13th Marine Expeditionary Unit The 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit ( 13th MEU ) is one of seven Marine Expeditionary Unit s currently in existence in the United States Marine Corps . The Marine Expeditionary Unit is a Marine Air Ground Task Force with a strength of about 2 , 200 personnel . The MEU consists of a command element , a reinforced infantry battalion , a composite aviation squadron and a combat logistics battalion . The 13th MEU is currently based out of Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton , California . Mission . The mission of the MEU is to provide geographic combatant commanders with a forward - deployed , rapid - response force capable of conducting conventional amphibious and selected maritime special operations at night or under adverse weather conditions from the sea , by surface and / or by air while under communications and electronics restrictions . History . Early years . The 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit ( MEU ) was activated at Camp Pendleton , California , February 1 , 1985 , as the 13th Marine Amphibious Unit . The unit was renamed as the 13th MEU February 5 , 1988 . It is one of three West Coast MEUs which make periodic deployments to the Western Pacific , Indian Ocean and Persian Gulf regions . The “ Fighting 13th ” has experienced a number of firsts . It was the first West Coast MEU to be designated as Special Operations Capable , having trained to conduct a wide variety of special missions . It was the first MEU to deploy with Landing Craft Air Cushion ( LCAC ) ; an entire section of Avenger air defense weapons systems and the first to refuel ground vehicles with the Tactical Bulk Fuels Delivery System mounted in a CH - 53E . Additionally , it was the first West Coast MEU to deploy with a force reconnaissance platoon . 1990s . The 13th MEU ( SOC ) ’ s special operations capabilities were used extensively on its deployment during Operation Desert Shield and Operation Desert Storm . Beginning a routine deployment June 20 , 1990 , the MEU was diverted to Southwest Asia in August . The first amphibious force to arrive in the theater of operations , personnel conducted the first Marine offensive actions against Iraq . In October , elements boarded two Iraqi tankers that refused to obey United Nations sanctions . The MEU ’ s last combat operation in Desert Storm was an Iraqi prisoner - of - war detainment on Faylaka Island , Kuwait , March 3 , 1991 , which resulted in 1 , 413 Iraqi prisoners being apprehended . The MEU returned to the United States April 16 , after being deployed 301 consecutive days . The 13th MEU ( SOC ) deployed again in January 1992 . During this deployment , the MEU conducted training operations in the Persian Gulf , Africa and Thailand . Additionally , the MEU was the last deploying unit to visit the Philippines prior to the closure of Naval Station Subic Bay prior to returning that summer . The 13th MEU ( SOC ) arrived off the coast of Somalia in early October 1993 in response to increasing hostilities there . As a key element of the newly formed COMMARFOR Somalia , the 13th MEU ( SOC ) and 22nd MEU ( SOC ) , remained on station ready to provide support to United States and United Nations forces . In mid - November the 13th MEU ( SOC ) became the principle rapid response force in the region and executed two humanitarian assistance operations . The first , Operation Show Care , took place in the cities of Marka and Qoryooley from November 11 – 14 . From December 1 – 3 , Operation More Care was conducted in the Old Port of Mogadishu . Both operations provided needed medical and dental assistance to Somali citizens . The 13th MEU ( SOC ) continued its presence mission through January 1994 , providing aircraft for the “ Eyes Over Mogadishu ” missions as well as sniper support at the United States Embassy compound . The 13th MEU returned to the United States March 17 . The MEU deployed again October 25 , only seven months after returning to Camp Pendleton . Following a scheduled exercise on Okinawa , November 11 – 13 , the MEU sailed to the Persian Gulf . During this period the MEU conducted a Maritime Interdiction Operation / Visit Board Search and Seizure ( MIO / VBSS ) mission aboard the Honduran - flagged merchant vessel Ajmer , which was in violation of United Nations sanctions on Iraq . In January 1995 , the 13th MEU ( SOC ) was ordered to conduct Operation United Shield - the withdrawal of UNOSOM forces from Somalia . The MEU sailed to Africa and conducted operation rehearsals in Kenya . On February 28 , the 13th MEU ( SOC ) conducted an amphibious assault onto Somali soil and executed a relief - in - place with UNOSOM forces . By March 2 , the withdrawal of all UNOSOM forces was complete , and during the first hours of March 3 , the final Marine forces departed Somali soil . The 13th MEU ( SOC ) returned to Camp Pendleton April 24 . The MEU departed on its ninth deployment April 19 , 1996 . During an MEU exercise in Kuwait , the MEU became the first MEU ( SOC ) to put the entire landing force ashore in Kuwait without the use of a port or airfield . This was a vital step in the validation of the plan for the defense of Kuwait , which had previously not been tested . The “ FIghting 13th ” returned to Camp Pendleton to end its deployment October 18 . The 13th MEU ( SOC ) began its tenth deployment August 29 , 1997 . During WESTPAC 98 - 1 , the MEU participated in Operation Southern Watch during November and December , helping enforce the no - fly zone over southern Iraq . The MEU returned home February 28 , 11998 . December 5 , 1998 , began WESTPAC 99 - 1 . During deployment , the MEU conducted training in Hawaii , Singapore and Kuwait . MEU Marines provided reinforcements to the U . S . Embassy in Kenya and responded to the Eritrea - Ethiopia war . While deployed in the WESTPAC from September 14 – 16 , 2000 , the MEU conducted a humanitarian assistance operation in East Timor , offloading more than 570 tons of material by aircraft and more than 430 tons via sea lift . In October 2000 , the 13th MEU was dispatched to provide security and assist in Operation Determined Response , the recovery of the crippled destroyer in the port of Aden , Yemen . The MEU marked its transit home with a stop on Iwo Jima , and Tarawa , returning to Camp Pendleton February 13 , 2001 . Global War on Terror . The “ Fighting 13th ’ s ” thirteenth deployment began six weeks early when it departed December 1 , 2001 , in response to Operation Enduring Freedom being conducted in Afghanistan . Aircraft from HMM - 165 ( Rein ) played an integral part in the air war conducted during Operation Enduring Freedom and provided the primary air support during Operation Anaconda in the early months of 2002 . In addition to the 13th MEU ( SOC ) ’ s role in Operations Enduring Freedom and Anaconda , the MEU conducted humanitarian assistance operations in Kenya . While in Kenya the MEU built bridges , improved and built school structures , dug a well , and improved structures at a maternity hospital . Medical and dental aid and education were provided to the local population by MEU medical staff and bilateral training was conducted with Kenyan forces . The MEU conducted separate bilateral training exercises with Qatari and Omani forces prior to returning to Camp Pendleton June 17 , 2002 .