EVOLVING THE RELATIONSHIP OF SOF

AND THE ARG/MEU

1/13/2014

Navy Marine Corps Team

AGENDA
Value and Utility of the Navy and Marine Corps Team
Amphibious Ready Group (ARG)
Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU)
Global SOF Network
Special Operations Forces Liaison Element (SOFLE)
Vignettes
High return on US investment :
- Enhanced strategic and operational flexibility
- Achieves greater synergy in servicing Combatant Commanders
objectives by leveraging complementary capabilities, strengths and
advantages

1/13/2014

UNCLASSIFIED

Forward Deployed ARG/MEU Presence

Crisis Response/Partnering/Small Scale Contingencies

Crisis/Contingency Response

Recent Examples:

Afghanistan
Libya
Pakistan
Haiti
Indonesia
Lebanon
Kosovo
Liberia
Philippines
US Gulf Coast
Partner and prevent,
persistent presence

Deter aggression
Respond quickly to crisis
Protect citizens/interests
Expand influence
Strengthen alliances
Conduct Information
Operations

Crisis response and limited

contingency operations
UNCLASSIFIED

Support to major combat

operations
3

Value of Forward Deployed

Amphibious Forces
Advantages

Flexibility

Sea-based approach limits our footprint ashore

Reassures coalition partners and demonstrates
commitment
Allows rapid crisis response
Enable rapid buildup of follow-on joint forces
Deterrent that prevents and/or limits conflict
Credible means to create and sustain access

Build partnerships
Respond to crises
Project influence and power when
and where necessary

Amphibious flexibility is the greatest strategic asset that a seabased power possesses. - B.H. Liddell Hart, 1960, Soldier, Military Historian, Theorist

1/13/2014

UNCLASSIFIED

Sea-based, Scalable, Flexible

Integration with country

Foreign area specialists

team Situational insight

Training and advisor teams

Teams

Training teams

Advice to commander and staff

Mil-to-mil technical assistance

Deployed Detachments

Build partner capacity

Detachments / Platoons

MEU / ARG

SOF integration
Security exercises
Mil-to-mil contact

MAGTF

Comprehensive range of engagement with minimal footprint ashore

1/13/2014

UNCLASSIFIED

Navy-Marine Corps Team

Amphibious Ready Group (ARG) and MEU
Supported/Supporting Relationship

Marine Expeditionary Unit

(MEU)

Amphibious Squadron
(PHIBRON)

Naval Support
Element (NSE)

GCE (Rein Inf Bn)

Amphibious Assault Ship

(LHD or LHA)

ACE (Composite Squadron)

Amphibious Transport Dock

(LPD)

LCE (Combat Log Bn)

Dock Landing Ship
(LSD)
1/13/2014

UNCLASSIFIED

MEU Task Organization

MEU
Command Element (CE)
(~169 Marines and Sailors)

~2,059 Marines and Sailors*

Ground Combat Element (GCE)

Reinforced Infantry Battalion

Aviation Combat Element (ACE)

Composite Squadron

Logistics Combat Element (LCE)

Combat Logistics Battalion

(~1,200 Marines and Sailors)

(~417 Marines and Sailors)

(~273 Marines and Sailors)

* Based on current MEU Policy Order

1/13/2014

UNCLASSIFIED

ARG Task Organization

PHIBRON
NSE
LHD or LHA
Amphibious
Squadron
Staff

33 personnel
Planning
C2

Helicopter Sea
Combat
Squadron
(HSC)
Detachment

LPD

LSD

Tactical Air
Control
Squadron
Detachment

29 personnel
Control tactical air
operations

Assault Craft
Unit (ACU)
Detachment
(LCAC)

29 personnel
Search and
rescue
Anti-surface
warfare
Logistics

2 x MH-60S

34-54 personnel

3-5 x LCAC

Fleet Surgical
Team

18 personnel
1 surgeon/2
physicians
Surgical and
medical support

ACU
Detachment
(LCU)

12-24 personnel

1-2 x LCU

EOD
Detachment*

1/13/2014

8 personnel
Assist ARG in
gaining access
Render munitions
safe

UNCLASSIFIED

Beachmaster
Unit
Detachment

25 personnel
Beach traffic control
Surf zone salvage
2 x LARC-V

MEU / ARG
Air, Sea, and Ground Mobility
~2,000 ARG Personnel, ~2,059 MEU Personnel

LSD

LPD

LHA/LHD

2 x KC-130J

Landing craft

LAVs

Heavy lift helos

Utility & strike helos

Fixed wing attack aircraft

HMMWVs
Tanks

Trucks

AAVs
Medium lift tiltrotor

1/13/2014

UNCLASSIFIED

Ship-to-Shore Capabilities
Enable the rapid buildup of combat power by moving landing forces ashore and support
and sustain them from the sea
Vertical Lift: Insert and support light forces at
extended ranges and unexpected locations

Surface Lift: Complement vertical lift with greater combat

power, weight, and sustainment
AAV

MV-22B Osprey

Tracked, armored amphibious assault transports

to and through hostile territory
21 combat equipped Marines
Speed: Water: 7 knots / Land: 45 mph
12.7 mm machinegun & 40mm grenade launcher

Medium lift assault support

24 combat equipped Marines
12,500 lbs external load
Cruise Speed: 262 knots
Combat Range: 325 NM w/o refuel

(To replace CH-46 with full operational capability by 2017)

CH-53E Super Stallion

Heavy lift assault support
30 combat equipped Marines (can lift
up to 55 passengers)
36,000 lbs external load
Cruise speed: 150 knots
Combat Range: 500 NM w/o refuel
(To be replaced by CH-53K beginning in 2018)

(To be replaced by amphibious combat vehicle ~2021)

LCAC

Fast: 35+ knots

Can land over 80% of the worlds beaches
Limited to beach ops
Medium cargo lift
1 M1A1 tank, or 2 MVTRs, or 4 LAVs
With Personnel Transport Module 180 personnel

(To be replaced by Ship-to-Shore Connector (SSC) beginning in 2020)

LCU

Large Cargo Lift

2 M1A1 tank, or 4 MVTRs, or 9 LAVs
300 personnel

10 knots
Can operate in ports and harbors
Limited by beach gradients

1/13/2014

UNCLASSIFIED

10

ARG/MEU
Highly Relevant Force
Engage

Respond

Project

Flexibility to respond to global instability and enabling maximum

freedom of action with the least risk

Versatile, sea-based capability for the era of uncertainty

Proven, flexible utility in peace and conflict
Leverages our command of the seas to build necessary partnership,
exert timely influence, and deter conflict
Forward to respond to crises with a variety of essential capabilities
Enables strategic conditions for an expeditionary-dependent military
1/13/2014

UNCLASSIFIED

11

Humanitarian Assistance
The ARG/MEU team can provide significant assistance in response
to humanitarian and disaster events
Medical

ARG
7 physicians and 3
dentists
5-9 operating rooms
7-25 intensive care beds
730-800 ward and triage
beds

MEU
7 physicians and 2
physician assistants
78 corpsmen
Shock trauma platoon
30-bed evacuation ward
casualty evacuation

1/13/2014

Water

General Engineering

ARG
Produce 332,000 gallons of
potable water per day at sea

MEU
Mobile power generators
Bulldozers and excavator
Forklifts

MEU
Produce 28,800 gallons of
potable water per day ashore

Transport and Distribution

ARG
4-7 LCAC and LCUs
2 medium lift helicopters
MEU
16 medium and heavy lift
helicopters
15 AAVs
38 medium lift trucks

ARG/MEU capabilities are self-supporting and have minimal impact on a

fractured infrastructure:

Berthing and feeding of teams aboard ship

Aircraft basing on ships
Self-contained landing craft facilities (well-decks)
Significant communications and C2 facilities
UNCLASSIFIED

12

Non-combatant Evacuation Operations

Globally Protecting US Citizens

Forward
deployed;
ready
to
assist

1/13/2014

UNCLASSIFIED

13

GLOBAL SOF NETWORK

USSOCOM- 2020 Vision
A globally networked force of SOF, interagency, allies, and partners
able to rapidly respond and persistently address regional
contingencies and threats to stability.

1/13/2014

UNCLASSIFIED

14

SOF Liaison Element (SOFLE)

The USSOCOM-MEU/ARG SOF Liaison Element (SOFLE) is provided to
deploying MEU/ARGs to improve access, leverage the global SOF
network (GSN), enable TSOC coordination, and facilitate
interdependent MEU/ARG-SOF Objectives, Actions, and Activities
(OAA) in order to better support GCCs steady state and crisis
response operations.

1/13/2014

UNCLASSIFIED

15

SOFLE Task Organization

Seven man team of experienced SOF operators and enablers sourced
from across the SOF Enterprise
SOFLE Leader

Intel Analyst

Communicator

O5 LtCol/Commander
SOF leader w/Theater
SOF experience
Capable of advising on
SOF/MEU/ARG combined
operations

CWO2-CWO3 or E7 E8
SOF enabler with
experience at the tactical
and or operational level
Capable of performing
all source analysis using
SOF intel OPS/TTPs

E7 E8
SOF enabler with
experience at the tactical
and or operational level
Capable of operating
relevant SOF and common
service C4I

Assistant Leader

Intel Analyst

Communicator

CWO3-CWO4 or E8
SOF leader w/Theater
SOF experience
Capable of advising on
SOF/MEU/ARG combined
operations

E6 E7
SOF enabler with
experience at the tactical
and or operational level
Capable of performing
all source analysis using
SOF intel OPS/TTPs

E6 E7
SOF enabler with
experience at the tactical
and or operational level
Capable of operating
relevant SOF and common
service C4I

1/13/2014

UNCLASSIFIED

TSOC LNO

Knowledge of current
TSOC OAAs.
Relevant regional
expertise.
Knowledge of TSOC staff
to coordinate with all
appropriate TSOC
directorates.

16

SOFLE Deployed Command and Control

USSOCOM

GCC

TSOC

JSOTF

1/13/2014

NAVFOR

SOFLE

MEU
ARG

UNCLASSIFIED

MARFOR

COCOM
OPCON
TACON
COORD
LNO Exchange

17

MEU/ARG/SOFLE
Forward Engagement
1

Eighteen months prior to the deployment, USSOCOM sponsors MEU / PHIBRON /

SOFLE / TSOC synchronization, identifying opportunities to leverage MEU / ARG
capabilities and capacities in support of GCC theater security cooperation
objectives. The SOFLE and TSOC provide MEU / ARG leadership with options to
employ forces in support of ongoing SOF partnered nation training and FID
missions.
JSOTF

HN requests US support with expanding security

force capacity. GCC tasks TSOC to deploy a
JSOTF in support of US Ambassador . JSOTF
employs Operational Detachment Alphas (ODA)
and Marine Special Operations Teams (MSOT) to
conduct foreign internal defense (FID) with
partnered HN security force. JSOTF requests
MEU / ARG support during expansion phase of
JSOTF mission.

Port

HN Capital
ODA
US Embassy

LHD

SOF MLE

MSOT

LSD
Airfield

ODA
3 MEU / ARG is directed by the GCC and through
the NAVFOR to support JSOTF. MEU / ARG
task organizes training support teams to
support SOF led HN training requirements and
JSOTF logistic support. ARG provides Level III
medical support from the LHD. MEU training
force is supported from the sea , maintaining a
minimal footprint ashore.

1/13/2014

SOFLE

MSOT
Port

CRE / NSW / SWCC

LPD

UNCLASSIFIED

MEU / ARG elements aboard LPD team with

theater Crisis Response Element (CRE) to
conduct bilateral VBSS training with HN SOF.
CRE supported by NSW / SWCC provide Boat
Assault Force (BAF) training while MEU Force
Reconnaissance Platoon supported by ACE
provide Helicopter Assault Force training.
Training mission culminates with a HN SOF led
full mission profile (FMP) VBSS

18

MEU/ARG/SOFLE
Crisis Response
1

Facing internal unrest caused by spillover from conflict in a bordering nation, HN

requests US support to counter internal and external threats. JSOTF shifts to a
combat advisory role. ODAs and MSOTs provide enabling actions (C2, fires
coordination and logistics) in support of HN security forces. MEU / ARG supports
JSOTF with FW / RWCAS, tactical lift and logistics.
ODA

JSOTF
HN Capital

MEU Tactical Lift

MSOT

External Forces

3 MEU / ARG conducts evacuation of US personnel and

designated third country nationals (TCN) via air and
surface craft. US Ambassador remains at the embassy
with essential staff. JSOTF forces continue to advise HN
security forces and leverage MEU / ARG fires, C2 and
logistic support. MEU / ARG conducts raids from the sea
and deploys ground forces in partnership with JSOTF
and HN security forces to HN capital, airfield and ports
to eliminate external threat and stabilize the situation.
Port MEU operations are supported from the sea.

MSOT

US Embassy
CRE / MEU FCE

MEU Raid
MEU RWCAS

MEU FWCAS

ODA
Airfield

LPD
Surface Evacuation

Port

Air Evacuation

MEU Raid
2 As HN situation deteriorates, GCC designates the MEU
/ ARG as the supported commander. JSOTF continues
to combat advise along external force axis of advance
and deploys ODA and MSOTs to conduct
reconnaissance of airfields and ports to enable followon MEU / ARG operations. Upon US Ambassador's
request JSOTF CRE, MEU Forward Command Element
(FCE) and a tailored MEU security force link up at US
embassy in support of potential NEO.

1/13/2014

SOFLE
Internal unrest

UNCLASSIFIED

4 External forces are defeated. MEU

/ ARG maintains overwatch and
provides a QRF from the sea as HN
security forces reestablish security
LSD
across the nation. JSOTF forces
remain partnered HN security
forces and conduct an assessment
of future HN FID requirements.
Once HN security situation is
LHD
stabilized, the GCC designates the
JSOTF as the supported
commander and the MEU / ARG
prepares to depart the AO.

19