USS Tarawa (LHA 1) - Naval Cruise Book

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M.E.U. Page 22

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bt%fe, WL-utenant Colonel Libutti was reas- sined as the Senior Marine Aide to UJBlAottU 1 ' 1 Commandant of the Marine JSrfCollef C rps. jj-apadt In August 1985, Lieutenant Colo- ■ Hodquarter n Libutti attended the National IMsfcHeadr Var College in Washington, D.C. Ldt Sector l ' on completion in June 1986, he v s assigned as the Executive Offi- iar Libutti « cr lst Marines, 1st Division, Camp iJliwtflur Fndleton, California. In January ... 1 37, Lieutenant Colonel Libutti was -jjafffc f issigned as the Commanding Offi- ' , r r c of 1st Reconnaissance Battalion, ■„. ., u v iere he remained in command un- t October 1987. In October 1987, Lieutenant Colonel Libutti was as- signed as the Commanding Officer, Contingency MAGTF 1-88, and was promoted to his current rank of Colonel. In May 1988, Colonel Li- butti served as the Assistant Chief of Staff, G-2, 1st Marine Division. Colonel Libutti assumed com- mand of the 11th Marine Expedition- ary Unit in August 1988. Colonel Libutti ' s personal decora- tions include the Silver Star Medal, the Legion of Merit Medal, the Navy Commendation Medal, the Purple Heart Medal with two bronze stars and the Combat Action Ribbon. left: Sgt. Maj. Barreol proposes a plan of action to Col. Libutti. M.E.U. Page 21

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Our Most Powerful Weapons The Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) is the smallest of the Marine Air-Ground Task Forces (MAGTFs). With its strength of about 2,400 men, the MEU is normally built around a reinforced infantry battalion and a composite aircraft squadron, sup- ported by a MEU service support group. Usually commanded by a colonel, the MEU is employed to fulfill rou- tine forward deployments with fleets in the Mediterranean, the Western Pacific and, periodically, the Atlantic and Indian Oceans. It is normally de- ployed aboard up to five amphibious ships. The Ground Combat Element (GCE) is the Battalion Landing Team (BLT), an infantry battalion rein- forced with artillery, tanks, amphib- ian tractors, reconnaissance and oth- er units as its mission and circum- stances may require. The Aviation Combat Element (ACE) is a Marine Medium Helicop- ter Squadron augmented with three other types of helicopters into a Composite Squadron. It may also in- clude fixed wing aircraft. The Combat Service Support Ele- ment (CSSE) is the MEU Service Sup- port Group (MSSG), formed primar- ily from the Force Service Support Group. The MSSG contains all the logistics specialists necessary to keep M.E.U. Page 23