13th Marine Expeditionary Unit departs with Boxer Amphibious Ready Group

Photo By Sgt. Joshua Young | Family members of Marines and sailors with the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit wave farewell as the USS Boxer departs for deployment out of Naval Base San Diego, Calif., Aug. 23. More than 2,400 Marines and sailors with the 13th MEU departed for deployment with the Boxer Amphibious Ready Group.  

SAN DIEGO, CA, UNITED STATES

08.23.2013

Courtesy Story

I Marine Expeditionary Force

SAN DIEGO - The 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit departed aboard the Boxer Amphibious Ready Group, Aug. 23, for its scheduled deployment throughout the Pacific theater. This will be the first West Coast MEU to deploy with MV-22 Ospreys aboard the amphibious assault ship.

The 13th MEU is comprised of approximately 2,400 Marines and is a forward deployed force in readiness capable of conducting numerous operations, such as non-combatant evacuation operations, humanitarian assistance operations and range of amphibious missions. The MEU deployed aboard the USS Boxer (LHD4), USS New Orleans (LPD18) and USS Harpers Ferry (LSD49).

Leading the three reinforcement elements is a command element, which fuses logistics, communications, administration, intelligence and operations along with public affairs, legal, religious and medical leadership. Comprised of approximately 250 Marines and sailors, the command element provides guidance and direction to the reinforcements during operations.

Battalion Landing Team 1/4 serves as the ground combat element and is comprised of approximately 1,245 Marines and sailors built around an infantry battalion reinforced with amphibious assault vehicles, combat engineers, reconnaissance, and light-armored reconnaissance vehicles.

Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 166 (Reinforced) is a composite aircraft squadron comprised of approximately 570 Marines and sailors who fly, maintain, direct, defend and supply the squadron. The core structure of the squadron is built around MV-22B Osprey tiltrotor aircraft, CH-53E Super Stallions, UH-1N Hueys, AH-1W Super Cobras, AV-8B Harrier jets.

Combat Logistics Battalion 13 is comprised of approximately 300 Marines and sailors who provide combat support such as supply, maintenance, transportation, explosive ordnance disposal, military police, water production and distribution, engineering, medical and dental services, fuel storage and distribution and other services for the MEU in expeditionary environments, alleviating stress on often-fragile infrastructure of countries where the MEU could potentially operate.

• Date Taken: 08.23.2013
• Date Posted: 08.23.2013 15:46
• Story ID: 112517
• Location: SAN DIEGO, CA, US