Which units comprise a MEU/SOC?

• A. Command element, Marine Infantry Battalion, Composite Marine Air Squadrons (fixed and rotary), and Combat Logistics Battalion
• B. Command element, Armored Battalion, Carrier Air Wing, and Supply Battalion
• C. Infantry Regiment, Naval Gunfire Unit, and Medical Company
• D. Command Element and a single Aviation Squadron

Answer: (A)

A MEU/SOC is organized around four integrated elements that together provide command and control, ground combat power, air power, and sustained logistics. The Command Element handles leadership, planning, and coordination. The Ground Combat Element is anchored by a reinforced Marine Infantry Battalion, giving the force its core ground maneuver capability. The Aviation Combat Element is a Composite Marine Air Squadrons setup, bringing both fixed-wing and rotary-wing aircraft to project air power and support operations. The Logistics Combat Element is a Combat Logistics Battalion, responsible for maintenance, supply, transport, and other sustainment needs.

This combination—Command Element, Marine Infantry Battalion as the Ground Combat Element, Composite Marine Air Squadrons for the Aviation Combat Element, and a Combat Logistics Battalion for the Logistics Combat Element—best fits the standard MEU/SOC structure. Other options mix in elements (like a Carrier Air Wing or an Armored Battalion) that aren’t part of a MEU’s typical organization, or propose only a single aviation squadron, which doesn’t provide the full integrated air capability.