MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. – -- A ceremony took place today officially activating Marine Air Ground Task Force-13 which is scheduled to deploy to southern Afghanistan and assume operational control of Regional Command Southwest in early 2013.
Maj. Gen. W. Lee Miller, Jr., MAGTF-13 commander, will deploy his unit as a task-organized Marine Air-Ground Task Force, with elements from 2nd Marine Division, 2nd Marine Logistics Group and 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing totaling more than 6,000 Marines and Sailors. Miller will also assume command of all NATO forces in the region.
MAGTF-13 now begins a strenuous pre-deployment training program designed to prepare its warfighters for the rigors of a combat deployment as the nation’s primary force-in-readiness. MAGTF-13 will replace Camp Pendleton, California -based I MEF (Fwd) as the Corps’ fighting MAGTF in Helmand and Nimroz Provinces, Afghanistan.