The 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit conducted realistic urban training across Arizona and Southern California, Nov. 3-13. The exercise, involving the entire Marine air-ground task force and elements from Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 122, assessed the 11th MEU's ability to respond to a range of contingency operations.
As the 11th MEU's first large-scale exercise as a composited air-ground task force, the urban training tested the capabilities of 1,200 Marines across a spectrum of scenario-driven missions built to mirror the pressure of real operations. The exercise included various rapid-response missions, such as expeditionary strikes, tactical recoveries of aircraft and personnel, limited-scale raids and the establishment of an expeditionary advanced base.
The 11th MEU is comprised of a ground combat element, battalion landing team, logistics combat element and two aviation combat elements.
"The MEU's objective for this training is to deploy as a Marine air-ground task force and then work together in pursuit of a common goal," said Marine Corps Maj. Jordan Vargas, assistant operations officer of the 11th MEU. "This is the first time that the elements of our [air-ground task force] came together and synergized through planning, execution, briefing and debriefing."
This training gives the 11th MEU's Marines and sailors the opportunity to prove their readiness, lethality and innovation in a controlled but demanding environment overseen by Expeditionary Operations Training Group, I Marine Expeditionary Force.
"[Realistic urban training] makes us a more lethal force because it brings together all of the assets that the Marine Corps has," said Marine Corps Sgt. Jackson Intlekofer, a squad leader with India Company, Battalion Landing Team, 3rd Battalion, 5th Regiment, 11th MEU. "For us at the squad level, we get to integrate with the supporting elements of the [task force] who enable us to go into an objective, kick the door in and do our thing. This makes us much more lethal as a battalion landing team."
The urban training was an opportunity for the 11th MEU to refine its cohesion as a fully integrated air-ground task force. By successfully navigating the demanding exercise, the MEU demonstrated its commitment to warfighting readiness, excellence in mission accomplishment and teamwork. The lessons learned during the exercise will enhance the MEU's performance in future operations, ensuring its continued effectiveness as a versatile expeditionary force.
The 11th MEU is a forward-deployable, sea-based rapid response force, capable of providing geographic combatant commanders with the ability to conduct amphibious operations, crisis response and humanitarian aid/disaster response by sea or air.