U.S. Marine Corps Reserve

0081-215)202 ( aera CD ;0081-215)668 ( eerf llot:enohP vog.opg.erotskoob:tenretnI notgnihsaW,CCDI potS:liaM 4012-215)202 (:xaF 1000-20402 CD, ISBN 978-0-16-089557-9 16070_Marines_ _ 11/4/11 3:40 PM Page ii This monograph is more than the story of Marine expeditionary operations in Afghanistan. It describes who our nation’s enemies are; how America became involved in the Global War on Terrorism; and how the Marine Corps struggled to acquire a major role in Operation Enduring Freedom, as well as the actions of Marines and sailors who helped prosecute the air and ground campaigns against Taliban and al-Qaeda forces. In the latter regard, we see the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit, already forward deployed on 11 September 2001, ready to conduct a noncombatant evacuation operation, secure a forward operating base, or provide a quick reaction force for joint special operating forces conducting the initial offensive action of the war. The 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit then combined with the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit and quickly maneuvered from the Mediterranean to form a provisional Marine expeditionary brigade known as Naval Expeditionary Task Force 58. Working simultaneously under the direction of U.S. Centra