{"id":28185,"date":"2017-10-24T20:25:13","date_gmt":"2017-10-24T20:25:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/marinecorpstimes\/uncategorized\/2017\/10\/24\/concerns-about-russia-renew-marines-focus-on-mef-level-warfighting\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T21:06:00","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T21:06:00","slug":"concerns-about-russia-renew-marines-focus-on-mef-level-warfighting","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/marinecorpstimes\/news\/your-marine-corps\/2017\/10\/24\/concerns-about-russia-renew-marines-focus-on-mef-level-warfighting\/","title":{"rendered":"Concerns about Russia renew Marines\u2019 focus on MEF-level warfighting"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The prospect of a near-peer fight against the Russian military in Eastern Europe is pushing the Marine Corps to shift more warfighting capability to its top-level Marine Expeditionary Force headquarters, a top Marine general said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For years, the Corps thought it was unlikely to need to deploy a full Marine Expeditionary Force, which is the largest element of Marine combat power that can include more than 25,000 Marines. The MEF-level warfighting functions were not prioritized during years of smaller-scale operations and counterinsurgency missions that have typically required smaller units, such as a Marine Expeditionary Unit or Marine Expeditionary Brigade.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">But Lt. Gen. Robert Hedelund, commanding general of North Carolina-based II Marine Expeditionary Force, said that Marine Corps leadership is moving some capabilities back to the MEF.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThe MEF command element will have to be ready to support a warfighting effort in Europe,\u201d Hedelund told attendees at the National Defense Industrial Association\u2019s annual Expeditionary Warfare Conference on Tuesday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Marine Corps has expanded its presence in Europe in recent years, including a Black Sea Rotational Force based in Romania and also back-to-back deployments to Norway, where Marines are prepositioning combat gear near the Russian border.<\/p>\n\n\n<aside class=\"smg-interstitial-link smg-interstitial-link--fallback wp-block-smg-interstitial-link\"><a href=\"\/\/The%20prospect%20of%20a%20near-peer%20fight%20against%20the%20Russian%20military%20in%20Eastern%20Europe%20is%20pushing%20the%20Marines%20to%20shift%20more%20warfighting%20capability%20to%20the%20top-level%20Marine%20Expeditionary%20Force%20headquarters,%20a%20top%20Marine%20general%20said.%20%20%20For%20years,%20the%20Corps%20thought%20it%20was%20highly%20unlikely%20to%20need%20to%20deploy%20a%20full%20Marine%20Expeditionary%20Force,%20the%20largest%20element%20of%20Marine%20combat%20power%20that%20can%20include%20up%20to%2030,000%20Marines.%20The%20MEF-level,%20warfighting%20function%20was%20not%20prioritized%20during%20years%20of%20smaller-scale%20wars%20and%20counter%20insurgency%20operations%20have%20typically%20required%20smaller%20units,%20such%20as%20the%20Marine%20Expeditionary%20Unit.%20%20%20But%20Lt.%20Gen.%20Robert%20Hedelund,%20commanding%20general%20of%20North%20Carolina-based%20II%20Marine%20Expeditionary%20Force,%20said%20that%20the%20Marine%20Corps\u2019%20leadership%20is%20moving%20some%20capabilities%20back%20to%20the%20MEF.%20%20\u201cThe%20MEF%20command%20element%20will%20have%20to%20be%20ready%20to%20support%20a%20warfighting%20effort%20in%20Europe,\u201d%20Hedelund%20told%20attendees%20at%20the%20National%20Defense%20Industrial%20Association\u2019s%20annual%20Expeditionary%20Warfare%20Conference%20on%20Tuesday.%20%20The%20Marines%20have%20expanded%20their%20presence%20in%20Europe%20in%20recent%20years,%20including%20a%20Black%20Sea%20Rotation%20Force%20based%20in%20Romania%20and%20also%20a%20back-to-back%20deployments%20to%20Norway,%20where%20Marines%20are%20prepositioning%20combat%20gear%20near%20the%20Russian%20border.%20%20%20https:\/\/www.marinecorpstimes.com\/news\/your-marine-corps\/2017\/06\/21\/norway-approves-further-marine-rotations\/%20%20Hedelund%20said%20the%20MEF%20must%20remain%20nimble%20and%20continue%20to%20provide%20forces%20from%20the%20Special%20Purpose%20Marine%20Air%20Ground%20Task%20Force%20and%20Marine%20Expeditionary%20Units%20to%20handle%20crisis%20response%20missions%20such%20as%20hurricanes%20and%20artillery%20missions%20in%20Syria.%20%20The%20three-star%20showed%20the%20more%20than%20100%20attendees%20the%20far-flung%20nature%20of%20his%20East%20Coast-based%20command%20that%20has%20elements%20in%20Asia,%20Europe,%20Africa%20and%20South%20America.%20%20And%20that%20range%20of%20missions%20takes%20its%20toll.%20For%20example,%20Hedelund%20said%20Marines%20returning%20from%20deployment%20with%20the%2024th%20MEU%20had%20to%20take%20over%20hurricane%20relief%20from%20members%20of%20the%20soon-to-deploy%2026th%20MEU,%20which%20was%20prepping%20to%20leave%20in%20a%20few%20months.%20%20At%20the%20same%20time,%20some%20Marines%20had%20to%20be%20pulled%20from%20a%20large-scale,%20international%20exercise%20known%20as%20Bold%20Alligator%20to%20meet%20needs%20for%20some%20of%20the%20same%20hurricane%20relief%20in%20the%20Caribbean.%20%20But%20the%20strains%20are%20not%20just%20on%20personnel%20who%20deploy%20frequently%20and%20see%20their%20deployment-to-dwell%20ration%20fall%20below%201:2.%20%20%20Ships%20need%20rest%20and%20refitting%20too.%20%20\u201cWe\u2019re%20going%20to%20pay%20that%20price%20on%20availability%20in%20the%20months%20to%20come,\u201d%20Hedelund%20said,%20referring%20to%20ships%20sent%20to%20multiple%20hurricane%20response%20missions.%20\u201cThose%20ships%20at%20sea%20were%20not%20scheduled%20to%20be%20at%20sea.\u201d%20%20\u201cIt\u2019s%20what%20they%20need%20to%20do%20to%20support%20the%20country.%20But%20there%20will%20be%20readiness%20challenges,\u201d%20he%20said.%20%20Shifting%20back%20to%20warfighting%20at%20the%20MEF%20level%20has%20already%20included%20changing%20up%20some%20of%20how%20the%20MEF%20operates%20from%20intelligence%20to%20logistics%20and%20more.%20%20Hedelund%20said%20the%20recent%20focus%20on%20information%20as%20a%20warfighting%20function,%20which%20has%20included%20the%20creation%20of%20the%20MEF%20Information%20Groups%20to%20replace%20the%20former%20MEF%20Headquarters%20Group,%20is%20a%20shift%20in%20how%20operations%20can%20be%20conducted.%20%20He%20said%20summer%20training%20exercises%20at%20Twentynine%20Palms,%20California,%20teamed%20up%20British,%20Canadian%20and%20French%20forces%20with%20Marines%20to%20use%20information%20to%20shape%20the%20fight.%20%20\u201cWhat%20is%20the%20enemy%20doing?%20What%20do%20we%20want%20him%20to%20do?%20How%20do%20we%20get%20him%20to%20do%20it?\u201d%20Hedelund%20said%20were%20the%20types%20of%20questions%20asked%20from%20the%20outset%20of%20the%20operation%20rather%20than%20after%20the%20fact.%20%20In%20logistics,%20changes%20are%20needed%20to%20ensure%20that%20equipment%20is%20ready%20when%20needed.%20That%20will%20require%20cutting%20down%20choke%20points%20in%20delivering%20parts%20to%20aviation%20crews%20overseas%20and%20also%20re-evaluating%20the%20number%20of%20Marines%20needed%20to%20maintain%20the%207-ton%20truck%20fleet,%20which%20is%20more%20complex%20than%20its%20predecessor.\" class=\"smg-interstitial-link__fallback-link\">Norway approves further Marine rotations<\/a><\/aside>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Hedelund said the MEF must remain nimble and continue to provide forces for the Special Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force and Marine Expeditionary Units to handle crisis response missions, such as hurricanes and artillery missions in Syria.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The three-star general showed the more than 100 conference attendees the far-flung nature of his East Coast-based command that has elements in Asia, Europe, Africa and South America.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Shifting back to warfighting at the MEF level has already included changing up some of how the MEF operates from intelligence to logistics and more.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Hedelund said the recent focus on information as a warfighting function, which has included the creation of the MEF Information Groups to replace the former MEF Headquarters Group, is a shift in how operations can be conducted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">He said summer training exercises at Twentynine Palms, California, teamed up Marines with British, Canadian and French forces to use information to shape the fight.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cWhat is the enemy doing? What do we want him to do? How do we get him to do it?\u201d Hedelund said were the types of questions asked from the outset of the operation rather than after the fact.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In logistics, changes are needed to ensure that equipment is ready when needed. That will require cutting down choke points in delivering parts to aviation crews overseas and also re-evaluating the number of Marines needed to maintain the 7-ton truck fleet, which is more complex than its predecessor.<\/p>\n\n\n\t<aside class=\"smg-interstitial-link wp-block-smg-interstitial-link\">\n\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/marinecorpstimes\/news\/your-marine-corps\/2015\/08\/01\/marines-change-european-mission-amid-russian-aggression\/\" class=\"smg-interstitial-link__inner\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"smg-interstitial-link__media\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"200\" src=\"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/635737622603368135-mar-black-sea-rotational-force-6jpg.jpg?w=300\" class=\"smg-interstitial-link__image wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" \/>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"smg-interstitial-link__content\">\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"smg-interstitial-link__kicker\">Related<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"smg-interstitial-link__title\">Marines change European mission amid Russian aggression<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"smg-interstitial-link__excerpt\">The outgoing commander of Black Sea Rotational Force says the contingent of Marines who conduct training exercises with Eastern European allies are wrapping up the rotational unit&#039;s busiest deployment ever and things show no signs of slowing for Mari<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t<\/aside>\n\t\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For now, the Corps will continue to prepare and deploy for a range of missions. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">But routinely deploying Marines around the world is taking a toll on readiness, Hedelund said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cIf there\u2018s a bullet flying anywhere on the planet, Marines want to be there,\u201d he said. \u201cHowever, if there is an event there isn\u2019t a lot left in the barn.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For example, Hedelund said Marines returning from deployment with the 24th MEU had to take over hurricane relief from members of the soon-to-deploy 26th MEU, which was preparing to leave in a few months.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">At the same time, some Marines had to be pulled from a large-scale, international exercise held on the East Coast known as Bold Alligator to meet needs for some of the same hurricane relief in the Caribbean.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">But the strains are not just on personnel who deploy frequently and see their deployment-to-dwell ratio fall below 1:2.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Ships need rest and refitting too.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cWe\u2019re going to pay that price on availability in the months to come,\u201d Hedelund said, referring to ships sent to multiple hurricane response missions. \u201cThose ships at sea were not scheduled to be at sea.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cIt\u2019s what they need to do to support the country,\u201d he said. \u201cBut there will be readiness challenges.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2400\" height=\"3000\" src=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/LG-Robert-Hedelund.JPG.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-57916\" srcset=\"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/LG-Robert-Hedelund.JPG.jpg 2400w, https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/LG-Robert-Hedelund.JPG.jpg?resize=240,300 240w, https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/LG-Robert-Hedelund.JPG.jpg?resize=768,960 768w, https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/LG-Robert-Hedelund.JPG.jpg?resize=819,1024 819w, https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/LG-Robert-Hedelund.JPG.jpg?resize=1229,1536 1229w, https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/LG-Robert-Hedelund.JPG.jpg?resize=1638,2048 1638w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2400px) 100vw, 2400px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Lt. Gen. Robert Hedelund is the commanding general of the II Marine Expeditionary Force.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>A top Marine general says the Corps must be ready for a war in Eastern Europe.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":57912,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_yoast_wpseo_meta-robots-noindex":"","_yoast_wpseo_meta-robots-nofollow":"","_yoast_wpseo_canonical":"","_acf":"","_yoast_wpseo_primary_category":69,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","_smg_distribution_targets":{"2":{"categories":["news"],"primary_category":"news"}}},"categories":[101,12,25,69],"tags":[],"coauthors":[3396],"class_list":["post-28185","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-daily-news-roundup","category-news","category-newsletters","category-your-marine-corps"],"acf":{"subheadline":"","legacy_arc_id":"IP2G45PNMNDDNCC7JC5U7I7WWA","arc_canonical_url":"\/news\/your-marine-corps\/2017\/10\/24\/concerns-about-russia-renew-marines-focus-on-mef-level-warfighting\/","remove_feature_photo":false,"is_sponsored":false,"subtype":"","redirect_url":"","disable_inline_ads":false,"native_logo_pretext":"Presented By:"},"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v26.0 (Yoast SEO v28.1) - 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