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ABOUT 26th MEU
- Origins and Activation: The 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) was first activated as the 26th Marine Amphibious Unit (MAU) on 1 March 1982 as a rapid-response force for the U.S. Navy’s Sixth Fleet in the Mediterranean.
- Redesignation: In February 1988, the unit was redesignated from the 26th MAU to the 26th MEU, reflecting an expanded capability for air-ground task force operations.
- Operation Provide Comfort: In 1991, the 26th MEU played a critical role in Operation Provide Comfort, delivering humanitarian aid to Kurdish refugees in northern Iraq after the Gulf War.
- First Combat Landing since Vietnam: During Operation Restore Hope in Somalia (1992-1993), the 26th MEU conducted the first U.S. Marine combat landing since the Vietnam War, securing the port of Mogadishu.
- Evacuation Operations: The 26th MEU has conducted multiple non-combatant evacuation operations (NEOs), including evacuations in Liberia (1996) and Albania (1997) during periods of civil unrest.
- Balkans Operations: In the late 1990s, the unit participated in Operations Joint Endeavor and Allied Force in the Balkans, contributing to peacekeeping and stability operations.
- Response to 9/11: The 26th MEU was among the first U.S. military units to deploy in response to the September 11, 2001 attacks, supporting Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan.
- Humanitarian Assistance: The MEU provided disaster relief in Haiti in 2010 after the devastating earthquake, delivering aid, medical care, and security.
- Flexible Force: The 26th MEU is often referred to as a “force in readiness,” capable of rapidly projecting power ashore by sea, air, and land—often called the “Swiss Army Knife” of the Marine Corps.
- Motto and Insignia: The unit’s motto is “Certa Cito” (Swift and Sure), and its insignia features a trident and anchor, symbolizing its amphibious and maritime capabilities.