Marine Corps Operations (SFMC) are indirectly controlled by the Fleet Admiral. Allowing broad discretionary
powers to the field commanders themselves, the Fleet Admiral is responsible for major and long-term
deployments, extended campaigns, and various special tours of duty that do not fall under the jurisdiction of
any field command. In doing, the Marine Corps unit commanders are given the power to evaluate and make
decisions based on their own observations and calculations rather than having to continually check with their
superiors. This by no means allows carte blanche, major decisions which do not fall under the unit's mission
must be verified if possible. A Marine unit commander has similar decision powers to a Starship Captain.

On a smaller scale, units deployed aboard a starship operate under a similar, yet somewhat different, method.
In addition to reporting to the regiment or batallion command in which the battalion or company serves, the
Marine Commanding Officer (MCO) reports directly to the ship's captain. This instant communications and
coordination allows both the naval and marine forces aboard the starship to conduct daily operations in a
manner equitable to both sides. A starship-bound marine unit receives orders in much the same way.
Long-term objectives are assigned by the unit's marine command while the vessel's CO is responsible for
assigning short-term objectives. This has proven to be an effective method for those units assigned to serve
aboard Starfleet naval vessels and installations. Once graduated from Starfleet Marine Academy, the Marines
officer is promoted to the rank of second lieutenant. There is a great deal of animosity between Starfleet naval
and marine officers and crew. In short, they don't get along too well. The naval complement thinks the SFMC
is home to a bunch of brash, arrogant, trigger-happy folk and the marine complement believes the Starfleet
navy to be lax in discipline and training. The marines also believe that the navy takes the work of the SFMC
too lightly.

What is the MEU?
When they say "Send in the Marines," a Marine Expeditionary Unit is usually the first on scene. StarFleet's
small, unique, powerful force in readiness with a strength of about 2,200 personnel, the MEU is normally built
around a reinforced battalion, a composite aircraft squadron, and by a MEU Service Support group.
Commanded by a colonel, the MEU is employed to fulfill routine forward deployments with fleets in the
Federation, periodically, with Federation Allies. The MEU is deployed on up to three starships .

The ground combat element (GCE) is the battalion landing team (BLT), an infantry battalion reinforced
with artillery, amphibious assault vehicles, light armored reconnaissance assets and other units as the mission
and circumstances require. A new ship design was built for this, The Tawarn Class as the Ground and
support ship.

The aviation combat element (ACE) is a Marine Medium Fighter Squadron augmented with four types of
shuttle and fighters into a composite squadron. These units include Raptor Class Fighter, Octavious Class
shuttle, Black Hawk Shuttle (Cargo/vehicle transporter), Proteus Fighter. The Akira class ship is the
ship of choice and was already in production. It serves as the command ship of the Task Force.

The combat service support element is the MEU Service Support Group (MSSG) formed primarily from
force service support groups assets. The MSSG contains all the logistics specialists necessary to keep the
GCE, ACE and organic equipment functioning. Included within the MSSG are medical, dental, maintenance,
engineering, and other technical experts.

The command element (CE) provides command and control of the other three elements. In addition to the
MEU commander and his supporting staff, the CE includes specialized detachments providing a direct action capability, naval gunfire liaison capability, reconnaissance, and surveillance and specialized communications
and electronics warfare capabilities. The MEU is unique in that its air and ground combat elements are
combined with combat service support under one commander. This air/ground task force concept is designed to thoroughly exploit the combat power inherent in air and ground assets by closely integrating them into a single
force. The MEU brings all the supplies it needs to sustain itself for quick mission accomplishment or to pave
the way for any follow-on forces. The MEU is an expeditionary intervention force with the ability to rapidly
organize for combat operations in virtually any environment. To help with recon and surveillance the Hornet
class starship was used which is a second generation Defiant class.

                                                                               Marine Corps Operations (SFMC) are indirectly controlled by the Fleet Admiral. Allowing broad discretionary
powers to the field commanders themselves, the Fleet Admiral is responsible for major and long-term
deployments, extended campaigns, and various special tours of duty that do not fall under the jurisdiction of
any field command. In doing, the Marine Corps unit commanders are given the power to evaluate and make
decisions based on their own observations and calculations rather than having to continually check with their
superiors. This by no means allows carte blanche, major decisions which do not fall under the unit's mission
must be verified if possible. A Marine unit commander has similar decision powers to a Starship Captain.

On a smaller scale, units deployed aboard a starship operate under a similar, yet somewhat different, method.
In addition to reporting to the regiment or batallion command in which the battalion or company serves, the
Marine Commanding Officer (MCO) reports directly to the ship's captain. This instant communications and
coordination allows both the naval and marine forces aboard the starship to conduct daily operations in a
manner equitable to both sides. A starship-bound marine unit receives orders in much the same way.
Long-term objectives are assigned by the unit's marine command while the vessel's CO is responsible for
assigning short-term objectives. This has proven to be an effective method for those units assigned to serve
aboard Starfleet naval vessels and installations. Once graduated from Starfleet Marine Academy, the Marines
officer is promoted to the rank of second lieutenant. There is a great deal of animosity between Starfleet naval
and marine officers and crew. In short, they don't get along too well. The naval complement thinks the SFMC
is home to a bunch of brash, arrogant, trigger-happy folk and the marine complement believes the Starfleet
navy to be lax in discipline and training. The marines also believe that the navy takes the work of the SFMC
too lightly.

What is the MEU?
When they say "Send in the Marines," a Marine Expeditionary Unit is usually the first on scene. StarFleet's
small, unique, powerful force in readiness with a strength of about 2,200 personnel, the MEU is normally built
around a reinforced battalion, a composite aircraft squadron, and by a MEU Service Support group.
Commanded by a colonel, the MEU is employed to fulfill routine forward deployments with fleets in the
Federation, periodically, with Federation Allies. The MEU is deployed on up to three starships .

The ground combat element (GCE) is the battalion landing team (BLT), an infantry battalion reinforced
with artillery, amphibious assault vehicles, light armored reconnaissance assets and other units as the mission
and circumstances require. A new ship design was built for this, The Tawarn Class as the Ground and
support ship.

The aviation combat element (ACE) is a Marine Medium Fighter Squadron augmented with four types of
shuttle and fighters into a composite squadron. These units include Raptor Class Fighter, Octavious Class
shuttle, Black Hawk Shuttle (Cargo/vehicle transporter), Proteus Fighter. The Akira class ship is the
ship of choice and was already in production. It serves as the command ship of the Task Force.

The combat service support element is the MEU Service Support Group (MSSG) formed primarily from
force service support groups assets. The MSSG contains all the logistics specialists necessary to keep the
GCE, ACE and organic equipment functioning. Included within the MSSG are medical, dental, maintenance,
engineering, and other technical experts.

The command element (CE) provides command and control of the other three elements. In addition to the
MEU commander and his supporting staff, the CE includes specialized detachments providing a direct action capability, naval gunfire liaison capability, reconnaissance, and surveillance and specialized communications
and electronics warfare capabilities. The MEU is unique in that its air and ground combat elements are
combined with combat service support under one commander. This air/ground task force concept is designed to thoroughly exploit the combat power inherent in air and ground assets by closely integrating them into a single
force. The MEU brings all the supplies it needs to sustain itself for quick mission accomplishment or to pave
the way for any follow-on forces. The MEU is an expeditionary intervention force with the ability to rapidly
organize for combat operations in virtually any environment. To help with recon and surveillance the Hornet
class starship was used which is a second generation Defiant class.

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