ORGANIZATION AND OPERATION OF THE COMBAT
OPERATIONS CENTER
Efficiently organized and executed command and
seven primary engineer (fig. 1-1) assets spread out
among the elements.
control operations are essential for any combat
operation to be successful. Many battles have been
The four elements (fig. 1-2) are as follows:
lost because of poor execution of command and
Command Element (CE)
control activities. A major reason for the success of
Operation Desert Storm was the manner each unit
Ground Combat Element (GCE)
maintained and supported a vigorous command and
Aviation Combat Element (ACE)
control structure.
Combat Service Support Element (CSSE)
A comprehensive knowledge about higher and
lower echelons in the area of operations assigned to a
Seabee battalion is crucial to personnel executing
command and control functions. This chapter
provides detailed information on the Combat
Operations Center (COC). Also, described in this
chapter is the Marine Air-Ground Task Force
(MAGTF).
NOTE: During combat operations, Seabee units
are normally assigned to a MAGTF.
ORGANIZATION OF THE MARINE
AIR-GROUND TASK FORCE (MAGTF)
A Marine Air-Ground Task Force (MAGTF) is
normally formed for combat operations in which
substantial Marine aviation and Marine ground units
participate. Trends in national strategy show that the
most probable employment of MAGTFs will be in the
execution of force-in-readiness missions.
Accomplishment of such missions requires the
Figure 1-1.--Primary MAGTF Engineer Assets.
employment of MAGTFs as landing forces in
amphibious operations and later operations ashore.
The MAGTFs must have the capability in such
commitments to operate in close coordination with
other U.S. Armed Forces and the forces of Allied
nations. MAGTFs are characterized by operational
concepts, organizational structures, equipment, and
s y s t e m s that are suited for employment in
Navy-Marine, joint, or combined operations.
The fact that a Seabee battalion is attached to a
MAGTF during combat makes it critical that you
understand the MAGTF organization. No matter how
Figure 1-2.--Elements of a MAGTF organization.
large, a MAGTF consists of at least four elements with
