2d MEB assumes role as Task Force 61/2

Photo By Cpl. Jackson Kirkiewicz | U.S. Marines Sgt. Tyler Severns and Sgt. Bryan Aguilar, explosive ordnance disposal technicians with Combat Logistics Battalion 8, Combat Logistics Regiment 2, 2nd Marine Logistics Group, prepare to dispose of a cache during a simulated cache call during exercise EFES-24 and Marine Rotational Force Europe (MRF-E) 24.2 at Özbek, Türkiye, on May 11, 2024. EFES-24 is an international combined joint exercise focused on increasing force readiness, promoting stability and prosperity in the region, and interoperability between the U.S., Turkey, and allied nations. MRF-E focuses on regional engagements throughout Europe by conducting various exercises, mountain-warfare training, and military-to-military engagements, which enhances the overall interoperability of the U.S. Marine Corps with allies and partners. (U.S. Marine Corps Photo by Cpl. Jackson Kirkiewicz)  

NAPLES, ITALY

05.22.2024

Story by Capt. John Huntress 

2nd Marine Expeditionary Brigade

NAVAL SUPPORT ACTIVITY NAPLES, Italy — Marines and Sailors with the 2nd Marine Expeditionary Brigade (2d MEB), II Marine Expeditionary Force (II MEF), recently arrived in Naples, Italy, on May 16, 2024, to assume the role of Task Force 61/2 (TF 61/2). TF 61/2 is a forward-deployed command element in support of U.S. Sixth Fleet operations in the U.S. European Command (EUCOM) and U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM), employed by U.S. Sixth Fleet to support the interests of U.S. allies and partners.

TF 61/2 is established to command and control Fleet Marine Forces and assigned Naval Forces in support of the commander of U.S. Sixth Fleet. TF 61/2 will synchronize Navy and Marine Corps units and capabilities already in theater, in support of regional allies and partners, and U.S. national security interests. TF 61/2 is executing the Commandant of the Marine Corps' Concept for Stand-in Forces (SIF) to generate small, highly versatile units that integrate Marine Corps and Navy forces.

“Task Force 61/2 embodies the traditional naval heritage between the Marine Corps and the Navy. We’re focused on naval integration, which involves credible combat-ready forces that are poised to support our allies and partners when called,” says Col. Richard Mitchell, the director of operations with TF 61/2. “The task force executes the Marine Corps’ Stand-in Force concept through employment of mobile forces combined with deliberate integration with our allies and partners, providing U.S. Naval Sixth Fleet and joint force commanders with ARG/MEU and multi-domain reconnaissance capabilities.”

Task Force 61/2 operationalizes a role for Marine Corps forces in critical future scenarios through training and experimentation that enable naval and joint force commanders with dedicated multi-domain reconnaissance and counter-reconnaissance (RXR) forces. The Fleet Marine and Naval Forces assigned to TF 61/2 will model formations as described in the Commandant of the Marine Corps’ Concept for Stand-in Forces, and will train and experiment in order to generate new capabilities and novel ways of operating in support of the 6th Fleet Commander.

“2d MEB is the high bandwidth conduit that allows precise command of control of Marine Corps units throughout EUCOM and AFRICOM,” says Master Sgt. Ricardo Acosta, the operations chief with TF 61/2. “As a rapidly deployable Marine Air Ground Task Force (MAGTF) command element, 2d MEB provides Sixth Fleet with a headquarters capable of supporting the execution of naval campaigns or immediate crisis response operations in austere, contested, and multi-domain environments.”

2d MEB, operating as TF 61/2, will oversee a wide range of integrated operations, to include ARG-MEU operations, port visits and exercises, contingency planning and RXR operations.

Task Force 61/2 aligns deployed maritime forces under the Naval Amphibious Force commander; deployed amphibious ready groups (ARG), Marine expeditionary units (MEU), Fleet Anti-terrorism Security Team Company, Europe (FASTEUR), and reconnaissance and counter-reconnaissance (RXR) forces. Task Force 61/2 is deployed in the U.S. Naval Forces Europe area of operations, employed by U.S. Sixth Fleet to defend U.S., allied and partner interests.

• Date Taken: 05.22.2024
• Date Posted: 05.23.2024 06:22
• Story ID: 471975
• Location: NAPLES, IT