Command element (United States Marine Corps)

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USMC Combat Operations Center USMC COC.jpg
USMC Combat Operations Center

In the United States Marine Corps, the command element (CE) is the command and control force of a Marine Air-Ground Task Force (MAGTF). It provides C3I for the MAGTF.

Contents

Role within the MAGTF

The Command Element (CE), a headquarters unit organized into a MAGTF (MEU, MEB, MEF) headquarters (HQ) group, that exercises command and control (management and planning for manpower, intelligence, operations and training, and logistics functions) over the other elements of the MAGTF. The HQ group consists of communications, intelligence, surveillance, and law enforcement (i.e., military police) detachments, companies, and battalions, and reconnaissance (Force Reconnaissance), and liaison (ANGLICO) platoons, detachments, and companies.

Organization

The size of the CE varies in proportion to the size of the MAGTF. A Marine Expeditionary Force has a MEF Information Group, approximately the size of a regiment. A Marine Expeditionary Brigade holds a battalion-sized MEB Information Group. The various Marine Expeditionary Units command a company-sized MEU Information Group. Generally, MEF postings are permanent, while MEBs and MEUs rotate their GCE, ACE, and LCE twice annually.

Hierarchy of Marine command units

I Marine Expeditionary Force Information Group

Insignia NameLocation
[1]
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9th Communication Battalion logo.svg
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II Marine Expeditionary Force Information Group

Insignia NameLocation
[2]
2ndIntelligenceBattalion.jpg
2RadBn.JPG
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2ANGLICO.jpg

III Marine Expeditionary Force Information Group

Insignia NameLocation
[3]
3rdintelbn.jpg
3RadBnNew2.jpg
7thcommbn.jpg
Logo 5th anglico.png

Marine Forces Reserve CE units

Insignia NameLocation
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6thcomm.jpg
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Logo 4th anglico.jpg
Logo 6th anglico.png
3rd FORECON.png
4th FORECON.png
4th Force Reconnaissance Company
Note: Operational Control (OPCON) to I Marine Expeditionary Force

See also

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References

PD-icon.svg This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the United States Marine Corps .
  1. "I MEF Support Battalion". I MEF Information Group. Retrieved 28 September 2022.
  2. "II MEF Support Battalion". II MEF Information Group. Retrieved 28 September 2022.
  3. "III MEF Support Battalion: the newest battalion in the Marine Corps". III Marine Expeditionary Force. Retrieved 28 September 2022.
  4. Reserve Unit Directory Archived 2008-09-10 at the Wayback Machine
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