FACT SHEET

- I MEF (FWD) WILL ASSUME COMMAND OF REGIONAL COMMAND (SOUTHWEST) DURING EARLY 2014.
- RC(SW) IS COMPRISED OF HELMAND AND NIMROZ PROVINCES.
- II MEF, BASED OUT OF CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C., IS CURRENTLY IN COMMAND OF RC(SW).
- I MEF (FWD) WILL OPERATE OUT OF CAMP LEATHERNECK AND CAMP BASTION, WHICH ARE LOCATED  IN HELMAND PROVINCE, AFGHANISTAN.
- THE I MEF (FWD) COMMAND ELEMENT PREVIOUSLY DEPLOYED TO RC(SW) IN 2010 AND 2012.
- APPROXIMATELY 300 MARINES MAKE UP THE I MEF (FWD) COMMAND ELEMENT.
- APPROXIMATELY 4,000 MARINES FROM I MEF (FWD) ARE DEPLOYING TO RC(SW).
- APPROXIMATELY 9,000 TOTAL FORCES, INCLUDING COALITION, ARE CURRENTLY IN RC(SW).
- I MEF (FWD) WILL WORK ALONGSIDE AFGHAN NATIONAL SECURITY FORCES, WHICH INCLUDE: ANA  215TH CORPS, BASED OUT OF CAMP SHORABAK; AND ANP IN LASHKAR GAH, BOTH LOCATED IN  HELMAND PROVINCE, AFGHANISTAN.
- I MEF (FWD) WILL BE THE LAST MAJOR USMC COMMAND TO DEPLOY TO AFGHANISTAN IN SUPPORT OF OPERATION ENDURING FREEDOM.
- RC(SW) COALITION PARTNERS: 
    - NATO NATIONS: DENMARK, ESTONIA, UNITED KINGDOM, UNITED STATES
    - NON-NATO NATIONS: BOSNIA, GEORGIA, JORDAN, TONGA

I MEF (FWD) SUBORDINATE UNITS:

1ST MARINE BRIGADE HEADQUARTERS GROUP: OUT OF I MEF HEADQUARTERS GROUP
ELEMENTS OF:
- 1ST INTELLIGENCE BATTALION, 9TH COMMUNICATION BATTALION, 1ST RADIO BATTALION, 1ST AIR  NAVAL GUNFIRE LIAISON COMPANY.

GROUND COMBAT ELEMENT:  OUT OF 1ST MARINE DIVISION
ELEMENTS OF:
- 1ST MARINE REGIMENT;
- 1ST BATTALION, 7TH MARINE REGIMENT; (SCHEDULED TO DEPLOY IN MARCH)
- 3RD BATTALION, 7TH MARINE REGIMENT; (CURRENTLY DEPLOYED)
- 5TH BATTALION, 11TH MARINE REGIMENT;
- 1ST COMBAT ENGINEER BATTALION.

LOGISTICS COMBAT ELEMENT: OUT OF 1ST MARINE LOGISTICS GROUP
ELEMENTS OF:
- COMBAT LOGISTICS REGIMENT-1: COMBAT LOGISTICS BATTALION-7;
- COMBAT LOGISTICS REGIMENT-15: 1ST SUPPLY BATTALION, 1ST MAINTENANCE BATTALION;
- COMBAT LOGISTICS REGIMENT-17: FOOD SERVICES COMPANY;
- 1ST MEDICAL BATTALION;
- 7TH ENGINEER SUPPORT BATTALION: 1ST EXPLOSIVE ORDNANCE DISPOSAL COMPANY.

AVIATION COMBAT ELEMENT: OUT OF 3RD MARINE AIRCRAFT WING
ELEMENTS OF:
- MARINE AIRCRAFT GROUP-16: MARINE AVIATION LOGISTICS SQUADRON-16, MARINE HEAVY   HELICOPTER SQUADRON-466;
- MARINE AIR CONTROL GROUP-38:  MARINE TACTICAL AIR COMMAND SQUADRON-38, MARINE AIR   SUPPORT SQUADRON-3, MARINE WING COMMUNICATION SQUADRON-38, UNMANNED AERIAL VEHICLE   SQUADRON-3;
- MARINE AIRCRAFT GROUP-11: MARINE AERIAL REFUELER TRANSPORT SQUADRON-352, MARINE   AVIATION LOGISTICS SQUADRON-11.

KEY TERMS:
ABP- AFGHAN BORDER POLICE
ACE- AVIATION COMBAT ELEMENT
ALP- AFGHAN LOCAL POLICE
AMOC- AFGHANISTAN MEDIA OPERATIONS CELL
ANA – AFGHAN NATIONAL ARMY
ANCOP- AFGHAN NATIONAL CIVIL ORDER POLICE
ANP – AFGHAN NATIONAL POLICE
ANSF- AFGHAN NATIONAL SECURITY FORCES
AOR- AREA OF RESPONSIBILITY
BHG- BRIGADE HEADQUARTERS GROUP
BSA- BILATERAL SECURITY AGREEMENT
COP- COMBAT OUTPOST
FML- FORCE MANAGEMENT LEVEL
FOB- FORWARD OPERATING BASE
GCE- GROUND COMBAT ELEMENT
GIROA- GOVERNMENT OF THE ISLAMIC REPUBLIC OF AFGHANISTAN
IJC- INTERNATIONAL SECURITY ASSISTANCE FORCE JOINT COMMAND
ISAF- INTERNATIONAL SECURITY ASSISTANCE FORCE
LCE- LOGISTICS COMBAT ELEMENT
OEF- OPERATION ENDURING FREEDOM
PB- PATROL BASE
PRT- PROVINCIAL RECONSTRUCTION TEAM
RC(SW) - REGIONAL COMMAND (SOUTHWEST)
RIP – RELIEF IN PLACE
R4OG- RETROGRADE AND REDEPLOYMENT IN SUPPORT OF RESET AND RECONSTITUTION OPERATIONAL GROUP
TFBW- TASK FORCE BELLEAU WOOD
TFH- TASK FORCE HELMAND (UK)
TFL- TASK FORCE LEATHERNECK
TOA- TRANSFER OF AUTHORITY