Marine Expeditionary Units – Command, Ground, Aviation, and Logistics

A decorated former police officer and retired United States Marine Corps noncommissioned officer, Chris Grollnek provides security consulting services through Countermeasure Consulting Group. In 1994, he served with the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable).

Based in Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) integrates air, ground, and support forces to provide a combined arms task force that can be deployed on short notice. One of seven units of its kind, the 26th MEU includes four distinct elements: command, ground combat, aviation combat, and logistics combat.

The command element, consisting of the commanding officer and a staff of about 200, exercises leadership and plans the operations of the entire unit. It includes, among others, communications, intelligence, and legal staff.

Although it consists primarily of an infantry battalion, the ground combat element, with a strength of about 1,200 soldiers and sailors, can also include tanks, artillery, and combat engineers. This element makes up the majority of the unit’s personnel.

Equipped with fixed and rotary-wing combat and transportation aircraft, the aviation combat element provides the unit with heavy lift and close air support capabilities. It includes 500 personnel serving in a variety of roles, such as pilot, traffic controller, and aviation mechanic.

With about 300 troops assigned to it, the logistics combat element ensures that the unit receives ammunition, fuel, medicine, and other essential supplies for 15 or more days even in the harshest environments. It also possesses engineering, military police, and explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) units.