Disaggregated MEUs likely to become more common

2014-12-29T09:43:25-05:00

From: Marine Corps Times

Operating in multiple theaters and under separate chains of command likely will become a more common experience for troops deployed with Marine expeditionary units.

It's known as being disaggregated and split. The latter means ships within an amphibious ready group are more than 200 miles apart, the range of a helicopter. The former refers to those same ships operating in differing combatant commands.

Splitting an ARG is fairly routine, said Marine Col. L.M. Landon, branch head of plans, policies and operations. But disaggregating an MEU was much less common not long ago, he said.

"Historically, they generally stay together," Landon said. "Usually, you would have all three ships within a couple of hundred miles."

But that has changed over the years. The recently returned 22nd MEU, for example, undertook simultaneous operations in the Mediterranean Sea, the Middle East and Africa during its deployment.

"I don't know how much more complicated you can get," said Navy Capt. Neil Karnes, ARG commander, during a briefing before policy experts at a Virginia-based think tank earlier this month.

There are several reasons driving the shift, said Landon, the primary one being the lack of standalone ARGs in the Mediterranean as well as in Central Command.

"You could ask most military guys: We'd rather have an [ARG] in the Mediterranean and another one in CentCom, but right now we can't get there," Landon said. "Disaggregate has become more common way now of operating."

Another factor is the V-22 Osprey. Being able to cover more distance by air has made disaggregating easier, he said. Col. William Dunn, who commanded the 22nd MEU, agrees.

"I think [disaggregating] will become more of the norm. The MV-22 allows for long range operations and enhances the MEUs ability to disperse," he said in an email.

But disaggregating comes with disadvantages. Given the various capabilities of the ships that make up an ARG, splitting up comes with operational limits depending on the circumstances, Landon said. In the case of an amphibious assault, for example, a smaller, isolated ship might have the assets to pull off either a landing by sea or air – but not both.

Commanders face the same problem when dividing up personnel, particularly those with key specializations, and equipment, Landon said.

"All those things that are cons, we overcome them, but they make it a little more challenging to disaggregate," he said.

The upside, though, is responding to multiple crises, training missions and other operations across several regions, Landon said. It adds to the calming presence of the Corps, he said.

"… If I can sit off three coasts, that's three mellow places," Landon said.

http://www.marinecorpstimes.com/story/military/pentagon/2014/12/28/disaggregated-meus-become-commonplace/20852001/

Response by SMSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 29 at 2014 9:54 AM

2014-12-29T09:54:33-05:00

If this is the way ahead, we should be building ships that can meet multiple functions such as air assault and beach assault capabilities. I would rather have three of these types of ships that would act independent instead of having to pull one to support another. I understand our fiscal constraints, but the impact out weighs the cost in this instance. If we could establish three ships that could act as a full fighting force on three fronts I'd take a tax cut to establish it.

Response by GySgt George Vukovich made Dec 29 at 2014 12:35 PM

2014-12-29T12:35:39-05:00

I remember the 'sea-bag drag' all too well!

Disaggregating...prime examples of how leadership, communication, logistics, and instant-willingness-to orders come into play. The Navy / Marine team can do anything!