A maneuver enhancement brigade (MEB) is a self-contained, modular, and multifunctional support brigade of the United States Army customized to meet whatever mission it receives. A MEB's primary purpose is to plug into operational formations commanded by corps or division commanders, to support brigade combat teams once deployed, and to conduct tactical level tasks and support.[1] MEBs can provide command and control for up to seven battalions that are capable of owning battlespace in combat.
Battalions assigned to a MEB differ from mission to mission but their specialties typically do not repeat themselves more than twice for a certain type—when a mission dictates more than two of a certain type, the mission likely is not an MEB mission anymore but one more suited to a functional brigade. For example, if a mission calls for three engineer battalions, such mission is better suited to an engineer brigade.
The mission of a MEB is to provide support to the force commander, normally at the division level. The MEB groups together a number of previously dispersed functions in order to achieve this mission. Organic to the MEB is generally a headquarters and headquarters company, a signal company and a brigade support battalion. This force can be augmented by combat engineer, military police, air defense, and/or CBRN defense units. Depending on the mission it may be assigned explosive ordnance disposal, civil affairs or a tactical combat force. They are tailored with the capabilities required for each operation. More than one brigade may be assigned to a division or corps.
Maneuver enhancement brigades are designed to bridge the operational gap between brigade combat teams and functional support brigades. By modern doctrine MEB can control operational areas and are assigned a tactical combat force, usually in the form of a maneuver infantry battalion. A maneuver enhancement brigade’s primary goal is to provide the corps or divisional level commander with a field grade officer led formation that has a large headquarters, capable of controlling a mix of combat engineer, military police, level II medical services, communication units, NBC units and civil affair units. In addition to its attached maneuver combat battalion for security and rear area defense operations.
Unified combatant commanders may also attach these brigades directly to the Army service component command in order to serve in the theater army rear area of operations or joint security area, where the MEB serves as the force protection unit for the US force headquarters.[2]
There are 19 combat support brigades (maneuver enhancement) the Army plans to create, with 16 in the Army National Guard and 3 in the Army Reserve. This organization is one of five types of multifunctional support brigades that have been established under the transformation to the modular force. The other brigades are the sustainment brigade, battlefield surveillance brigade, combat aviation brigade, and fires brigade.[3]
| Unit | Patch | Component | Home Headquarters | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 26th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade (26th MEB) | National Guard | Massachusetts | ||
| 55th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade (55th MEB) | National Guard | Pennsylvania | ||
| 67th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade (67th MEB) | National Guard | Lincoln, Nebraska | ||
| 110th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade (110th MEB) | National Guard | Missouri | ||
| 130th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade (130th MEB) | National Guard | North Carolina | ||
| 136th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade (136th MEB) | National Guard | Texas | ||
| 141st Maneuver Enhancement Brigade (141st MEB) | National Guard | North Dakota | ||
| 149th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade (149th MEB) | National Guard | Kentucky | ||
| 157th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade (157th MEB) | National Guard | Wisconsin | ||
| 158th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade (158th MEB) | National Guard | Arizona | ||
| 196th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade (196th MEB) | National Guard | South Dakota | ||
| 204th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade (204th MEB) | National Guard | Utah | ||
| 218th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade (218th MEB) | National Guard | South Carolina | ||
| 226th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade (226th MEB) | National Guard | Alabama | ||
| 301st Maneuver Enhancement Brigade (301st MEB) | Army Reserve | Washington | ||
| 302nd Maneuver Enhancement Brigade (302nd MEB) | Army Reserve | Massachusetts | ||
| 303rd Maneuver Enhancement Brigade (303rd MEB) | Army Reserve | Hawaii | ||
| 404th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade (404th MEB) | National Guard | Illinois | ||
| 648th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade (648th MEB) | National Guard | Georgia |
. Headquarters, Department of the Army . United States Department of the Army#Headquarters, Department of the Army . . 27 February 2008 . Washington, DC . . 978-1437901290 . 780900309 . p. C-11 and pp. C-40 – C-44. (Web site: Source A . PDF . 2013-08-31 . https://web.archive.org/web/20121202210635/http://usacac.army.mil/cac2/Repository/Materials/FM3-0(FEB%202008).pdf . 2012-12-02 . dead . Web site: Source B . PDF . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20090213063854/http://downloads.army.mil/fm3-0/FM3-0.pdf . 2009-02-13 . Retrieved 31 August 2013.)