Department of State Liaison Element is underway with the 26th MEU

UNITED STATES

10.24.2019

Story by Cpl. Nathan Reyes 

26th Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable)     

The 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) and the U.S. Navy Bataan Amphibious Ready Group (ARG) are taking steps during Composite Training Unit Exercise (COMPTUEX) to refine operations by bringing aboard a Department of State Liaison Element (DOSLE).
The two mission-essential tasks that the Department of State can support the MEU with are embassy reinforcement and Non-combatant Evacuation Operations (NEO).
“In the event that the ARGMEU is called to a crisis response or a limited contingency to provide assistance to the Department of State, our capability will allow enhanced real-time information sharing, interagency coordination and rapid planning,” said Christopher Doggett, special agent with the Diplomatic Security Service.
Being able to conduct real-time information sharing and being able to pull Emergency Action Plans while underway will be an asset to the MEU’s rapid response planning process.
“There are systems we have on the Department of State side that if I could tap into from the ship I would be able to add more value,” said Doggett. “By being here in person I am able to feed information to the ARGMEU in real time.”
The DOSLE has the ability to brief members of the ARGMEU about the environment they are going into, the resources that are available and the questions they should be asking.
“I can add value to the MEU because I understand the culture of the Department of State,” said Doggett. “For example, the NEO that is taking place during COMPTUEX, I pushed important information to the forward command element.”
The MEU sent a forward command element ashore during the NEO mission, and the DOSLE was able to fill information gaps in the planning and execution of the NEO.
“DOSLE provided a depth of experience not resident within the MEU,” said Maj. Douglas Pack, civil affairs officer with the 26th MEU. “Also, DOSLE facilitated MEU planning and empowered leaders to make informed choices prior to the insertion of the forward command element.”
The integration between the Department of State and the ARGMEU allows both to have a higher chance of mission success.
“At the end of the day in operational situations we have the lives of Americans at risk,” said Doggett. “If the information I can provide more rapidly to the ARGMEU helps the end state, then everybody wins.”
The Department of State and the 26th MEU are utilizing COMPTUEX to establish the greatest use for a DOSLE to support an ARGMEU.
“As of right now it is still a proof of concept,” said Doggett. “We are identifying things during this exercise to set the best practices and key lessons learned for the future.”

• Date Taken: 10.24.2019
• Date Posted: 10.29.2019 11:27
• Story ID: 349147
• Location: US