Marine expeditionary unit

A Marine expeditionary unit (MEU, pronounced as one syllable "M'you" IPA: /mjuː/) is the smallest air-ground task force (MAGTF) in the United States Fleet Marine Force.^[1] Each MEU is an expeditionary rapid reaction force ready to answer any crisis, whether it be disaster aid or a combat mission.^[1] Marine amphibious unit (MAU) was the name used until the late 1980s.

A MEU normally is composed of

• a reinforced USMC infantry battalion (designated as a Battalion Landing Team) as the ground combat element
• a composite medium tiltrotor squadron forming the aviation combat element
• a combat logistics battalion providing the logistics combat element
• a company-size command element serving as the MEU headquarters group.

Troop strength of a MEU is about 2,200 (normal and peacetime) to 4,400 (mobilization and wartime). A MEU is usually commanded by a colonel, and is deployed from amphibious assault ships. Currently, a MEU embarks personnel and equipment on the amphibious warfare ships of an expeditionary strike group (ESG), which also includes escort warships and submarines to protect them from air, surface, and submarine threats. For further protection and strong air support, an ESG is often deployed along with one or more carrier strike groups.