26th Marine Expeditionary Unit

26th Marine Expeditionary Unit
Founded	1967 (1967)
Country	United States
Branch	United States Marine Corps
Type	Special operations capable air-ground task force
Role	Crisis response force
Size	2,400
Part of	II Marine Expeditionary Force
Garrison/HQ	Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune
Motto(s)	"A Certain Force in an Uncertain World"
Mascot(s)	Rooster
Engagements	Persian Gulf War Operation Desert Shield Operation Sharp Edge Yugoslav Wars Operation Provide Promise Operation Deny Flight Operation Noble Anvil Operation Silver Wake Global War on Terrorism Operation Enduring Freedom War in Afghanistan Iraq War 2003 invasion of Iraq Operation Inherent Resolve Libyan Civil War Operation Odyssey Dawn
Commanders
Current commander	Col. Ben Reid

The 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) is one of seven Marine Expeditionary Units currently in existence in the United States Marine Corps. It is an air-ground task force with a strength of about 2,400 personnel when at full strength during a deployment. It consists of four major parts: a command element, a ground combat element, an aviation combat element, and a logistics combat element. Since its establishment in the early 1970s as the 26th Marine Amphibious Unit, it has deployed extensively and participated in numerous combat and contingency operations, as well as training exercises. The 26th MEU is based out of Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune in the U.S. state of North Carolina.