2/7 is back in Iraq....

via Marine Corps Times

A new Marine rotational force has landed in the Middle East as the U.S. ramps up the fight against Islamic State group militants.
The final contingent of Special-Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force—Crisis Response—Central Command 16.2 departed Camp Pendleton, California, last week en route to the region to begin a nine-month deployment to directly and indirectly bolster Iraqi forces in their fight against ISIS.
Members of 2nd Battalion, 7th Marines will be the ground combat element of the task force, with air support from squadrons of the 2nd and 3rd Marine Aircraft Wings. They’ll be led by the 5th Marine Regiment with Combat Logistics Battalion 5 lending logistical support.
The task force includes about 2,300 Marines.
The new rotation of the crisis response force will be tasked with rapidly responding to a variety of contingencies in the combatant command, said 1st Lt. Christopher Harrison, a spokesman for the unit.
As with those they’re replacing, the Marines will be on station to launch airstrikes, train Iraqi soldiers, beef up security at embassies and remote military outposts, and recover downed aircraft and pilots at a moment’s notice. They’ll also work alongside U.S. regional allies, training them for the fight.

Interesting.

My bet is that they're going to be SOCOM support.  We have a Marine Infantry Battalion that is turning into a support force for SOCOM.

It makes my stomach turn.