Marine Expeditionary Unit - The MEU Cycle

The MEU Cycle

MEUs maintain their subordinate elements in fifteen month cycles: a nine months stateside (with six set aside for training), and a six month deployment aboard ship. These cycles ensure that at least two of the seven MEUs are deployed forward at any given time.

Interim or buildup period: Upon completion of a deployment, the Marine expeditionary unit remains "special operations capable" for approximately one month, prepared to respond to events around the world. The MEU then releases its major subordinate elements (MSEs), retaining only its command element. This period provides the command element a chance to rotate select personnel and begin planning for the addition of newly assigned MSEs and “work-up” training. When the MSEs are received, the MEU begins six months of intense pre-deployment training.

Work-up period: Training during the six-month work-up period is often referred to as "crawl, walk, run". The Marines and Sailors progress through curriculum and exercises that teach individual, small unit, and unit tactics while integrating the separate MEU elements into a cohesive, flexible, and powerful force. The work-up period includes training in many combat and noncombat skills, to include:

• urban sniper
• mechanized and motorized raids
• non-combatant evacuation operations
• humanitarian assistance
• mass casualty
• scout swimmer
• jungle and/or mountain warfare
• riot control.

Exercises conducted during the work-up period can include:

• Amphibious squadron—MEU integration training (PMINT)
• Realistic urban training exercise (RUT), formerly training in an urban environment exercise (TRUEX)
• Expeditionary strike group exercise (ESGEX)
• Special operations capable certification exercise (CERTEX or SOCCEX); prior to deployment, the MEU receives certification as special operations capable and then referred to as a "MEU (SOC)". There is very little within the capability of a MEU (SOC) that meets the level of special operations practiced by United States Special Operations Command, but instead refers to the ability of the MEU to perform missions outside that of the traditional missions of its component units.

Deployment: Following the work-up period, the MEU deploys for six months in support of geographic combatant commanders. During this time, the MEU is a forward-deployed, self-sustaining force that combatant commanders can direct to accomplish a variety of special operations and conventional missions.

The missions may include:

• Conventional operations (amphibious assaults and raids)
• Tactical recovery of aircraft and personnel (TRAP)
• Humanitarian assistance operations (HAO)
• Noncombatant evacuation operations (NEO)
• Security operations.