GROUND COMBAT ELEMENT (GCE)

Role: The MEU's primary combat force, capable of offensive and defensive ground operations.

Components:

• Rifle Companies.

• Weapons Companies with heavy machine guns, mortars, and anti-tank weapons.

• Reconnaissance Platoons.

• Amphibious Assault / Reconnaissance (AA/R) or artillery attachments.

Key Function: Engage in direct combat, amphibious assaults, raids, and urban warfare.

AVIATION COMBAT ELEMENT (ACE)

Role: Provide air support for the MEU, including close air support, transport, and reconnaissance.

Components:

• Rotary-wing aircraft (e.g., UH-1Y Hueys, AH-1Z Vipers).

• UAVs for intelligence and surveillance.

• Ground-based aviation support and maintenance units.

Key Function: Support mobility, deliver firepower, and enhance situational awareness.

LOGISTICS COMBAT ELEMENT (LCE)

Role: The sustainment backbone that enables the MEU to operate continuously ashore and afloat by providing supply, maintenance, transport, engineering, medical, and services support.

Components:

• Maintenance & Recovery Companies.

• Expeditionary Communications Companies.

• Medical & Surgical Teams.

• Combat Engineer Companies.

Key Function: Provide timely, continuous sustainment and mobility—ensuring ammunition, fuel, water, food, medical care, repairs, and movement support reach the GCE/ACE/LCE during amphibious assaults, expeditionary operations, raids, and sustained shore-based missions so the MEU can generate and sustain combat power.

AMPHIBIOUS READY GROUP (ARG)

Role: The naval task force responsible for transporting, deploying, and supporting the Marine Expeditionary Unit during amphibious operations, littoral maneuver, crisis response, and forward presence missions.

Components:

• LHD/LHA – Amphibious assault ship (primary aviation & C2 platform).

• LPD – Amphibious transport dock (embarked infantry, vehicles, LCACs).

• LSD – Dock landing ship (surface connectors, vehicles, equipment).

Key Function:
Provide the MEU with sea-based maneuver, amphibious lift, aviation support, surface connectors, command and control, and ship-to-shore movement—enabling rapid deployment, forcible entry, raids, NEOs, and sustained littoral operations by delivering Marines, aircraft, vehicles, and equipment wherever needed across the battlespace.