U.S. Marines with the U.S. Naval Forces Europe and Africa Band brass quintet perform during a cake-cutting ceremony celebrating the 249th Marine Corps Birthday at Naval Support Activity, Naples, Italy, Nov. 7, 2024. During the ceremony, a slice of cake cut with the Mameluke sword is given to the oldest Marine present, then passed to the youngest Marine present, signifying the passing of tradition from one generation to another generation. Task Force 61/2's synchronized command and control of assigned forces and seamless integration with U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa, U.S. Sixth Fleet and U.S. Marine Corps Forces Europe and Africa directly supports regional readiness, crisis response, and deterrence in the U.S. European Command and U.S. Africa Command area of operations. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Staff Sgt. Josue Marquez)
U.S. Marine Corps Brig. Gen. Andrew T. Priddy relinquishes command of 2d Marine Expeditionary Brigade (MEB) to Brig. Gen. Samuel L. Meyer, the incoming commanding general of 2d MEB, during the 2d MEB change of command ceremony at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, May 16, 2024. The role of 2d MEB’s commanding general is to provide a scalable, standing, joint-capable, deployment-ready headquarters element to support II MEF operations abroad. (U.S. Marine Corps video by Cpl. Emily Hazelbaker)
NAPLES, Italy –Task Force 61/2 (TF 61/2) stands at the forefront of the Marine Corps and Navy's integration efforts in the Mediterranean, enhancing amphibious operations and ensuring that U.S. forces are always ready to respond to any crisis in the region. Based in Naples, Italy, TF 61/2 operates with a scalable presence, supporting Amphibious Ready Group (ARG) and Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) deployments in the U.S. European Command (EUCOM) and U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM) theaters. When the ARG/MEU is not forward deployed in the EUCOM and AFRICOM areas of responsibilities, TF 61/2 maintains a smaller staff in Naples, ready to surge forward to command and control the ARG/MEU or respond to emerging crises in the European and...
