Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, N.C. – The 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit set sail last week to assume the responsibilities as the nation’s ready reserve force within European and Central Commands’ areas of responsibility.

In its capacity as a strategic reserve asset, the MEU is prepared to support operations on a variety of fronts in the Global War on Terrorism, including in Iraq, Afghanistan and the Horn of Africa.

This broad-based mission is aligned with traditional MEU deployments in which Marines and Sailors are poised for conducting contingency operations from forward, sea-based locations.

The 26th MEU is deploying as the landing force for the Bataan Expeditionary Strike Group. In addition to USS Bataan (LHD-5), the strike group is comprised of the USS Oak Hill (LSD-51), USS Shreveport (LPD-12), USS Nitze (DDG-94), USS Vella Gulf (CG-72), USS Underwood (FFG-36) and USS Scranton (SSN-756). 

The 26th MEU, with an approximate strength of 2,200 Marines and Sailors, is comprised of a command element, a ground combat element, an aviation combat element and a logistics combat element. Battalion Landing Team 2/2, Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron – 264 (Rein.) and Combat Logistics Battalion – 26 joined the command element of the 26th MEU June 23, 2006, to begin six-months of intense training in preparation for the current deployment.

During the last six months, the 26th MEU conducted several major exercises, including the Training in an Urban Environment Exercise (TRUEX) and the MEU Exercise (MEUEX). These exercises involved the entire MEU and were carried out simultaneously at Fort Pickett, Va. The MEU’s pre-deployment training concluded Dec. 9 upon the completion of the  Certification Exercise (CERTEX), a scenario-based evolution that tested the MEU and Bataan Strike Group with a series of events requiring rapid planning and mission execution.