22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit
The 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit is one of seven such units currently in existence in the United States Marine Corps. It is a Marine Air Ground Task Force with a strength of about 2,200 personnel. They are currently based out of Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, North Carolina and fall under the command of the II Marine Expeditionary Force. It is the most decorated of the U.S. Marine Corps' seven MEUs.
22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit insignia
Marines from BLT 1st Battalion 6th Marines in Oruzgan province, Afghanistan in May 2004
Marine from the U.S. 22nd MEU participates in a long-range deployment exercise from the amphibious assault ship USS Wasp (LHD 1) into Djibouti, August 2002.
Ospreys assigned to Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron (VMM) 263 (Reinforced) from the 22nd MEU, fly over the Egyptian coastline during Exercise Bright Star 2009
Marine expeditionary unit
A Marine expeditionary unit is the smallest air-ground task force (MAGTF) in the United States Fleet Marine Force. Each MEU is an expeditionary rapid reaction force ready to answer any crisis, whether it be disaster aid or a combat mission. Marine amphibious unit (MAU) was the name used until the late 1980s.
A landing craft utility returns to USS Belleau Wood with members of the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit
Marines loading on a Landing Craft Utility in 1999
A UH-1N from the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit flies past an AH-1W on the flight deck of USS Kearsarge
Marines from the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit land for Operation Bright Star in Egypt
