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|size= ~ 2,200 (when composited)
|command_structure=[[II Marine Expeditionary Force]]
|ceremonial_chief=
|colonel_of_the_regiment=
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|mascot=
|battles=
|notable_commanders = Col. Thomas N. Trimble <br />
Col. Wheeler L. Baker
Col. Paul C. Merida <br />
Col. Michael J. Perez <br />
Col. Todd P. Simmons <br />
Col. William R. Dunn <br />
Col. Douglas M. Stilwell <br />
Col. Kenneth F. McKenzie Jr.<br />
Col. Eric J. Steidl<br />
Col. Gareth F. Brandl
}}
The '''22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit''' (22nd MEU) is one of seven [[Marine expeditionary unit|such units]] currently in existence in the [[United States Marine Corps]]. It is a [[Marine Air Ground Task Force]] with a strength of about 2,200 personnel. They are currently based out of [[Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune]], [[North Carolina]] and fall under the command of the [[II Marine Expeditionary Force]]. It is the most decorated of the U.S. Marine Corps' seven MEUs.<ref>{{cite web |last=Miller |first=Cpl Peter |title=Most decorated MEU adds OEF, OIF Streamers on 25th anniversary |work=22nd MEU |date=8 December 2007 |url=http://www.22ndmeu.marines.mil/News/Article-View/Article/510251/most-decorated-meu-adds-oef-oif-streamers-on-25th-anniversary/|
==Mission==
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Command Element (CE): Serves as the headquarters for the entire unit and allows a single command to exercise control over all ground, aviation and combat service support forces.
Ground Combat Element (GCE): Built around a Marine infantry battalion, the GCE is reinforced with
Aviation Combat Element (ACE): Consists of a composite medium tiltrotor (MV-22B Osprey) squadron containing transport aviation assets of various models and capabilities, attack helicopters and jets, air defense teams and all necessary ground support assets.
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==Current subordinate units==
* '''[[Command Element]]''': MEU commander and his supporting staff, provides [[command and control]] over the other three elements when composited.
** '''[[Ground Combat Element]]''': [[
** '''[[Aviation Combat Element]]''': Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron
** '''[[Logistics Combat Element]]''': Combat Logistics Battalion
==History==
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===1990s===
In late 1990 the 22nd MEU disbanded down to the command element during the Gulf war and reformed the summer of 1991. Saipan, Nashville, and the
In September 1991, the deployment the MEU participated in the first combined arms exercise in [[Kuwait]] following [[Operations Desert Shield]] and [[Operation Desert Storm]]. This deployment returned in March 1992.
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The MEU's deployments in 1996 and 1997 focused on West Africa as it answered the call to conduct reinforcement and evacuation missions in [[Liberia]], [[Zaire]], the [[Central African Republic]], the [[Republic of Congo]] and [[Sierra Leone]]. Additionally, the MEU continued to support Balkans peace-enforcement operations and conducted a non-combatant evacuation operation (NEO) in [[Albania]].
In 1998, the 22nd MEU served in [[Bosnia]] and [[Kosovo]], and was prepared to support operations in both Albania and Africa.<ref name="22nd MEU History"/> Marine General, [[Anthony M. Henderson|Anthony Henderson]], led Lima company within this MEU.
===Global War on Terror===
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|date=31 October 2007
|url=http://www.usmc.mil/22ndmeu/HA_Ops/Releases_relief_ops.htm
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}}</ref> Following the impact of [[Cyclone Sidr]] on 15 November 2007, the 22nd MEU, on board {{USS|Kearsarge|LHD-3|6}} moved off the coast of [[Bangladesh]] in the [[Bay of Bengal]] and provided [[humanitarian assistance]] to those affected by the cyclone.<ref>{{cite web
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|date=23 November 2007
|url=http://www.usmc.mil/22ndmeu/HA_Ops/Releases_relief_ops.htm
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|url-status=live
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The 22nd MEU deployed from May - December 2009. The MEU was composed of Marines from the [[3rd Battalion, 2nd Marines]] and from the [[Combat Logistics Battalion 22]], as well as [[V-22 Osprey|MV-22 Osprey aircraft]] from [[VMM-263]].<ref name="22nd MEU History"/>
<ref name=MCT_Sept2008>{{cite news
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|url = http://www.marinecorpstimes.com/news/2008/09/ap_22meu_090908w/
|title = 22nd MEU to start training for deployment
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|date = 11 September 2008
|work = Marine Corps Times
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|url-status = dead
|df = dmy-all
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On 1 August 2016, [[McDonnell Douglas AV-8B Harrier II|AV-8B Harrier II]] assigned to the 22nd MEU flying off USS ''Wasp'' in the Mediterranean to carryout airstrikes on [[Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant|ISIS]] terrorists in Libya, amidst the [[Libyan Civil War (2014–present)|Libyan Civil War]], specifically to support local forces [[Battle of Sirte (2016)|fighting ISIS in Sirte]] as part of a [[Military intervention against ISIL#Intervention in Libya|broader campaign against ISIS in the country]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://abcnews.go.com/International/videos-shows-us-airstrikes-isis-libya/story?id=41140453|title=New Videos Show First US Airstrikes Against ISIS in Libya|work=ABC news|date=4 August 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.defensenews.com/story/breaking-news/2016/08/01/libya-airstrikes-isis-us/87914526/|title=US Conducts New Round of Airstrikes Against ISIS in Libya|work=Defence News|date=1 August 2016}}</ref>
===2010 Haiti
[[File:US Navy 100204-N-5268S-129 ance Cpl. Benjamin Rauschenberg, a linguist from the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit (22nd MEU), helps a young Haitian woman fill out her immunization card at a clinic.jpg|thumb|right|200px|Lance Cpl. Benjamin Rauschenberg, a linguist from the MEU, helps a Haitian woman fill out an immunization card at a clinic in Grand Goave, Haiti.]]
After the devastating, 12 January [[2010 Haiti earthquake]], Marines with the 22nd MEU embarked on the ''Bataan'' [[Amphibious ready group]] for [[Haiti]] in order to conduct a [[Humanitarian response by national governments to the 2010 Haiti earthquake|humanitarian assistance and disaster relief]] mission known as [[Operation Unified Response]]. 22nd MEU departed Camp Lejuene on 15 January and began arriving on 18 January.<ref name="NT Haiti">{{cite web|url=http://www.navytimes.com/news/2010/01/navy_bataan_haiti_011810/|title=Bataan ARG to begin arriving in Haiti today|last=Faram|first=Mark D.|date=19 January 2010|work=[[Navy Times]]|
The 22nd MEU was the first major Marine force to respond, managing the hardest hit area that spanned {{convert|65|km|mi|sp=us}} west of Port-au-Prince. Initially, the MEU conducted immediate relief operations by distributing food, water and providing medical care.
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[[File:US Navy 100126-M-8605C-002 A Marine assigned to the Battalion Landing Team, 3rd Battalion, 2nd Marine regiment, distributes humanitarian rations at an aid station near a landing zone in Leogane, Haiti.jpg|thumb|left|200px|A Marine assigned to Battalion Landing Team, 3rd Battalion, 2nd Marine regiment hands humanitarian ration at an aid distribution site in Leogane, Haiti.]]
150 Marines aboard {{USS|Gunston Hall|LSD-44|6}} joined the MEU,<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.jdnews.com/news/uss-71828-equipment-leave.html |title=22nd MEU departs for Haiti |last=Pippin |first=Jannette |date=15 January 2010 |newspaper=[[Jacksonville Daily News]] |location=Jacksonville, North Carolina |
From February to March, the MEU transitioned to sustained relief operations and focused on turning over responsibilities to the Government of Haiti and major relief organizations ashore before departing at the end of March.<ref name="22nd MEU History"/>
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=== 2011-2012 Deployment, Libyan Civil War ===
At the start of [[Operation Odyssey Dawn]], the US-led operation in support of the Libyan civil war, the ground combat element of the 26th MEU was in Afghanistan conducting combat operations. In order to quickly provide sea-based ground troops to support possible ground intervention in Libya, the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit deployed in March 2011, 4 months prior to its originally scheduled deployment with Battalion Landing Team [[2nd Battalion, 2nd Marines]] (2/2), Combat Logistics Battalion 22, and [[VMM-263|Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 263 (VMM 263)]] aboard USS ''Bataan'', USS ''Whidbey Island'' and USS ''Mesa Verde''. After several months preparing for possible ground combat operations and quick reaction force for Operation Odyssey Dawn, and the subsequent NATO-led [[Operation Unified Protector]], the 22nd MEU and the ''Bataan'' Amphibious Ready Group spent a total of 10{{frac|1|2}} months at sea in the Mediterranean and Middle East conducting bi-lateral training and supporting national contingency planning as a result of the new Arab Spring. Its 321-day duration fell just eight days short of the record set in 1973 by the aircraft carrier {{USS|Midway|CV-41|6}} for the longest U.S. Navy deployment since World War II. It was said to be the longest at-sea deployment in Marine unit history. The 22nd MEU was awarded the Meritorious Unit Commendation and the NATO Non-Article 5 Medal for Operation Unified Protector.
=== 2014 Deployment ===
From February to October of 2014, the 22nd MEU composed of BLT 1/6, Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 263 (VMM-263), and CLB 22 deployed to the 5th and 6th Fleet area of operations. During this deployment the USS Bataan was involved in two rescues-at-sea; rescuing two Turkish mariners from their sinking cargo ship in the Aegean Sea, and rescuing 282 migrants in the Mediterranean Sea after their small vessel sank. Also, during the deployment the Bataan and the 22nd MEU supported an assessment of humanitarian options in support of displaced Iraqi civilians trapped on Sinjar Mountain by the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant and initiated the air campaign against the Islamic State; AV-8B Harriers from the USS Bataan participated in reconnaissance missions and at least one air strike, including the first use of Marine Corps ordnance against an ISIS-controlled target. Detachments of Marines were sent to Iraq to reinforce the US embassy in Baghdad, and support special operations forces in Kurdistan.(Navy Unit Commendation, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal).<ref>{{Cite web |title=History |url=https://www.c2f.usff.navy.mil/Organization/Expeditionary-Strike-Group-ESG-2/Organization/Ships/Amphibious-Assault-Ships/USS-Bataan-LHD-5/History/ |access-date=2023-10-27 |website=www.c2f.usff.navy.mil}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Lamothe |first=Dan |date=2021-10-27 |title=Could Marines evacuate Iraqi civilians from Iraq’s Mount Sinjar? |language=en-US |work=Washington Post |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/checkpoint/wp/2014/08/13/could-marines-evacuate-iraqi-civilians-from-iraqs-mount-sinjar/ |access-date=2023-10-27 |issn=0190-8286}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=2014-06-10 |title=USS Bataan Rescues 282 people in distress |url=https://www.militarynews.com/norfolk-navy-flagship/news/top_stories/uss-bataan-rescues-282-people-in-distress/article_dcc96e27-959e-5c62-86d9-a0195abf628c.html |access-date=2023-10-27 |website=Military News |language=en}}</ref>
=== 2018-2019 Deployment ===
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==Unit awards==
A unit citation or commendation is an award bestowed upon an organization for the action cited. Members of the unit who participated in said actions are allowed to wear on their uniforms the awarded unit citation. The 22nd MEU has been presented with the following awards:
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center
|'''Ribbon'''||'''Unit Award '''
|-
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|[[File:Armed Forces Service Medal ribbon.svg|60px|center]]||[[Armed Forces Service Medal]]
|-
|[[File:NATO
|}
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