The Marine Expeditionary Unit

The Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) and how it must evolve over the next 10 years is critical to the success of not only our national interest, the United States Marine Corps as a whole, but globalization and the free world economy. Expeditionary Force 21 (EF21) provides a road map based on the current world situation and will drive our procurement plans, the way we train, the way we fight, and ultimately how we develop as an organization. In order to understand this concept fully, one must truly understand what the MEU is and what it provides. “The Marine expeditionary unit (MEU) and the amphibious ready group (ARG) are an integrated naval formation established to provide a persistent forward presence and crisis response ability.” (8664 MEU
As EF21 states in references to MAGTF operations abroad, “as an integral part of the larger naval and joint team—will be postured, organized, trained, and equipped to fulfill assigned public law and national policy responsibilities. Expeditionary Force 21 does not change what Marines do, but how they will do it.” (8664 Amp Foundations Coursebook, pg 8) Since World War II and the large scale amphibious operations, the Marine Corps had tried to develop techniques to allow them faster maneuverability. Vertical envelopment came along, but that alone could not replace the need for surface connectors. As technology advances are requirements and needs increase, especially for littoral areas. Programs like the 5th Generation Stealth Fighter (F-35C), over the horizon capability with an assault capacity (MV-22), mixing with the existing platforms and naval vessels give the Marine Corps extended capabilities. Those abilities include bypassing of beaches if required, reduced signature radar cell, increased sustainability, and increased range. These additions to our MAGTF provide us with a combat multiplier. The end result is a more streamed line unit with greater capability that can face any issue from a crisis response to conventional warfare with a near peer hybrid
We need individuals that can think, and evaluate the current situation, but understand they dynamic situation we face and how it shapes the future. Secondly, we need the tools to be able to compete and win the next battle. Whether that is a conventional one or a hybrid morph of modern warfare with futuristic cyber-attacks, we have to be ready, we must have the right weapons, and we must win. Finally, we must understand the global environment and the impacts. Too often people are completely unaware of the connections between countries and how something as simple as a contested trade route can impact global prices and cause tensions due to second and third order effects. We need to educate our service members and explain to them the global mission that the MEU/ARG