2nd MEB Preparing for Afghan Deployment

So far, the 2nd Marine Expeditionary Brigade (2-MEB) is composed of four infantry battalions and one LAR battalion in Regimental Combat Team – 3. RCT–3 assumed responsibilities for operations in Afghanistan as part of the Special Purpose Marine Air Ground Task Force – Afghanistan (SP MAGTF-A) last November and is now being made part of the MEB. Task Force Leatherneck will grow into a MEB on steroids by the end of this Marine Corps surge. Plans are to build a two-regiment MEB. But currently, it consists of RCT-3, MAG-40 – a Marine Air Group consisting of CH-53s, COBRAs, F/A18s, airborne refuelers, UAVs and its own logistics element, the Brigade Headquarters Group and a Combat Logistics Regiment.

Richard S. Lowry is the author of Marines in the Garden of Eden and The Gulf War Chronicles.

Brig. Gen. Larry Nicholson, 2nd MEB commanding general, recently said the Marines and sailors will be deploying to a region of Afghanistan that is both dangerous and austere. “It’s not the garden spot of the world,” Nicholson said. “It’s a tough neighborhood.” The environment they are going to be in is extremely tough and challenging with limited resources. The infrastructure is nearly non-existent. Initially, the Marines will have a tough time staying in touch with their family and friends.

Sgt. Maj. Ernest Hoopii, the brigade’s sergeant major, wants his Marines and sailors to understand that there is a difficult path ahead. “They’re going to have to use their fellow Marines and sailors as their immediate family until we can establish a robust communication system,” Hoopii said. “In addition, they’re also going to be working long, hard and very fast. That’s our nature. It’s what we do.”

The work has already started. The SeaBees’ 25th Naval Construction Regiment (NCR), re-commissioned last year, deployed to Afghanistan from Gulfport, Mississippi in February. They are already hard at work building the infrastructure for the brigade. And, as I write, other units are training to support the Marines’ fight in Afghanistan.

Marines with the 2nd Air Naval Gunfire Liaison Company (ANGLICO) have been conducting fire support exercises. The maneuvers included MAG-40s fighter jets, a mortar section, an artillery battery, and an unmanned aerial vehicle. The combined-arms elements provided the ANGLICO Marines an opportunity to gain valuable experience with their teams as well as hands-on skills needed for their upcoming deployment with the 2nd Marine Expeditionary Brigade.

Richard S. Lowry is the author of Marines in the Garden of Eden and The Gulf War Chronicles.