CAMP LEATHERNECK, Afghanistan – Elements from the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit began arriving here this week in support of ongoing operations in Afghanistan.
According to Lt. Col. Arend Westra, the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing (Forward) future plans officer, the detachment consists of various Marine units to include an Aviation Combat Element of MV-22B Ospreys and AH-1W Super Cobras, as well as parts of the Battalion Landing Team from 3rd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment.
The Aviation Combat Element of the detachment will augment 3rd MAW (Fwd) with the medium-lift capabilities of the Osprey and close air support provided by the additional Cobras. Furthermore, Marines from aviation logistics, air control and refueling military occupational specialties will operate in direct support of these additional Aviation Combat Element assets.
The MEU is a mobile Marine Air Ground Task Force, which remains ready to be called on as a first response, or in this case reserve, force to conflict anywhere in the world. Several MEUs actively sail throughout the world’s major bodies of water in order to serve this purpose.
Maj. Eric Keith, the weapons and tactics officer for the detachment’s ACE, said the Marines are “glad to be involved” and happy to be ashore in support of coalition forces.