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56-510: A MEU normally is composed of Troop strength of a MEU is about 2,200 (normal and peacetime) to 4,400 (mobilization and wartime). A MEU is usually commanded by a colonel , and is deployed from amphibious assault ships . Currently, a MEU embarks personnel and equipment on the amphibious warfare ships of an expeditionary strike group (ESG), which also includes escort warships and submarines to protect them from air, surface, and submarine threats. For further protection and strong air support, an ESG

112-568: A Kentucky colonel ; Colonel Christian Umstead, US Marine, a Kentucky Colonel ; Colonel Tom Parker , Elvis Presley 's manager, who received the honor from a Louisiana governor; and Edward M. House , known as Colonel House, a Texas honorary colonel and adviser to President Woodrow Wilson . List of United States Marine Corps aviation support units This is a list of United States Marine Corps aviation support squadrons and other units, sorted by type. The Marine Wing Headquarters Squadron (MWHS) provides administrative and supply support for

168-596: A headquarters section . The total strength is approximately 350 members, including Navy sailors. The aviation combat element ( ACE ) is a USMC composite squadron (reinforced) composed of a medium tiltrotor squadron augmented with detachments of heavy, light, and attack helicopters, one detachment of amphibious flight-deck- capable jets, and a Marine air control group detachment with tactical air command, air traffic control , direct air support , and anti-aircraft assets, as well as wing headquarters, wing communications, and wing support squadron personnel. Total strength

224-508: A "Command Chief") as principal senior NCO enlisted adviser. Colonels are also found leading at directorate and division levels on the Secretariat, Air Staff (United States) , MAJCOM , or Numbered Air Force staff. A Space Force colonel typically commands a delta . In the modern armed forces, the colonel's eagle is worn facing forward with head and beak pointing towards the wearer's front. Of all U.S. military commissioned officer rank, only

280-733: A Confederate general , stating that he would only accept permanent promotion when the Confederacy had defeated the U.S. and achieved its independence. After the end of the Civil War, the rank of colonel again became rare as the forces of the United States Army downsized and became extremely small. However, many U.S. colonels were appointed in the volunteers during the Spanish–American War , prominent among them Theodore Roosevelt and David Grant Colson . World War I and World War II saw

336-568: A Marine Aircraft Wing Headquarters (MAW HQ). The MAW HQ is a separate organization that directs and coordinates the operations of the MAW. The MAW HQ contains the wing commander (commanding general) and assistant wing commander, their personal staffs (aides-de-camp, drivers, etc.), and the chief of staff, the general staff divisions (G-1 through G-6), and the special staff departments (public affairs officer, wing inspector, staff judge advocate, wing medical officer, and wing chaplain). The wing commander fights

392-581: A Marine Corps Exchamge (MCX) (i.e., post exchange), commissary, gas station, barber shop, dry cleaner, library, theater, golf course, bowling center, fitness, recreation, hobby, craft and auto repair center(s), swimming pool, officer, SNCO, NCO clubs, family services, Single Marine Program, and other personal services vendors. Combat Logistics Companies, while subordinate to a Marine Logistics Group provide intermediate ground logistics support to aviation units, to include supply and maintenance beyond organic capabilities. All Marine air stations not in proximity to

448-462: A Marine Logistics Group have a tenant company. Squadrons/Detachments are listed by their last designation. The Marine Corps' air warning squadrons were established during World War II and were tasked with providing early warning of enemy aircraft and ground control intercept against enemy aircraft during the initial phases of any amphibious landing. The first AWS was commissioned in September 1943 with

504-485: A cohesive, flexible, and powerful force. The work-up period includes training in many combat and noncombat skills, to include: Exercises conducted during the work-up period can include: Deployment : Following the work-up period, the MEU deploys for six months in support of geographic combatant commanders . During this time, the MEU is a forward-deployed, self-sustaining force that combatant commanders can direct to accomplish

560-411: A lieutenant colonel as deputy commander, a major as executive officer , and a command sergeant major as a senior non-commissioned officer (NCO) advisor. An Air Force colonel typically commands a wing consisting of 1,000 to 4,000+ airmen with another colonel as the vice commander, four other colonels as group commanders , which are the major components of wings, and a Chief Master Sergeant (i.e.,

616-805: A limited duration at the beginning of any operation until larger air warning squadrons came ashore. They were originally formed as Air Warning Squadron (Air Transportable) however their designators changed in July/August 1944 due to the inability to field an air transportable radar. Four of these squadrons were commissioned during the war with one, AWS(AT)-5, taking part in the Battle of Saipan . All four squadrons were decommissioned in November 1944. Aircraft Engineering Squadrons were responsible for training aircraft maintenance and service personnel. The squadrons were originally formed during World War II and were in existence into

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672-518: A pay grade of "O-5". Officers in pay grade O-6 visiting or on temporary assignment to other installations are also accorded "Distinguished Visitor" (DV) status for lodging and other appropriate protocol honors. When flying on military aircraft as either crew or passenger, they are also accorded "Code" status as a "Code 7" in accordance with Department of Defense Flight Information Publication General Planning (DoD FLIP GP). Most Army colonels have attended or otherwise completed via seminar or correspondence

728-629: A result of passage of the Defense Officer Personnel Management Act . Contemporary U.S. colonels usually command Army infantry, artillery, armor, aviation, special forces, or other types of brigades or regiments as well as large installations; USMC regiments , Marine Expeditionary Units , Marine Aircraft Groups, or installations such as Marine Corps Bases or Marine Corps Air Stations; USAF groups or wings ; and USSF deltas . An Army colonel typically commands brigade-sized units (4,000 to 6,000 soldiers), with another colonel or

784-525: A total of 19 being stood up during the war. On 1 August 1946 all remaining AWS were redesignated as Marine Ground Control Intercept Squadrons. Assault Air Warning Squadrons were United States Marine Corps aviation command and control units formed during World War II to provide early warning , aerial surveillance , and ground controlled interception during the early phases of an amphibious landing . These squadrons were supposed to be fielded lightweight radars and control center gear in order to operate for

840-522: A variety of special operations and conventional missions. The missions may include: West Coast MEUs fall under I Marine Expeditionary Force , and their main area of operations includes the western Pacific and Indian oceans (to include the Persian Gulf ). East Coast MEUs fall under II Marine Expeditionary Force and maintain presence in the Atlantic Ocean and Mediterranean Sea . The 31st MEU

896-519: A war college or a senior staff college equivalent to study joint warfare and war itself. It is possible to make Colonel without war college if the board file is as strong or stronger than a war college graduate. Most Army colonels receive postgraduate level senior joint professional military education (JPME) at the Army War College in Carlisle, Pennsylvania prior to promotion. The 2009 graduating class

952-462: Is a split between the services on which mirror image of the eagle should be worn. In the United States Army, United States Air Force, and United States Space Force, the eagle is always worn with "the head of the eagle to the wearer's right or to the front," with the olive branch clutched in the eagle's right (or forward) hand talons (see Department of the Army Pamphlet 670-1, paragraph 21-6 [a][1]). In

1008-628: Is about 200 members, including Navy sailors. Recently, MEUs have been deployed within an expeditionary strike group (ESG) in the Mediterranean , the Western Pacific , and periodically, the Atlantic and Indian Oceans . An ESG is typically composed of three amphibious ships that embark the necessary troops and equipment and are escorted by a guided missile cruiser (CG) and guided missile destroyers (DDG) and submarine ( SSN ) support. Before

1064-867: Is approximately 600 troops. The logistics combat element ( LCE ) (formerly combat service support element or CSSE ) is based on the MEU combat logistics battalion (CLB) (formerly MEU service support group or MSSG ). It contains all the logistics specialists and equipment necessary for the MEU to support and sustain itself for up to 15 days in an austere expeditionary environment. It includes service support (postal and disbursing), medical , dental , intermediate maintenance, intermediate supply (consumables and secondary reparable), transportation (distribution and landing support), explosive ordnance disposal , utilities production and distribution, bulk fuels, internal communications, and various other technical experts. It consists of approximately 300 members, including Navy sailors. The command element ( CE ), which includes

1120-940: Is equipped with: Many types of equipment are, or will soon, undergo a transitory phase as they are replaced. Some examples include the Amphibious Combat Vehicle replacing the AAV-7, the F-35 Lightning II replacing the AV-8B Harrier, and the CH-53K King Stallion replacing the CH-53E . The ground combat element ( GCE ) is based on the battalion landing team ( BLT ), an infantry battalion reinforced with an artillery battery , amphibious assault vehicle platoon, combat engineer platoon, light armored reconnaissance company, reconnaissance platoon, and other units as

1176-406: Is often deployed along with one or more carrier strike groups . The MEU is unique in that its air and ground combat elements are combined with a logistics combat element under one commander; other services do not unite the command of air and ground forces until much higher command levels. The MEU's ground combat element also combines artillery , light armor , and tanks at a much lower level than

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1232-545: Is the only permanently forward-deployed MEU, maintaining a presence in the Pacific Ocean at all times as part of III Marine Expeditionary Force . Colonel (United States) A colonel ( / ˈ k ɜːr n əl / ) in the United States Army , Marine Corps , Air Force and Space Force , is the most senior field-grade military officer rank , immediately above the rank of lieutenant colonel and just below

1288-730: Is the operational command post for the Marine Aircraft Wing, from which the Wing Commander and his battle staff command the tactical air battle, including tactical air support provided to ground forces (directed from the DASC in the MASS) and tactical air defense (directed by the TAOC in the MACS). As part of Force Design 2030 , all of the active duty MTACS have been decommissioned with their functionality moved to

1344-546: The National Defense University or one of the other U.S. military services. Some people known as "colonels" are actually recipients of honorary colonel ranks from a state governor and are not officers of the U.S. military. In the 19th century, the honorary colonels were military appointments and they still are nominally appointed to a governor's staff, but without military rights or duties. Examples of honorary colonels include Colonel Harland Sanders of KFC fame,

1400-583: The Vietnam War , numerous MATCUs served throughout the I Corps Tactical region of South Vietnam supporting the III Marine Amphibious Force . Beginning in the mid-1970s, the Marine Corps decided to consolidate regionally aligned MATCUs into Marine Air Traffic Control Squadrons. The last reserve MATCU was decommissioned in 1980. The Marine Air Traffic Control Squadrons (MATCS) were formed through

1456-654: The aviation combat elements of a MEB or MEU . MACS are responsible for air traffic control and operate the Tactical Air Operations Center (TAOC), which directs antiair warfare (to include ground-based anti-aircraft weapons ), early warning & intercept control, air surveillance, radar control, and airspace management. MASSs provide the Direct Air Support Center (DASC) which controls and coordinates those tactical aircraft operations directly supporting ground forces. They are responsible for

1512-559: The AWC distance learning program. Still other USAF colonels a JPME program via the National Defense University (i.e., National War College , Eisenhower School ) or the program of another service (e.g., Army War College, College of Naval Warfare at the Naval War College , Marine Corps War College ). The AWC resident program includes participation by officers from various other branches of the U.S. armed forces and Allied nations. Completion of

1568-654: The AWC or an equivalent program is a de facto requirement for promotion to colonel in the USAF, to include the Air Force Reserve and the Air National Guard . Marine colonels may graduate from the Marine Corps War College or, like all other branches, may receive credit via non-resident attendance at another installation, via correspondence, or will be graduates of an equivalent senior JPME program sponsored by

1624-581: The British Army in the North American colonies. Upon the outbreak of the American Revolutionary War , colonial legislatures would grant commissions to men to raise a regiment and serve as its colonel. Thus, the first U.S. colonels were usually respected men with ties in local communities and active in politics. With the post-war reduction of the U.S. Army, the rank of colonel disappeared, and

1680-454: The ESG, MEUs were typically deployed as part of an amphibious ready group (ARG). MEUs maintain their subordinate elements in fifteen month cycles: nine months stateside (with six set aside for training), and a six-month deployment aboard ship. These cycles ensure that at least two of the seven MEUs are deployed forward at any given time. Interim or buildup period : Upon completion of a deployment,

1736-689: The MAG to operate an airfield. This support includes: (1) airfield services (aviation terminal operations, airfield expeditionary systems/ air field lighting, and aircraft crash rescue and firefighting/ emergency services), 2) communications (less air traffic control services), (3) motor transport, (4) engineer services (construction, maintenance, and utilities), 4) bulk fuel delivery and containment, (5) aircraft refueling, (6) non-aviation (i.e., "ground") supply, (7) non-aviation equipment maintenance, (8) local security, (9) food service, and (10) medical services (provided by U.S. Navy personnel). A H&HS usually consists of

Marine expeditionary unit - Misplaced Pages Continue

1792-591: The MAW from his operational command post located in the Tactical Air Command Center (TACC) maintained by the Marine Air Control Group (MACG). The Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron (MALS) provides direct support of intermediate aircraft maintenance, avionics, aviation supply, and aviation ordnance to the aircraft squadrons of a Marine Aircraft Group . A MALS is capable of supporting multiple types of aircraft, as well as providing detachments for

1848-423: The MEU commander and his supporting staff , provides command and control over the other three elements. It includes specialized detachments for air naval gunfire liaison , reconnaissance , surveillance , specialized communications, radio reconnaissance ( SIGINT ), electronic warfare , Marine Corps Intelligence and counterintelligence , law enforcement , and public affairs missions. The overall strength

1904-462: The MEU remains "special operations capable" for approximately one month, prepared to respond to events around the world. They are not, however, considered a special operations unit by the Department of Defense. The MEU then releases its major subordinate elements (MSEs), retaining only its command element. This period provides the command element a chance to rotate select personnel and begin planning for

1960-569: The Marine Air Control Group headquarters. MWCSs provide all communication assets for the ACE, including radio, satellite, wire, and data technology. The Marine Corps activated its first Littoral Anti-Air Battalion (LAAB) on 11 February 2022. LAABs are designed to provide ground based air defense , early warning , tactical air control, and Forward arming and refuelling points in support of Marine Corps littoral operations. LAAD Battalions are responsible for close air defense protection of assets within

2016-610: The United States Navy, United States Marine Corps, United States Coast Guard, NOAA, and the PHSCC, the eagle is worn with "the head facing forward" on the wearer's right side of the garrison cover (see Marine Corps Order P1020.34G, Uniform Regulation, paragraph 4005d[1]). Since respective service's officer insignia is worn on the left side and the rank insignia is worn on the right hand side of the Marine, Navy, Coast Guard and NOAA garrison caps,

2072-469: The addition of newly assigned MSEs and “work-up” training. When the MSEs are received, the MEU begins six months of intense pre-deployment training. Work-up period : Training during the six-month work-up period is often referred to as "crawl, walk, run". Marines and sailors progress through curriculum and exercises that teach individual, small unit, and unit tactics while integrating the separate MEU elements into

2128-564: The area of operation, with a secondary mission of local ground security for ACE elements. They are armed with surface to air weapons, as well as early warning and detection equipment. Currently, LAAD battalions are equipped with the FIM-92 Stinger , a man-portable surface-to-air missile, and the M2 .50 cal machinegun . The M1097 Avenger missile-equipped HMMWV has been retired by Marine forces. The MWSS provides all essential aviation ground support to

2184-407: The authorization to directly commission new officers up to the rank of colonel. The pay grade for colonel is O-6. When worn alone, the insignia of rank seen at right is worn centered on headgear and fatigue uniforms. When worn in pairs, the insignia is worn on the officer's left side while a mirror-image reverse version is worn on the right side, such that both of the eagles' heads face forward, to

2240-477: The colonel's eagle has a distinct right and left insignia. All other commissioned officer rank insignia can be worn on either the right or left side. Colonels are sometimes referred to (but not addressed as) full colonels , bird colonels , or full bird colonels because lieutenant colonels are also referred to and addressed in correspondence as "colonel". Referring to an "O-6", a colonel's pay grade, also may differentiate colonels and lieutenant colonels , who have

2296-520: The eagle is facing to the eagle's left with the olive branch clutched in the eagle's left hand talons, which is a mirror opposite to the wear of the single eagle for Army, Air Force, and Space Force officers. The U.S. rank of colonel is a direct successor to the same rank in the British Army . The first colonels in the United States were appointed from colonial militias maintained as reserves to

Marine expeditionary unit - Misplaced Pages Continue

2352-540: The early 1950s. Marine Air Traffic Control Units (MATCU) were air traffic control (ATC) detachments that provided continuous, all-weather, radar and non-radar, approach , departure , enroute, and tower ATC services at both garrison Marine Corps Air Stations and tactical airfields when deployed . MATCUs possessed Tactical air navigation systems (TACAN) and Ground-controlled approach (GCA) equipment which assisted Marine Corps, joint and coalition aircraft in conducting landings during inclement weather . During

2408-552: The headquarters group (the station commanding general/commanding officer and staff), the squadron headquarters (commanding officer and staff), public affairs and journalism, facilities planning & maintenance, billeting and family housing offices, station motor pool, air traffic control, meteorology, fuels, ordnance, other aviation support, Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting, Provost Marshal section, station Judge Advocate's Office, station Chaplain, Navy medical facility, and Marine Corps Community Service, which usually hosts services such as

2464-465: The insignia lacks the scroll in the eagle's mouth and the rosette above its head. On the Great Seal, the olive branch is always clutched in the eagle's right-side talons, while the bundle of arrows is always clutched in the left-side talons. The head of the eagle faces towards the olive branch, rather than the arrows, advocating peace rather than war. As a result, the head of the eagle always faces towards

2520-513: The largest numbers of colonels ever appointed in the U.S. military. This was mostly due to the temporary ranks of the National Army and the Army of the United States , where those who would normally hold the rank of Captain in the peacetime Regular Army were thrust into the rank of colonel during these two wars. The Military Promotion System was revised and standardized for all the services in 1980 as

2576-462: The mission and circumstances require. The total strength is approximately 1,100 members, including Navy sailors. The Maritime Special Purpose Force is a subgroup of the MEU, formed for low-profile missions. The MSPF force consists of four elements: an assault platoon (a direct action platoon augmented from Force Recon ), a security platoon (a selected infantry platoon from the battalion landing team), reconnaissance and surveillance assets , and

2632-436: The processing of immediate requests (e.g. Close Air Support , CASEVAC , and Assault Support ), integrate and deconflict indirect fire support (e.g., artillery and mortars) with aviation assets, manage terminal control assets , and procedurally controlling aircraft. MTACS provide the ACE commander with command and control functions necessary for the aviation mission. They establish a Tactical Air Command Center (TACC), which

2688-476: The rank of brigadier general . Colonel is equivalent to the naval rank of captain in the other uniformed services . By law, an officer previously required at least 22 years of cumulative service and a minimum of three years as a lieutenant colonel before being promoted to colonel. With the signing of the National Defense Authorization Act of 2019 (NDAA 2019), military services now have

2744-463: The regiments were known by the title "Colonel of Volunteers", in contrast to Regular Army colonels who held permanent commissions. During the Civil War, the Confederate army maintained a unique insignia for colonel, which comprised three yellow stars worn on the collar of a uniform. Robert E. Lee wore this insignia due to his former rank in the United States Army and refused to wear the insignia of

2800-478: The viewer's left. Some colonel eagles from the 1920s to the 1950s faced the arrows, though this is no longer done. The full-sized colonel eagle is 3/4 inches tall and 1 + 1 ⁄ 2 inches in diameter from the tips of each wing. However, when worn as a single insignia with no matching pair, such as on the patrol cap , garrison cap / flight cap , or the front of the Army, Air Force, or Space Force OCP uniform, there

2856-466: The war's conclusion. A number of other colonels were appointed by brevet – an honorary promotion usually for distinguished service in combat. The American Civil War saw a large influx of colonels as the rank was commonly held in both the Confederate army and Union Army by those who commanded a regiment. Since most U.S. regiments were state formations and were quickly raised, the colonels in command of

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2912-483: The way for follow-up forces. This self-sustainment allows more flexibility in disposition and operations of forces, and allows the MEU to initiate operations sooner and let support catch up later, without having to wait for external logistical support to begin a mission. Deployments on U.S. Navy amphibious assault ships allows MEUs to seabase around the globe, ready for deployment at short notice. A typical MEU has approximately 2,200 members, including navy sailors. It

2968-528: The wearer's front. The insignia for a colonel is a silver eagle which is a stylized representation of the eagle dominating the Great Seal of the United States (which is the coat of arms of the United States). As on the Great Seal, the eagle has a U.S. shield superimposed on its chest and is holding an olive branch and bundle of arrows in its talons . However, in simplification of the Great Seal image,

3024-474: Was 336 including 198 army officers and the rest divided among other military branches, domestic inter-agency representatives and other foreign military leaders. A high concentration of USAF colonels graduate from the Air War College (AWC) at Maxwell AFB , Alabama via in-residence at Maxwell AFB, while other USAF colonels complete AWC via a non-resident seminar program paralleling the in-residence program or

3080-584: Was common in the Army until the development of the brigade combat team early in the War on Terror , with a similar concept, the combat command , being utilized in World War II . This 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 and logistical support it needs to sustain itself for quick mission accomplishment or to prepare

3136-564: Was not re-introduced until 1802. The first insignia for the rank of colonel consisted of gold epaulettes worn on the blue uniform of the Continental Army . The rank of colonel was relatively rare in the early 19th century, partly because the U.S. Army was very small, and the rank was usually obtained only after long years of service. During the War of 1812 the Army grew rapidly and many colonels were appointed, but most of these colonels were discharged when their regiments were disbanded at

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