What does that mean?
What is a Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU), and why does the 26thcarry that SOC parenthetical designation?
Surprisingly, 1/6 deployed without amphibious landing vehicles.
In 2021, Sgt. Jacob Orlowsky, a scout squad leader assigned to 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit, leads a patrol during a live-fire and maneuver exercise. Image: Staff Sgt. Donald Holbert/U.S.M.C.
The MEU has only the LAV-25 as a light armor weapon to support infantry operations.
The Ospreys are fast with relatively long legs, but they are vulnerable to light anti-aircraft weapons.
Thats where the reinforced part of VMM-162 plays an important role.
Flight operations take place on the flight deck of the amphibious assault ship USSBataan(LHD 5) as seen from an MH-60S Seahawk helicopter. MCS3 Raymond Minami/U.S. Navy
Interested in knowing more about the Marines SuperCobras?Click here.
These Marines and sailors do a lot more than shipping beans, bullets and bandages for the MEU.
They are the find it, fix it and ship it forward operators who keep the whole effort moving.
An AH-1 SuperCobra is fueled on the deck of the USSMesa Verde(LPD 19.) In 2017, theMesa Verdewas supporting the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit. Image: Gunnery Sgt. Adaecus G. Brooks/U.S.M.C.
That may be a problem in the potential combat situation facing the 26thMEU (SOC).
When the Corps chose to divest itself of tanks, they also tossed out their engineer bridging equipment.
Think of the Marine Air Ground Task Force (MAGTF) as a Lego set.
An MV-22 Osprey tiltrotor aircraft assigned to Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 262 takes off from the flight deck aboard amphibious assault carrier USSTripoli(LHA 7) Image: MCS2 Malcolm Kelley/U.S. Navy
The Marine Corps is good at rapidly fielding task-organized, right-sized forces to meet an immediate threat.
Its hard to know what to prepare for should they be called to fight.
Go to forum thread
26th Marine Expeditionary Unit (SOC)
Marines of the 31st MEU train with U.S. Navy sailors in visit board search and seizure (VBSS) techniques using a rigid hulled inflatable boat (RHIB) in 2022. Image: Cpl. Grace Gerlach/U.S.M.C.
Marines with the 4th Marine Division fire rockets from a M142 high mobility artillery rockets system (HIMARS) during assault support tactics training. Image: Cpl. Aaron James B. Vinculado/U.S.M.C.
Marines with the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit fire an M777 Howitzer during exercise KAMANDAG 3 at Colonel Ernesto P. Ravina Air Base, Philippines in 2019. Image: Lance Cpl. Christian Ayers/U.S.M.C.
U.S. Marines prepare to board MV-22 Osprey tiltrotor aircraft on the flight deck aboard amphibious assault carrier USSTripoli(LHA 7) in 2022. MCS2 Malcolm Kelley/U.S. Navy
Petty Officer 1st Class Rodrickus Shepherd signals a U.S. Marine AV-8B Harrier pilot to launch from the USSBataan(LHD 5.) Image: Petty Officer 2nd Class Julio Rivera/U.S. Navy
U.S. Marine Corps UH-1Y Venoms take off for an air insertion and extraction exercise during Weapons and Tactics Instructor (WTI) course in 2016. Image: Lance Cpl. Anabel Abreu-Rodriguez/U.S.M.C.
Two U.S. Marine Corps AH-1Z Viper helicopters prepare to land during training in November 2021. Image: Lance Cpl. Elias E. Pimentel III/U.S.M.C.
Marines with the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit watch for enemy activity during a defense of the amphibious task force exercise aboard USSNew Orleans(LPD 18.) Image: Sgt. Danny Gonzalez/U.S.M.C.
Marines assigned to the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit fire the main gun on an LAV-25 armored recon vehicle during training. Image: Staff Sgt. Donald Holbert/U.S.M.C.
Sgt. William Sites, a scout sniper with the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit, prepares to support maritime interdiction operations from the USSMiguel Keith(ESB 5.) Image: Cpl. Austin Gillam/U.S.M.C.
Lance Cpl. Jordan Davis assigned to the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit fires an M27 Infantry Automatic Rifle during live-fire training in Israel, 2021. Image: Staff Sgt. Donald Holbert/U.S.M.C.
Marines of the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit train during an interoperability exercise at Bislah Training Center, Israel. Image: Lance Cpl. Patrick Katz/U.S.M.C.
Loaded with Marines, the U.S. Navy Landing Craft, Utility 1663 approaches the well deck of the USSMesa Verde(LPD 19) during training. Image: Sgt. Brendan Mullin/U.S.M.C.
Lance Cpl. Patrick Holcomb with the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit sets security during a Defense of the Amphibious Task Force drill aboard USSNew Orleans(LPD 18.) Image: Sgt. Danny Gonzalez/U.S.M.C.
Marines watch equipment loaded on a landing craft in the USSMesa Verde(LPD 19) during a 2022 training exercise. Image: Maj. Jeremy Wheeler/U.S.M.C.
