Marine Unit 1,300 Members Deep Officially Takes Watch for US Southern Command

Published May 29, 2026, 2:26 PM EDT

The new premier tactical force-in-readiness supports Operation Southern Spear.

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Published May 29, 2026, 2:26 PM EDT

The 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit has officially assumed the mission as the premier tactical force-in-readiness within the U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) Area of Responsibility. The Marine Corps announced Friday that the command, operating under the designation of Littoral Combat Force-24, offers tactical options through an agile Marine Air-Ground Task Force (MAGTF) composed of more than 1,300 Marines and sailors to the area. SOUTHCOM's Area of Responsibility oversees 31 countries and 12 dependencies/areas of special sovereignty, as part of a region representing roughly about one-sixth of the landmass of the world assigned to regional unified commands. That oversight encompasses the land mass of Latin America south of Mexico, waters adjacent to Central and South America, and the Caribbean Sea.