The 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit completed its first Marine Air-Ground Task Force level training across Arizona and Southern California. Realistic Urban Training, brought together nearly 2,300 Marines and Sailors from the 11th MEU’s major subordinate elements, provided an opportunity to plan and conduct operations as an integrated Marine Air-Ground Task Force. During RUT, the 11th MEU completed eight separate mission packages, including multiple raids, tactical recovery of aircraft and personnel, and expeditionary advanced basing operations.
“Realistic Urban Training was a prime opportunity to exercise our 11th MEU principles of excellence, readiness, and teamwork,” said Col. James Lively, the 11th MEU Commanding Officer. “The 11th MEU team had the opportunity to conduct concurrent, distributed MAGTF operations in separate areas all while safely commanding and controlling our forces from a single location, aboard MCAS, Yuma. Each MSE brought their respective expertise to identify, plan, and solve MAGTF-level problems – professionally and effectively.”
The 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit (11th MEU) is conducting training in preparation for a routine deployment later this year. The 11th MEU is one of seven Marine Expeditionary Units currently in existence in the United States Marine Corps. The Marine Expeditionary Unit is a Marine Air Ground Task Force with a strength of about 2,200 personnel. The MEU consists of a command element, a reinforced infantry battalion, a composite helicopter squadron and a logistics combat element. The 11th MEU is currently based out of Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California with headquarters in Camp Del Mar.
