JUNE 03, 2009

SPMAGTF-Afghanistan Hands Over Reigns to MEB-Afghanistan

CAMP LEATHERNECK, Helmand Province, Islamic Republic of Afghanistan –

The transfer of authority from Special Purpose Marine Air Ground Task Force-Afghanistan to Marine Expeditionary Brigade-Afghanistan, also called “Task Force Leatherneck”, officially occurred May 29 during a ceremony here.

During the ceremony, Brig. Gen. Larry Nicholson, commanding general of Task Force Leatherneck, assumed responsibility for the task force’s area of operations. The area includes the districts of Now Zad, Washir, Golestan, Delaram and Bakwa.

“We have one hell of a team here in Helmand Province,” said Nicholson, motioning toward the American, British and Afghan forces in the audience. “I think we can change the dynamic here.”

Col. Duffy White, commanding officer of SPMAGTF-A, remains in command of Regimental Combat Team-3, which will serve as the ground combat element of the task force. A comprehensive list of units can be found as an attachment to this release.

Guests at the ceremony included U.S. Army Gen. David McKiernan, commander of NATO’s International Security Assistance Force, Gen. Mohayoddin, commander of 3rd Brigade, 205th Corps, Afghan National Army, and Brigadier Tim Radford, commander of Task Force Helmand, a brigade of British, Estonian and Danish soldiers that operates adjacent to Task Force Leatherneck

About MEB-Afghanistan

The Marine Expeditionary Brigade (MEB) is a task-organized unit developed by the United States Marine Corps to effectively respond to crises that demand a force larger than a Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU), but smaller than a Marine Expeditionary Force (MEF).

The Marine Corps deploys MEBs as self-sufficient units, expeditionary in nature, that can deploy anywhere in the world relatively quickly, giving the Commander-in-Chief an asset capable of undertaking difficult military operations. MEBs are designed to be flexible and their parts interchangeable, therefore, no two MEBs are exactly alike. However, all MEBs do have commonalities. Every MEB contains four elements: An aviation combat element (ACE), logistics combat element (LCE) and command element (CE), all designed to support the ground combat element (GCE).

The Marine Air-Ground Task Force known as Marine Expeditionary Brigade-Afghanistan (MEB-A), formerly 2nd MEB, consists of more than 10,000 Marines and Sailors formed from units throughout the Marine Corps. These units are task organized, trained and equipped to operate independently, conduct expeditionary operations in an austere environment, and enable follow-on joint and coalition forces.

The mission of MEB-Afghanistan is to conduct counter-insurgency (COIN) operations in partnership with Afghan National Security Forces to prepare ANSF to assume security responsibilities by improving their capabilities through training, mentoring, and partnering in order to support the expansion of security and legitimate governance.

MEB-Afghanistan will accomplish this mission by establishing security and safety for Afghan citizens, developing and mentoring Afghan National Army and Afghan National Police. ANSF units will receive training in improvised explosive device training, combat marksmanship, automatic-weapons employment, convoy operations, security procedures, and rules of engagement. Additionally, MEB-A will support reconstruction and economic development, build trust in local and national government entities, and transition responsibility for security, reconstruction and governance to the Afghan people.

MEB-Afghanistan Command Structure

MEB-AFGHANISTAN Force List

Command Element

Commanding General – Brig Gen Lawrence Nicholson
Deputy Commander – Col George Amland
Sergeant Major – SgtMaj Ernest Hoopii

Brigade Headquarters Group Camp Lejeune, NC
5th Battalion, 10th Marine Regiment

The Command Element provides command and control, and also provides many of the MEB’s key enablers in the areas of intelligence, communications and combined arms coordination, all of which are incorporated in the MEB-Afghanistan Headquarters Group.

Ground Combat Element – Regimental Combat Team 3 (Reinforced)

Commanding Officer – Col. Duffy White

1st Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment Camp Pendleton, CA

2nd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment Camp Lejeune, NC

2nd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment Marine Corps Base
Hawaii

3rd Battalion, 11th Marine Regiment (Artillery) Marine Corps Air Ground Combat
Center 29 Palms, CA

2nd Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion Camp Lejeune, NC

1st Combat Engineer Battalion Camp Pendleton, CA

In addition to the battalions listed above, RCT-3 also brings the intelligence, reconnaissance, combat engineer, armor and other capabilities required to accomplish the RCT-3 mission.

Aviation Combat Element – Marine Aircraft Group 40

Commanding Officer – Col. Kevin Vest

Marine Attack Squadron 214 AV-8B Harriers
MCAS Cherry Point, NC

Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 772 CH-53E Super Stallions
NAS Willow Grove, PA

Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 362 CH-53D Super Stallions
MCAF Kaneohe Bay, HI

Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron 352 KC-130J Hercules
MCAS Cherry Point, NC

Marine Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Squadron 2 Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
MCAS Cherry Point, NC

Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 169 UH-1N (Huey)
MCAS Camp Pendleton, CA and AH-1W (Super Cobra)

In addition to the squadrons listed above, MAG-40 also brings aviation logistics, communications, and air traffic control assets in order to provide tactical airspace command, control and coordination required to accomplish the MAG-40 mission.

Logistics Combat Element – Combat Logistics Regiment 2

Commanding Officer – Col. John Simmons

Combat Logistics Battalion 8

8th Engineer Support Battalion

CLR-2 provides combat logistical support by conducting general and direct supply support operations, providing health and dental service support, military police support, engineering support and intermediate maintenance support required to accomplish the combat logistics mission.