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Information About

22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit




  caption 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit insignia
  dates December 1, 1982
  country United States
  branch USMC
  size ~ 2,200
  current Commander Col Kenneth F McKenzie, Jr
  nickname 2nd MEU


The 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit or '''22nd MEU''' was activated December 1, 1982, as the ''22nd Marine Amphibious Unit'' or ''MAU''. This original activation was actually a redesignation of the 32nd MAU, which had been deployed regularly throughout the Caribbean and Mediterranean regions for some twenty years. Aditionally, the 32nd MAU had operated within Lebanon.


MISSION

, in front of a HMMWV with battle damage. 8 June 2004]]
"Provide the United States with a forward-deployed, amphibious force-in-readiness capable of executing mission across the full spectrum of combat and military operations other than war."


HISTORY

During Operation Urgent Fury , the MAU participated with a number of helicopter and surface landings on the island of Grenada , eventually occupying over 75% of the island.

Redesignated the 22nd MAU, it deployed with the 24th and 26th MAUs in numerous operations and exercises throughout the 1980s , with the "Amphibious" moniker being dropped in favor of "Expeditionary" on February 5, 1988. Additionally, in 1986, the MAU was the third MAU designated Special Operations -Capable ("SOC").

In the 1990s , the 22nd MEU participated in operations in Liberia , Zaire , the Central African Republic , the Republic Of Congo , and Sierra Leone . Additionally, the MEU participated in peacekeeping missions in the Balkans region.

The 22nd MEU gained particular distinction during Operation Enduring Freedom , operating from Forward Operating Base Ripley in Afghanistan 's Oruzgan Province . During four months of operations, it earned the distinction of "the most successful campaign in the history of Operation Enduring Freedom" {Link without Title} .


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