1990 - Marines of the 22d MEU (SOC) were flown to the American Embassy, Monrovia, Liberia, to help evacuate personnel.
Please note that the MEU (not a Special Purpose MAGTF) did the embassy reinforcement and evacuation mission.
Note 1: Naval Requirements blog reminded me of something. We've had MEU's that have done embassy reinforcement, embassy evacuation, TRAP Missions into hostile territory, demonstrations of force, humanitarian relief...the list goes on. These missions were accomplished by regular infantry that were trained by our own Special Operations Training Group to be certified as Special Operations Capable MEU's. We have what we need. The Maritime Raid Force, MARSOC, SPMAGTF (Crisis Response Force) are all just add on's that are fashionable but add nothing. We were doing it before we got those units and we'll be doing it once we close shop on them. The next Grunt Commandant of the Marine Corps will have to clean house. Of personnel that are in positions they don't belong in and of equipment/concepts that make no sense.
Note 1: Naval Requirements blog reminded me of something. We've had MEU's that have done embassy reinforcement, embassy evacuation, TRAP Missions into hostile territory, demonstrations of force, humanitarian relief...the list goes on. These missions were accomplished by regular infantry that were trained by our own Special Operations Training Group to be certified as Special Operations Capable MEU's. We have what we need. The Maritime Raid Force, MARSOC, SPMAGTF (Crisis Response Force) are all just add on's that are fashionable but add nothing. We were doing it before we got those units and we'll be doing it once we close shop on them. The next Grunt Commandant of the Marine Corps will have to clean house. Of personnel that are in positions they don't belong in and of equipment/concepts that make no sense.
