[dragoon500ly]

Mobility is a principle of naval operations and is a key characteristic of the FMF. There are several aspects to FMF mobility.

Forward afloat forces: Marine units normally are afloat in amphibious ships in forward areas---one in the Mediterranean area and one in the Pacific-Indian Ocean area. At times, additional MEUs or larger formations are at sea, in transit to relieve forward-deployed MEUs or for exercises. As a crisis beings to evolve, the afloat MEUs, like other naval forces, can be dispatched to the problem area without intruding on foreign territory or air space.

Amphibious assaults: The Marines have a significant amphibious assault capability employing helicopters, landing craft and vehicles from the Navy’s amphibious ships.. The existing amphibious force has a theoretical lift capacity of approximately one MEF, i.e. a reinforced division and the helicopters and STOVL portions of an aircraft wing. (The “assault echelon” is the portion of the force that makes the actual landing---roughly two-thirds of the troops, one half of the vehicles and one quarter of the cargo of the unit.)
Recent reductions in the fleet have meant a decline in lift capacity to only 2 ½ MEBs, i.e. reinforced regiments.

Maritime prepositioning: Three squadrons of maritime prepositioning ships are forward employed, one in the Atlantic, one off Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean and one off the Mariana Islands in the Western Pacific. Each carries weapons, vehicles, equipment, munitions and provisions for an MEB. These ships can be moved to a port to be “married” with Marines flown into the air by transport aircraft. While this force does not have the ability to make a forcible entry---it requires a friendly port or sheltered unloading area and nearby airfield(s)---the viability of the MPS concept was demonstrated in Operation Desert Shield in 1991 and in the buildup for the invasion of Iraq in 2003.

Airlift: Marines, like other light combat forces, can be airlifted into an area by transport aircraft. The Marine Corps has a small force of KC-130 Hercules transport-tanker aircraft, but any sizable troop commitment would require the use of U.S. Air Force transport aircraft.