Combat Logistics Battalion 22

Combat Logistics Battalion 22, commonly abbreviated CLB-22, is a logistics battalion of the United States Marine Corps. It is based at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune in North Carolina and operates within Combat Logistics Regiment 27 of the 2nd Marine Logistics Group. Its principal operational relationship is with the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit, to which it provides mission-essential combat service support. The battalion's role is to sustain the expeditionary force's readiness and operational capability. Rather than producing commercial goods, CLB-22 delivers military logistics and support functions required to move, maintain, supply, protect, and medically support Marine forces in deployed environments. Its responsibilities span engineering, explosive ordnance disposal, landing support, equipment maintenance, health services, motor transport, supply, and distribution coordination. These functions allow the supported Marine Expeditionary Unit to operate away from fixed bases and to sustain amphibious, humanitarian, security, and combat missions. The unit's organizational history is closely connected to the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit and its predecessor formations. Its lineage traces back to Combat Service Support Detachment 23, which supported the 32nd and later the 22nd Marine Amphibious Units. In 1986, the organization was redesignated Marine Expeditionary Unit Service Support Group 22, a designation that reflected the logistics element assigned to the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit's predecessor structure. The formation's operational record includes support to the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit's 1990 deployment to Liberia, during which more than 2,300 civilians were evacuated from the war-torn country. Later that year, following the deployment of the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit to Liberia, the logistics organization deployed to Southwest Asia and served as Combat Service Support Detachment 22 during Operation Desert Storm. In preparation for a 2004 deployment with the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit, the Marine Corps used an unusual force-allocation arrangement. Because the 2nd Force Service Support Group had deployed to Southwest Asia for Operation Iraqi Freedom, a Marine Wing Support Squadron from Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point was redesignated as a Marine Expeditionary Unit Service Support Group for that deployment. The arrangement demonstrated the Marine Corps' practice of adapting logistics formations to meet expeditionary requirements. The organization was later redesignated Combat Logistics Battalion 22. In its current form, CLB-22 remains a specialized Marine Corps support unit rather than a consumer-facing brand or commercial enterprise. Its identity is defined by operational readiness, expeditionary sustainment, and direct support to the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit.

Combat Logistics Battalion 22 is the modern designation of a Marine Corps logistics organization whose lineage predates the current battalion title. The unit traces its history to Combat Service Support Detachment 23, which for many years furnished combat service support to the 32nd and subsequently the 22nd Marine Amphibious Units. This predecessor relationship established the unit's enduring connection with the expeditionary force that later became the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit. In 1986, the organization received the designation Marine Expeditionary Unit Service Support Group 22. The change reflected the Marine Corps' evolving expeditionary structure and formalized the logistics element's relationship with the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit. The service-support group model brought together the specialist capabilities necessary to sustain an embarked or deployed Marine formation, including transportation, maintenance, supply, medical, engineering, and landing support functions. The unit's history parallels the operational history of the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit. In the fall of 1990, after the Marine Expeditionary Unit had deployed to Liberia, the logistics element supported an evacuation mission in the war-torn country. More than 2,300 civilians were evacuated during that operation. The organization subsequently deployed to Southwest Asia and served as Combat Service Support Detachment 22 during Operation Desert Storm, providing the type of sustainment and support required by Marine forces participating in the conflict. The Marine Corps later adapted the unit's composition in preparation for a 2004 deployment. The 2nd Force Service Support Group had deployed to Southwest Asia in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, creating a need for an alternative method of staffing the logistics organization scheduled to deploy with the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit. For the first time, a Marine Wing Support Squadron from Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point was redesignated as a Marine Expeditionary Unit Service Support Group and deployed in that role. This temporary arrangement illustrated how Marine Corps logistics formations could be reconfigured when operational demands affected the availability of normal support organizations. The organization was subsequently redesignated Combat Logistics Battalion 22. Under the CLB designation, it functions as part of Combat Logistics Regiment 27 and the 2nd Marine Logistics Group. The battalion is based at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, and provides direct support to the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit. Its subordinate elements include an Engineer Platoon, Explosive Ordnance Disposal capability, Landing Support Platoon, Maintenance Platoon, Health Service Support Platoon, Motor Transportation Platoon, Supply Platoon, and Distribution Liaison Cell. The battalion's continuing mission is to provide mission-essential combat service support so that the Marine Expeditionary Unit can achieve and maintain readiness, sustainment, and mission capability. Its history therefore combines lineage continuity with periodic redesignation and force restructuring, reflecting the Marine Corps' broader emphasis on flexible, forward-deployable logistics.

• 2003

  Alternative force allocation arranged for the 2004 deployment

  [1]Combat Logistics Battalion 22en.wikipedia.org

  With the 2nd Force Service Support Group deployed for Operation Iraqi Freedom, the Marine Corps arranged for a Marine Wing Support Squadron from Cherry Point to be redesignated as an MSSG for the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit's 2004 deployment.

• 1990

  Liberia evacuation support and Southwest Asia deployment

  [1]Combat Logistics Battalion 22en.wikipedia.org

  Following the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit's Liberia deployment and evacuation of more than 2,300 civilians, the logistics organization deployed to Southwest Asia and served as CSSD-22 during Operation Desert Storm.

• 1986

  Redesignated Marine Expeditionary Unit Service Support Group 22

  [1]Combat Logistics Battalion 22en.wikipedia.org

  The unit received the MSSG-22 designation, formalizing its role as the logistics support organization associated with the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit.

• Lineage begins with Combat Service Support Detachment 23

  [1]Combat Logistics Battalion 22en.wikipedia.org

  The organization that eventually became CLB-22 traces its lineage to Combat Service Support Detachment 23, which supported the 32nd and later the 22nd Marine Amphibious Units.

• Redesignated Combat Logistics Battalion 22

  [1]Combat Logistics Battalion 22en.wikipedia.org

  The organization adopted its current Combat Logistics Battalion 22 designation and became part of Combat Logistics Regiment 27 and the 2nd Marine Logistics Group.

A Marine Corps expeditionary logistics provider positioned to keep the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit ready, supplied, mobile, maintainable, and medically supported during deployed operations.

• Military logistics service

  Combat service support

  CLB-22's core offering is integrated combat service support for the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit. This support is intended to preserve expeditionary readiness and mission capability by coordinating supply, transportation, maintenance, medical, engineering, landing support, and related functions in deployed environments.

• Military logistics service

  Supply and distribution

  The Supply Platoon and Distribution Liaison Cell support the flow and coordination of materiel required by deployed Marine forces. Their role is to help connect operational demand with available supplies and distribution resources across expeditionary locations.

• Fleet and mobility support

  Maintenance and transportation

  Maintenance and motor transportation elements help keep vehicles and other equipment serviceable while moving personnel, equipment, and supplies. These capabilities are central to sustaining a mobile Marine force operating at distance from permanent infrastructure.

• Specialized operational support

  Engineering, medical, landing support, and ordnance services

  CLB-22 includes specialized capabilities covering engineering, health services support, landing support, and explosive ordnance disposal. Together, these functions address infrastructure, casualty care, movement through landing areas, and explosive hazards encountered during expeditionary operations.

• 200422nd Marine Expeditionary Unit deployment

  Marine Corps expeditionary operations

  For the 2004 deployment with the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit, the Marine Corps used a specially arranged support structure after the 2nd Force Service Support Group deployed to Southwest Asia for Operation Iraqi Freedom.

  Outcome. A Marine Wing Support Squadron from Cherry Point was redesignated as an MSSG and deployed with the Marine Expeditionary Unit.

  Source
• 1990Liberia evacuation operation

  Liberia

  The unit's predecessor logistics organization supported the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit during its deployment to Liberia, where more than 2,300 civilians were evacuated from the war-torn country.

  Outcome. More than 2,300 civilians were evacuated.

  Source
• 1990Operation Desert Storm

  Southwest Asia

  After the Liberia deployment, the organization deployed to Southwest Asia and served as Combat Service Support Detachment 22 during Operation Desert Storm.

  Outcome. The unit provided combat service support in the Southwest Asia theater.

  Source

• 2003

  Temporary reassignment of logistics forces for the 2004 deploymentStrategy

  Background

  The 2nd Force Service Support Group was deployed to Southwest Asia for Operation Iraqi Freedom, limiting the availability of the usual support structure.

  Action taken

  A Marine Wing Support Squadron from Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point was redesignated as an MSSG for deployment with the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit.

  Aftermath

  The arrangement enabled the planned 2004 Marine Expeditionary Unit deployment and was described as the first instance of this type of redesignation.

  Source

• 1986

  Creation of the MSSG-22 designationStrategy

  Background

  The Marine Corps formalized the logistics relationship between the support organization and the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit.

  Action taken

  Combat Service Support Detachment 23's successor organization was designated Marine Expeditionary Unit Service Support Group 22.

  Aftermath

  The organization continued to parallel the operational history of the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit.

  Source

• Redesignation as Combat Logistics Battalion 22Strategy

  Background

  The Marine Corps reorganized and renamed its expeditionary logistics formations.

  Action taken

  The organization was redesignated Combat Logistics Battalion 22.

  Aftermath

  CLB-22 became part of Combat Logistics Regiment 27 and the 2nd Marine Logistics Group while retaining its direct-support relationship with the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit.

  Source

1. 1Combat Logistics Battalion 22en.wikipedia.org