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MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, NC — A key transformational step in the Marine Corps’ journey of Force Design occurred in early July at the II Marine Expeditionary Force (II MEF) headquarters in Camp Lejeune. During a visit by the Commandant of the Marine Corps, Gen. Eric M. Smith, II MEF was officially validated as a Joint Task Force – Capable (JTF-C) headquarters on June 10, 2024. This milestone means II MEF is now ready to lead and coordinate complex operations involving different branches of the U.S. military and allied forces.
Transitioning to a JTF-C headquarters involves integrating and coordinating forces across land, sea, air, space and cyber domains, preparing for any situation, from peacekeeping missions to full-scale military operations. To prepare for this new role, II MEF participated in several key exercises that tested their ability to plan, execute and sustain complex operations.
From February 10-17, 2023, around 1,200 Marines and Sailors with II MEF and its four major subordinate commands—2nd Marine Division, 2nd Marine Logistics Group, 2nd Marine Air Wing, and 2nd Marine Expeditionary Brigade—conducted Marine Expeditionary Force Exercise (MEFEX) 23 at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. This exercise showcased II MEF’s ability to command and control forces during a simulated peacekeeping operation in a challenging environment. It was a crucial step toward their JTF-C validation.
II MEF came together again in Camp Lejeune from September 9-15, 2023 to exercise command and control capabilities with the subordinate commands as well as joint enablers during Joint Task Force Exercise (JTFEX) 23. JTFEX 23 simulated II MEF’s ability to operate as a task force during large-scale all-domain operations. Various tools were employed to test the command and control capabilities of II MEF during JTFEX 23 including a simulated information environment that tested the real-time response capabilities of the MEF.
In March 2024, II MEF participated in Nordic Response 24 in Norway, assuming authority as the Land Component Command (LCC) headquarters for a multinational force. This exercise involved 20,000 participants from NATO allies and Nordic partner nations, focusing on crisis response in northern Europe. II MEF worked closely with Norwegian, Swedish and Finnish forces, demonstrating their ability to lead in cold weather conditions.
The validation process involved rigorous assessments by higher headquarters and independent evaluators, who verified II MEF’s capabilities in command and control, intelligence integration, logistics, and cyber defense. Col. Matthew T. McSorley, II MEF G-37 Director of Training, praised II MEF's achievement. "The validation of II MEF as a Joint Task Force – Capable headquarters is a significant milestone for the Marine Corps and our joint force capabilities. This transformation establishes II MEF as the service-retained JTF-C headquarters for assignment and tasking as an Immediate Response Force (IRF); enhancing our ability to respond to crises and underscores our commitment to maintaining a robust, adaptable, and ready force," McSorley said.
As a JTF-C headquarters, II MEF will continue to evolve, embracing new technologies and doctrines. This new role places them at the forefront of the Marine Corps' efforts to adapt to a complex global security environment. II MEF will play a crucial role in ensuring that the United States and its allies can face future conflicts with unity and strength.
| Date Taken: | 07.01.2024 |
| Date Posted: | 07.01.2024 15:29 |
| Story ID: | 475333 |
| Location: | CAMP LEJEUNE, NORTH CAROLINA, US |
| Web Views: | 135 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, II Marine Expeditionary Force: Ready for a New Challenge as a Joint Task Force Headquarters, by MAJ Kenneth Kunze, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
