II Marine Expeditionary Force (MEF) is one of three MEFs in the Marine Corps. I MEF is in California and III MEF is in Okinawa.
A MEF is a combined arms force consisting of ground, air and logistics forces. It possesses the capability for projecting offensive combat power ashore while sustaining itself in combat without external assistance for a period of 60 days.
With more than 62,000 Marines and sailors, II MEF is representative of the largest and most powerful Marine Air-Ground Task Force (MAGTF).
II MEF is comprised of four basic components:
(1) II MEF Headquarters Group containing personnel and equipment necessary for the effective planning and execution of operations.
(2) A ground combat element, the 2nd Marine Division.
(3) An aviation combat element, the 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing.
(4) A combat service support element, the 2nd Marine Logistics Group.
Other MEF capabilities:
Chemical Biological Incident Response Force (CBIRF)
- CBIRF is capable of immediate response to chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear incidents.
Marine Corps Security Force Regiment (MCSFR)
- MCSFR provides responsive fleet anti-terrorism security capability to locations around the globe in support of Naval Component and Combatant Commanders.
While II MEF is included within the operational force structure of U.S. Marine Corps Forces Command (MarForCom) and engages in operations and exercises throughout the MarForCom area, it routinely commits operating forces in support of other U.S. unified and NATO commands. II MEF is, in fact, available for and prepared to respond to contingency requirements worldwide.
The MEF can be employed in its entirety or has the capability of forming task-organized MAGTFs of lesser size such as a Marine Expeditionary Brigade (MEB), a MAGTF about one-third the size of a MEF built around a regimental landing team or a Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU), a MAGTF about one-third the size of a MEB built around a battalion landing team. The size and composition of any MAGTF will be dependent upon the mission assigned.
The routinely deployed MAGTFs, the 22nd, 24th and 26th MEUs, deploy on a rotating basis to be a Unified Combatant Commander’s force in readiness. The MEU consists of approximately 2,200 Marines and sailors, is capable of rapid response in a variety of possible contingencies and if the situation requires, can serve as the forward element of a larger MAGTF.