The completion of the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit’s first intermediate pre-deployment training exercise, a Marine Air Ground Task Force Interoperability Course, which took place from November 28 to December 12, 2022, allowed the unit to stretch its muscles and demonstrate its capabilities. This training provided the chance to combine diverse parts within the MEU in order to perform a variety of scenario-based activities and objectives in preparation for immediately moving into Marine Expeditionary Unit Exercise I.
The Expeditionary Operations Training Group has provided an evaluation of essential goals that need to be accomplished before the unit is deployed the following year. These goals include integrating individual and small unit skills, refining command and control procedures, and refining standard operating procedures.
Among the scenario-based events that took place were company reinforced level raids, tactical recoveries of aircraft crew, Maritime Special Purpose Force operations, as well as information collection and preparation. The training exercises were designed to provide the commander of the MEU with as much leeway as possible in determining how to deploy their respective units.
According to Captain Mike Lowery of the United States Marine Corps, who is the commander of the Maritime Special Purpose Force for the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit, this training demonstrated the MEU’s capacity to integrate the MSPF with other sections in order to fulfil scenario-based objectives.
‘The Maritime Special Purpose Force is a Reconnaissance Company from the 2nd Reconnaissance Battalion that has been augmented with intelligence enablers, explosive ordinance Marines, and a security force from the Battalion Landing Team,’ he said. ‘The Maritime Special Purpose Force is responsible for ensuring the safety of all personnel involved in the mission.’ “The MAGTF Interoperability Course is a combination of raids, intelligence, TRAP and MSPF interoperability operations coinciding at the same time to show what the MAGTF can bring to the fight for our first exercise together,” the statement reads. “The purpose of this exercise is to demonstrate what the MAGTF can bring to the fight for our first exercise together.”
According to Lowery, the MSPF is the main reconnaissance and collections unit for the 26th MEU. This force helps to improve the MEU commander’s knowledge of the fighting zone with the backing of the other sections.
Marines from the Intelligence Section of the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit took part in the training course. During the course, the Marines practised establishing a Tactical Sensitive Compartmented Installation Facility, planning and carrying out raids with the MSPF, BLT, and ACE, and carrying out scenario-based information collection operations.
The meteorology and oceanographic division was one of the intelligence units that supplied assistance for the scenario missions. This section was responsible for providing essential weather predictions to aid in the process of planning.
According to U.S. Marine Corps Cpl. Ethan Gore, a geospatial analyst with the S-2, one of the events that was taking place within MAGTF Interop was Intelligence Interoperability. This was an event in which intelligence Marines supported elements of the MAGTF while they were conducting scenario-based missions.
“Intel Interop provided a chance for the S-2 to assist connect and coordinate with all of the parts of the MEU that were participating in the course,” he added. “Intel Interop was a great experience.” “The intelligence products that we generated were specially designed for the pilots and Marines on the ground to utilise. Once they had completed their mission, we got input from those units that allowed us to enhance our goods,”
Gore expressed his expectation that his Marines were able to gain fresh experiences through collaborating with other sections.
According to what he had to say, “My Marines and I myself have now gained more expertise and knowledge integrating with the other aspects of a MAGTF, knowing the sort of assistance and goods they need.” We were able to improve not just our strategies, methods, and processes, but also our standard operating procedures. The MAGTF Interoperability training session was one of a kind, and I believe that everyone came away from it more knowledgeable and more integrated.
This is one of the several training exercises that are planned to take place before the MEUs deploy in order to integrate, prepare for, and carry out real-world operations. These exercises also serve to demonstrate that the MEUs are a ready, relevant, and capable force.