What does an MEU bring to America's war bag????

Common wisdom has SOCOM as the tip of the spear in this century.  Policy makers are increasing the size of that organization while the conventional forces are being reduced.  Silly move and it can be categorized as style over substance.

Against a population that has effective law enforcement and even a marginal armed forces, units like the Navy SEALs can be hunted down and eradicated.  They are simply too lightly equipped to survive against a large, organized enemy.

Even with that being said, SOCOM is due to increase in size from over three US Army Divisions to almost four.  I can't explain the thinking behind that but it is in error.  

A balanced force that brings an amazing amount of firepower is the Marine Expeditionary Unit.  It has 2200 men and is capable of unsupported combat operations for up to 15 days...(via Wikipedia)....

A typical MEU has approximately 2,200 Marines and sailors. It is equipped with:

Qty	Nomenclature	Element
4	M1A1 main battle tank	ground
7 to 16	Light Armored Vehicle	ground
15	Assault Amphibious Vehicle	ground
6	155mm howitzer: M198 or M777	ground
8	M252 81mm mortar	ground
8	BGM-71 Tube-Launched, Optically-Tracked, Wire-Guided (TOW) missile weapon system	ground
8	FGM-148 Javelin anti-tank missile	ground
4 to 6	AH-1W SuperCobra attack helicopters	aviation
3	UH-1N Twin Huey utility helicopter	aviation
12	CH-46E Sea Knight medium lift assault helicopter	aviation
4	CH-53E Super Stallion heavy lift assault helicopter	aviation
6	AV-8B Harrier jet	aviation
2	KC-130 Hercules re-fueler/transport aircraft Note: usually maintained in the continental United States	aviation
2	Reverse Osmosis Water Purification Unit	logistics
1	LMT 3000 water purification unit	logistics
4	Tractor, Rubber Tire, Articulated Steering	logistics
2	TX51-19M Rough Terrain Forklift	logistics
3	D7 bulldozer	logistics
1	Medium Tactical Vehicle Replacement dump truck	logistics
4	Mk48 Logistics Vehicle System	logistics
7	500 gallon water containers	multiple
63	Humvee	multiple
30	Medium Tactical Vehicle Replacement trucks	multiple

Many types of equipment are, or will soon, undergo a transitory phase as they are replaced. Some examples include the MV-22 Osprey replacing the CH-46, the Marine Personnel Carrier replacing the LAV-25, the F-35 Lightning II, the Ch-53K Super Stallion replacing the CH-53, and the H-1 upgrade program (where the AH-1Z Viper and UH-1Y Venom replace the AH-1W and UH-1N).

That my friends is a capable, medium weight force that is deployed world wide and because we have several of these MEU's afloat at any one time, they are able to respond to trouble spots quite rapidly.

MARSOC is NOT the face of the Marine Corps and they are NOT the tip of the Marine Corps' spear.

Its the MEU.

The MEU is the tip of America's spear and the Battalion Landing Team is the tip of the MEU.