MEU operations

Caption contest: Can you hear me now?

By James Sanborn on January 28, 2011 MEU operations, Training

Every once in a while you see something that makes you stop and ask, “Why?” One of those things is a noncomissioned officer blasting a few fellow Marines with a bullhorn while they stand just a few feet away. Can you explain what’s going on here? The original caption says the Marines were attached to the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit during predeployment training at Fort Picket, Va. Let’s see who can write the best caption. Give it your best shot in the comments section, but please try to keep it fit for print. Obscene comments will be pulled down.

Introducing the Gereshk Valley, the 26th MEU's likely AO

By Dan Lamothe on January 10, 2011 Afghanistan, Infantry, MEU operations, Sangin

Marine Corps watchers paid close attention last week when word spread that the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit, out of Camp Lejeune, N.C., would deploy to Afghanistan from Navy ships in the Indian Ocean. That leads to additional questions, though, starting with the most obvious one: Where? Maj. Gen. Richard Mills, commander of Marine forces in Afghanistan, shed some light on his plans for the unit in this video posted online by the Corps on Friday. “Our intent is to use this unit, again, to exploit the successes we’ve had to finish off some very crucial projects that we’ve been developing…

3/8 and other 26th MEU elements deploying to Afghanistan

By Dan Lamothe on January 6, 2011 Afghanistan, Infantry, MEU operations

Following up on our earlier blog post today, elements of the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit, out of Camp Lejeune, N.C., will deploy to Afghanistan by the end of the month, Marine officials say. The MEU’s ground combat element is headed by Lejeune’s 3rd Battalion, 8th Marines. For more details, check out this initial report. Officials haven’t yet said which district or districts the MEU could handle, but they will fall under Regional Command-Southwest’s control, so it’s all but assuredly in Helmand province.

Navy shoutout to Marines: 'They're green, and they look pissed off'

By Dan Lamothe on November 19, 2010 MEU operations

Navy Times cohort David Larter points out an interesting rap video today sharing a slice of life from the amphibious assault ship Bonhomme Richard. Considering the ship is part of the gator Navy, it’s not a surprise to see a pretty good shoutout to Marines in it: [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sCKfx_exiQA&feature=player_embedded[/youtube] “They’re green, and they look pissed off. They’ve got rifles, and all kinds of stuff that explodes. Helicopters, Harrier jets, Humvees… forget about it.” Thoughts, all you Marine expeditionary unit veterans?

Marines help after typhoon ravages the Philippines

By Dan Lamothe on October 27, 2010 MEU operations, Pacific issues

If it had hit the U.S., it would have been front-page news for several days. Super-Typhoon Juan roared ashore in the Philippines last week with heavy rains and sustained 140 mph winds, and has received only limited media coverage in American media. Media reports out of Manila say at least 31 people were killed by the storm, which was named Megi in the country. More than 1.9 million people were affected by the storm, and nearly 31,000 homes were completely destroyed, the reports said. In classic Marine expeditionary unit fashion, the 31st MEU, out of Okinawa, Japan, spent several days delivering…

Marines conducting Pakistani flood relief avoid attacks

By Dan Lamothe on October 19, 2010 MEU operations, Pakistan

The Marine Corps has been conducting flood relief operations for two months in Pakistan, which was ravaged by floods this summer that killed at least 1,500 people and destroyed an estimated 1.9 million houses, according to most estimates. One piece that couldn’t be overlooked before the U.S. pitched in was security. It’s no secret that Pakistan has a muscular anti-American insurgency, and is used as a staging ground for attacks on U.S. troops in neighboring Afghanistan. As this story in the New York Times points out, though, Marines and soldiers providing flood relief have avoided attacks in Pakistan so far…

Calvin and Hobbes makes this Marine's point for him

By Dan Lamothe on September 14, 2010 Aviation, MEU operations

Navy Times staff writer Phil Ewing shares a fun update on the Scoop Deck blog today, and it falls squarely in the category of intra-service rivalry. The photograph above shows Marine Cpl. Brice Millier helping a patient in Guatemala last week as part of Operation Continuing Promise, a humanitarian and civic assistance mission in Central and South America that includes elements of the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit, out of Camp Lejeune, N.C. You know, the same operation that caused breathless, moronic news reports saying that 7,000 Marines would be deployed to Costa Rica. In any event, Millier is photographed assisting…

Platoon commander: Pirate 'sh– his pants' after Marines captured him

By Dan Lamothe on September 9, 2010 Anti-piracy, MEU operations

Has a new legend been born? I’m going out on a limb here: Events that have occurred in the last 24 hours in the Gulf of Aden will give drill instructors and recruiters across the Marine Corps a new story to use as motivation in the future. It’s hard not to believe that when you boil the details of the rescue of the Magellan Star down to the basics. Ready? 1) The ship, a German-owned shipping vessel, reports Wednesday that their ship had been captured about 85 miles off the coast of Yemen. 2) Heavily armed force reconnaissance Marines with…

One-star officer: Marines will be in Pakistan up to 4 months

By Dan Lamothe on August 20, 2010 MEU operations, Pakistan

Last week, we covered the move by the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit, out of Camp Pendleton, Calif., to assist flood-ravaged Pakistan. The update: The situation is serious enough that Marines are now planning to assist for up to four months. Brig. Gen. David Berger, director of operations at Marine Corps headquarters, sat down with two other reporters and me yesterday to explain the situation. The amphibious assault ship Peleliu has been off the coast of Pakistan since Aug. 9, and more than 200 Marines are now based out of Ghazi air base, west of Islamabad, where helicopter relief missions are…

Marines with 15th MEU to the rescue in Pakistan

By Dan Lamothe on August 12, 2010 MEU operations, Pakistan

Above, a scene today from Pakistan, where millions of people face a dire situation after monsoon rains that have caused catastrophic flooding across the country. More than 1,500 people have died in flooding that dates back to last month, and worsened in the last few days. Pakistani officials have said it’s the worst natural disaster in their nation’s history and evacuated villages in several parts of the country. This Time story details the devastation well. With that in mind, the U.S. is sending in Marines with the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit, out of Camp Pendleton, Calif. The amphibious assault ship…

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