| Unit Name: | 404th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade |
| Dates: | 2009 - Present |
| Country: | United States |
| Branch: | United States Army National Guard |
| Type: | Maneuver Enhancement Brigade |
| Motto: | Dragon's Fight |
| Commander1: | COL David Helfrich |
| Commander1 Label: | Brigade Commander |
| Commander2 Label: | Deputy Commander |
| Commander3: | CSM Richard Carroll |
| Commander3 Label: | Command Sergeant Major |
| Identification Symbol Label: | Distinctive unit insignia |
The 404th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade is a maneuver enhancement brigade of the Illinois Army National Guard.
Formerly the 404th Chemical Brigade, this unit is tailored to support the maneuver and security of a Division-level headquarters. The Brigade comprises Engineer, Chemical CBRN, Military Police, Signal and Support units.
The Maneuver Enhancement Brigade (MEB) is a relatively new formation within the US Army.[1] It is primarily designed to provide maneuver support to its assigned headquarters with a mix of technical expertise and combat power. However, the structure of a MEB also makes it ideal for consequence management in response to domestic disasters. The MEB's mix of Chemical, Engineer, and Military Police units provides it with the capability to support governmental organizations in chemical/biological/nuclear decontamination, law enforcement support, or infrastructure repair and restoration.
The 404th traces its history to the 404th Chemical Brigade, the first Chemical Brigade activated into the Army National Guard force structure.[2] The 404th Chemical Brigade was formed in 1990 and originally stationed in Rockford, Illinois. It included the 44th Chemical Battalion during that period. The unit subsequently moved to Machesney Park, Illinois where it remained until its deactivation in 1997. In 2001, the 404th was reactivated and stationed in Chicago, Illinois.In 2009, the 404th began its transformation process to become the 404th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade.