# Command element (United States Marine Corps)

In the United States Marine Corps, the command element (CE) is the command and control force of a Marine Air-Ground Task Force (MAGTF). It provides C3I for the MAGTF.

## Role within the MAGTF

The Command Element (CE), a headquarters unit organized into a MAGTF (MEU, MEB, MEF) headquarters (HQ) group, that exercises command and control (management and planning for manpower, intelligence, operations and training, and logistics functions) over the other elements of the MAGTF. The HQ group consists of communications, intelligence, surveillance, and law enforcement (i.e., military police) detachments, companies, and battalions, and reconnaissance (Force Reconnaissance), and liaison (ANGLICO) platoons, detachments, and companies.

## Organization

The size of the CE varies in proportion to the size of the MAGTF. A Marine Expeditionary Force has a MEF Information Group, approximately the size of a regiment. A Marine Expeditionary Brigade holds a battalion-sized MEB Information Group. The various Marine Expeditionary Units command a company-sized MEU Information Group. Generally, MEF postings are permanent, while MEBs and MEUs rotate their GCE, ACE, and LCE twice annually.

### Hierarchy of Marine command units
#### I Marine Expeditionary Force Information Group

| Name | Location |
| I MEF Support Battalion | Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California |
| 1st Intelligence Battalion | Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California |
| 1st Radio Battalion | Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California |
| 9th Communication Battalion | Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California |
| 1st Air Naval Gunfire Liaison Company | Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California |

#### II Marine Expeditionary Force Information Group

| Name | Location |
| II MEF Support Battalion | Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, North Carolina |
| 2nd Intelligence Battalion | Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, North Carolina |
| 2nd Radio Battalion | Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, North Carolina |
| 8th Communications Battalion | Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, North Carolina |
| Chemical Biological Incident Response Force | Indian Head Naval Surface Warfare Center, Maryland |
| 2nd Air Naval Gunfire Liaison Company | Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, North Carolina |

#### III Marine Expeditionary Force Information Group

| Name | Location |
| III MEF Support Battalion | Camp Hansen, Okinawa Prefecture, Japan |
| 3rd Intelligence Battalion | Camp Hansen, Okinawa Prefecture, Japan |
| 3rd Radio Battalion | Marine Corps Base Hawaii |
| 7th Communication Battalion | Camp Hansen, Okinawa Prefecture, Japan |
| 5th Air Naval Gunfire Liaison Company | Camp Hansen, Okinawa Prefecture, Japan |

#### Marine Forces Reserve CE units

| Name | Location |
| Intelligence Support Battalion | New Orleans, Louisiana |
| 4th Law Enforcement Battalion | |
| 6th Communications Battalion Note: also fall under 4th Marine Logistics Group | New York City, New York |
| 1st Civil Affairs Group | Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California |
| 2nd Civil Affairs Group | Naval Support Facility Anacostia, Washington, D.C. |
| 3rd Civil Affairs Group | Naval Station Great Lakes, Illinois |
| 4th Civil Affairs Group | Hialeah, Florida |
| 3rd Air Naval Gunfire Liaison Company | Long Beach, California |
| 4th Air Naval Gunfire Liaison Company | West Palm Beach, Florida |
| 6th Air Naval Gunfire Liaison Company | Concord, California |
| 3rd Force Reconnaissance Company Note: Operational Control (OPCON) to II Marine Expeditionary Force | Mobile, Alabama |
| 4th Force Reconnaissance Company Note: Operational Control (OPCON) to I Marine Expeditionary Force | Marine Corps Base Hawaii |