Philosophy of Command 

The commanding officer has issued the following philosophy to his Marines and sailors:

Brilliance in the Basics
Today we find ourselves in uncertain times, with Marines deployed in combat operations in Operation Enduring Freedom and troubled waters around the globe. The 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit will either be training to deploy into an austere, possibly hostile environment, or forward deployed aboard Naval shipping, executing our assigned missions. The heart of the 11th MEU is our Command Element; we will always be tactically and technically proficient, both as individual Marines but more importantly as a well integrated team. 

One Team
Team building will take place even as the MEU begins to reset, post its most recent amphibious deployment. In my view, the number one key to our success will be the power of the blue-green team. As individual Marines, we will seek excellence in all that we do, but our true strength originates from the synergy developed by the MEU/PHIBRON team as a whole. 

Focused and Ready 
Our core mission in the 11th MEU Command Element is to provide a command-and-control capability around which a Marine air-ground task force can be formed and employed on short notice. To meet this mission, every member of this command will be ready at all times to deploy within 96 hours of notification. To meet this very demanding requirement, each of us will keep ourselves ready, both physically and mentally, to answer the call to arms or to aid those in distress. Do not sit idle waiting to be tasked. Anticipate; always be seeking self improvement.

Balanced Excellence 
We will fight tomorrow as we train today, with honor, courage and singular commitment to accomplishing our assigned mission. We are not only warriors from the sea, but also ambassadors who represent both the Marine Corps and this great nation. As such, we will always carry ourselves as professionals and be respectful of others at all times. We will train hard and have fun, but in a way that is smart.

Pride of the Pacific
As we move forward, we will be anchored by our history. The 11th MEU has demonstrated greatness in combat and humanitarian operations, and during exercises throughout the Pacific and the Middle East Regions. We will not only continue that legacy, but by our combined actions, we will demonstrate to all who observe us why we are the Pride of the Pacific.