Combat service support is a topic that is, broadly speaking, a subset of military logistics. However, combat service support is often more limited in depth, as the related groups primarily address factors supporting readiness for combat operations. The United States Department of Defense organizes various agencies providing services such as medical assistance, for example, akin to other nations' militaries.
The 3rd Marine Logistics Group is the Logistics Combat Element (LCE) for III Marine Expeditionary Force currently headquartered on Camp Kinser, Marine Corps Base Smedley D. Butler, Okinawa, Japan. 3rd MLG provides combat service support (CSS) to III MEF units above the organic capability. CSS is the essential capabilities, functions, activities, and tasks necessary to sustain all elements of operating forces in theater at all levels of war. Combat service support includes, but is not limited, to supply, maintenance, transportation, general engineering, health services, and other services required by aviation and ground combat forces to permit those units to accomplish their missions.
In the United States Marine Corps, a Marine Air–Ground Task Force is the principal organization for all missions across the range of military operations. MAGTFs are a balanced air–ground, combined arms task organization of Marine Corps forces under a single commander that is structured to accomplish a specific mission. The MAGTF was formalized by the publishing of Marine Corps Order 3120.3 in December 1963, "The Marine Corps in the National Defense, MCDP 1-0". It stated:
A Marine air–ground task force with separate air ground headquarters is normally formed for combat operations and training exercises in which substantial combat forces of both Marine aviation and Marine ground units are included in the task organization of participating Marine forces.
Combat Logistics Battalion 5 (CLB-5) is a logistics battalion of the United States Marine Corps. CLB-5 is a subordinate battalion to Combat Logistics Regiment 1 and the 1st Marine Logistics Group. The unit is based out of the Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California. The battalion nickname is "Traveller", named after the 16-hand grey American Saddlebred horse ridden into battle by General Robert E. Lee during the American Civil War. The unit slogan is "Success Is Not An Accident."
The Combat Logistics Regiment 35 (CLR-35) was a logistics unit of the United States Marine Corps that was headquartered at Camp Kinser, Okinawa, Japan. When active, the unit fell under the 3rd Marine Logistics Group and the III Marine Expeditionary Force. The unit was formerly known as 3rd Materiel Readiness Battalion but officially changed its designation on October 20, 2006.
Combat Logistics Regiment 3 (CLR-3) is a direct support (DS) logistics unit of the United States Marine Corps and is headquartered at Camp Foster, Okinawa, Japan. The unit falls under the 3rd Marine Logistics Group and the III Marine Expeditionary Force.
Combat Logistics Battalion 15 (CLB-15) is a military logistics battalion in the United States Marine Corps based out of Camp Pendleton, California. It consists of approximately 275 Marines and Sailors. It is part of Combat Logistics Regiment 17 within the 1st Marine Logistics Group, I Marine Expeditionary Force. When assigned under the operational control of the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit, it becomes the Logistics Combat Element (LCE) providing expeditionary combat logistics support to all supported elements of the Marine Expeditionary Unit. CLB-15 has two sister MEU CLBs also based out of Camp Pendleton: CLB-11 and CLB-13.
Combat Logistics Battalion 2 (CLB-2) is a logistics unit of the United States Marine Corps (USMC), which provides direct combat service support to Regimental Combat Team 2 (RCT-2). CLB-2 was formed after its second deployment to Iraq in 2005 as a part of the reorganization of the 2nd Force Service Support Group. The battalion falls under Combat Logistics Regiment 2 and the 2nd Marine Logistics Group and is headquartered at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, North Carolina in the USA.
Combat Logistics Regiment 15 (CLR-15) was a logistics regiment of the United States Marine Corps. When active, it fell under the command of the 1st Marine Logistics Group and I Marine Expeditionary Force. The unit was based out of Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California, United States.
Combat Logistics Battalion 22 (CLB-22) is a logistics battalion of the United States Marine Corps. They are part of Combat Logistics Regiment 2 and the 2nd Marine Logistics Group. The unit is based out of Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, North Carolina and is in direct support of the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit.
Combat Logistics Battalion 8 (CLB-8) is a logistics battalion of the United States Marine Corps. It is part of Combat Logistics Regiment 2 and the 2nd Marine Logistics Group. The unit is based out of the Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, North Carolina.
Combat Logistics Battalion 11 (CLB-11) is a logistics battalion of the United States Marine Corps. When not deployed they are part of Headquarters Regiment, 1st Marine Logistics Group. The unit is based out of the Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California and when deployed provides combat logistical support to the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit.
Combat Logistics Battalion 13 (CLB-13) is a logistics battalion of the United States Marine Corps. In garrison, it falls under the command of Combat Logistics Regiment 17 and the 1st Marine Logistics Group; however, when deployed, it forms the logistics combat element of the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit. The battalion is based out of the Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California.
Combat Logistics Battalion 6 (CLB-6) is a logistics battalion of the United States Marine Corps. Nicknamed "Red Cloud," the unit is based at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, North Carolina and fall under the command of Combat Logistics Regiment 2 and the 2nd Marine Logistics Group..
3d Littoral Logistics Battalion is a logistics battalion in the United States Marine Corps. They are headquartered at Marine Corps Base Hawaii and fall under the command of 3rd Marine Littoral Regiment and the 3rd Marine Division.
The 1st Maintenance Battalion is a battalion of the United States Marine Corps that provides intermediate-level maintenance for the I Marine Expeditionary Force's tactical ordnance, engineer, motor transport, communications electronics and general support ground equipment. The Marines and Sailors of 1st Maintenance Battalion are regularly assigned and deployed around the world with command elements that deliver tactical logistics support to I MEF units. The command is based out of Camp Las Pulgas, Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California and is organized under the command of the 1st Marine Logistics Group.
Combat Logistics Battalion 31 (CLB-31) is a logistics battalion of the United States Marine Corps. CLB-31 is the Logistics Combat Element (LCE) of the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, the only continuously forward-deployed MEU in the Marine Corps.
Combat Logistics Battalion 46 (CLB-46) is a reserve logistics battalion of the United States Marine Corps. They were formed in 2009 and fall under the command of the 4th Marine Logistics Group. The unit is headquartered in Red Bank, New Jersey. The battalion was activated on 1 June 2009 at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, North Carolina as a separate and detached command of the 4th MLG to directly support the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Members of the battalion were drawn from 54 sites, in 40 states across the nine battalions of the 4th MLG.
Combat Logistics Battalion 12 (CLB-12), formerly known as 3d Transportation Battalion and previously 3rd Transportation Support Battalion, is a direct support (DS) logistics unit of the United States Marine Corps and is headquartered at Camp Foster, Okinawa, Japan. The unit falls under the command of Combat Logistics Regiment 3 and the 3rd Marine Logistics Group.
