Course, Tactical Recovery of Aircraft and Personnel, and Non-Lethal Weapons and Tactics Course.

Exercises conducted during the work-up include: Phibron/MEU Integration Training (PMINT), Training in an Urban Environment Exercise (TRUEX), Amphibious Ready Group Exercise (ARGEX), Joint Task Force Exercise (JTFEX), MEUEX and the Special Operations Capable Exercise (SOCEX). Over the evolution of this six-month pre-deployment, MEU personnel will participate in exercises including Joint Task Force Exercise, Supporting Arms Coordination Center Exercise, MEU Exercise, and the culmination exercise - Special Operations Capable Exercise (SOCEX), which gives the MEU its SOC qualification - the qualification required to operate as the Fleet's force in readiness.

• PMINT - the Phibron and MEU Integration Training exercise, in which Marines and Sailors of the MEU familiarize themselves with the atmosphere of ship life and get to know the shipmates aboard the ships of the Amphibious Ready Group
• TRUEX - Training in an Urban Environment Exercise, in which MEU personnel enhance the skills needed for military operations in an urban environment.
• COMPTUEX Composite Training Underway Exercise
• The Marine Expeditionary Unit Exercise (MEUEX) can be considered the "walk" phase of the ongoing "crawl, walk, run" training philosophy that eventually leads to a MEU's Special Operations Capable qualification Exercise (SOCEX). An amphibious MEUEX will normally be completed before deployment and as a prelude to the amphibious pre-deployment exercise. It is designed to provide multi-ship/marine amphibious training and certification opportunities to increase tactical proficiency and sharpen amphibious skills. The PHIBRON commander may tailor training to the requirements of the ships involved, embarked marines, and any expected deployment contingencies. A MEUEX is made up of several smaller exercises and involves coordination from all the MEU's Major Subordinate Elements (MSE). Marines conduct Amphibious Raids, Noncombatant Evacuation Operations (NEO), Tactical Recovery of Aircraft and Personnel (TRAP), and other missions as part of a MEUEX. The Marines of the MSEs work toward increasing their technical and tactical proficiency as a MEU while honing their battle skills, all in preparation for SOCEX.
• The Special Operations Capable qualification Exercise is a fast-paced series of training scenarios designed to test the MEU in as-real-as-possible situations. This is definitely the "Run" phase of the "Crawl, Walk, Run" philosophy of training conducted by the MEU. The MEU is given multiple, often simultaneous situations to overcome. The Marines and Sailors can conduct Amphibious Raids, Noncombatant Evacuation Operations (NEO), Humanitarian Aid/Disaster Relief (HADR), Tactical Recovery of Aircraft and Personnel (TRAP), and any number of other training situations one after another and often at the same time. This tests every Major Subordinate Element of the MEU, putting stress on the Command Element, the Battalion Landing Team, the Air Combat Element and the MEU Service Support Group. The exercise tests the MEU's ability to rapidly respond to multiple, consecutive and often simultaneous missions conducted over a short period of time. It drives the MEU to utilize as many different aspects of a Marine's training as possible. And it is one of the most intense, fast-paced unit training exercises offered in the Marine Corps. The exercise tests all subordinate elements of the MEU, including Battalion Landing Team (BLT), the Air Combat Element (ACE), and MEU Service Support Group (MSSG), individually and as a whole. The number, order, and type of missions are kept secret from the Marines until 'go time' by the Special Operations Training Group, which evaluates the efficiency of the MEU and determines if the Marines have what it takes to be Special Operations Capable. SOC qualification certifies the MEU's ability to respond to any real-world contingency in its area of operation.

Central in all exercises is the Rapid Response Planning Process (R2P2), which allows MEU personnel to better focus their capabilities and quickly respond to a specific situation, whether it's a call to arms, a request for humanitarian assistance, or disaster relief.

The Deployment Following the work-up the MEU deploys for a period of six months. During this time, the MEU is a ready, forward-deployed, self-sustaining force that a theater Command can direct to accomplish a variety of special operations and conventional missions in 82 countries throughout its area of responsibility. This includes most of Europe and Africa. These missions may include: Humanitarian Assistance, Noncombatant Evacuations, Tactical Recovery of Aircraft and Personnel, Mass Casualty and other conventional operations.

Stand-down/Stand-up Periods Upon completion of one deployment, the MEU maintains control of its MSEs and remains "Special Operations Capable" for approximately one month. During the month the MEU is on stand-by to respond to events around the world. Following this period, the MEU "stands down," reducing to just the Command Element, for approximately two months. During the stand-down period, the Command Element receives incoming personnel and prepares for the upcoming training cycle. Following the stand-down the MEU acquires new MSEs and begins the "work-up" process all over again.