Special Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force – Crisis Response – Central Command (SP-MAGTF-CR-CC) was a Marine Air-Ground Task Force that was based at an undisclosed location in Southwest Asia.
It was a self-mobile, self-sustaining force of Marines and sailors, capable of responding to a range of crises. The unit was specifically trained to support U.S. and partner interests throughout the United States Central Command area of responsibility, to include embassy reinforcement, support to noncombatant evacuation operations, tactical recovery of aircraft and personnel, humanitarian assistance, and disaster relief. The unit also took part in bilateral and multilateral training exercises with regional partners. It was commanded by a U.S. Marine colonel (O-6).
Ground Combat Element Established new US presence at al-Taqaddum, a previously occupied joint base located in close proximity to ISIS holdings in Anbar province. This was discussed in American society as a sign of going back down the path to US combat "boots on the ground" in Iraq once again.[1]
Supported Task Force "Al-Asad" in order to build partner capacity, train, and assist the Joint Task Force and Iraqi forces in their fight against the Islamic State in Anbar, deepening the U.S. role in efforts to halt the recent momentum of the extremists.[2]
CLB-5 and MWSS-373 with the Lebanon Armed Forces during August.
17.1
GCE training with Royal Saudi Navy Forces.
Supported combat operations in Mosul, Iraq alongside joint and Iraqi Security Forces securing and liberating the besieged city in dense, urban street fighting against ISIL,[3]
GCE took part in Exercise Falcon Sentry in the UAE[4]
21.1
The unit played a key role during the Afghanistan Crisis in August 2021. After returning to the United States of America, the unit was shortly disbanded in October 2021.[5]
Assets
[edit]Marines from the 3rd Battalion, 7th Marines during a training exercise undertaken while assigned to the Special Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force – Crisis Response – Central Command in March 2015Group photo of personnel from Marine Attack Squadron 211 while deployed in support of the Special Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force – Crisis Response – Central Command in April 2015Marines from 2nd Battalion, 5th Marines assigned to the Special Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force – Crisis Response – Central Command and Army soldiers with 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division discuss plans prior to a joint patrol in Syria in August 2020
The rotations were made up of four elements, Command Element (CE), Ground Combat Element (GCE), Logistics Combat Element (LCE) and the Aviation Combat Element (ACE)
