MEU Cycle
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Time in the MEU can be broken into three different periods: pre-deployment, deployment and post deployment
Pre-Deployment
Work-Up Period:
Training during the six-month work-up period is often referred to as "crawl, walk, run."
The Marines and sailors progress through curriculum and exercises that teach individual, small unit, and unit tactics while integrating the separate MEU elements into a cohesive, flexible and powerful force.
The work-up period includes training in the following areas:
Amphibious Operations, Mechanized and Helicopter-borne Raids, Noncombatant Evacuation Operations, Humanitarian Assistance, and Urban Operations.
Exercises conducted during the work-up period include:
ESG - MEU Integration Training (ESGINT), Training in an Urban Environment Exercise (TRUEX), Composite Training Unit Exercise (COMPTUEX), and the MEU Certification Exercise (CERTEX).
Phase One: Initial Collective Training Phase
-Building Block Approach
-Rapid Response Planning Process
-Special Operations Skills Training
Phase Two: Intermediate Training Phase
-MSOC-MEU Inter-operbility Training Exercise
-ESG/MEU Integration Training
-Realistic Urban Training Exercise
-Composite Training Unit Exericse
Phase Three: Final Training Phase
-Supporting Arms Coordination Exercise
-Certification Exercise
Deployment
Following the work-up, the MEU deploys for six months to U.S. European and Central Commands' areas of responsibility. During this time, the MEU is a forward-deployed, self-sustaining force that the combatant commanders can direct to accomplish a variety of special operations and conventional missions their areas of responsibility. The missions may include:
* Conventional Operations (Amphibious Assaults and Raids)
* Tactical Recovery of Aircraft and Personnel (TRAP)
* Humanitarian Assistance / Disaster Relief (HA/DR)
* Non-Combatant Evacuation Operations (NEO)
* Security Operations
* Peace Enforcement
* Reconnaissance and Surveillance
* Airfield/Port Seizure
There are seven MEU's in the Marine Corps, three on each coast of the United States and one in Okinawa, Japan. The East Coast MEUs maintain a near-constant presence in the Mediterranean region. Each MEU follows a similar work-up/deployment cycle.
Post Deployment
The post-deployment phase may last for several months. This is the time when the individual Marine is trying to rejoin his or her life and the lives of loved ones. The Marine may feel ill for a while as he or she adjusts to the change in air, weather, food, water and schedule. He or she will not be ready to jump back into the old routine, even though they want to very much. In addition to the adjustments at home, Marines will be adjusting to returning to their regular jobs. Fellow Marines who did not go on the deployment may want the Marine to tell “war stories’ the Leatherneck is not ready to share. The change in the daily tempo may make Marines feel restless and anxious. All of these adjustments take time, but with supportive, understanding friends and family, a Marine can return to a normal life.
Post-Deployment Stress.pdf