How many standing MEBs exist and which is under MARFORCENCOM?

• A. 5th MEB - under MARFORCENCOM
• B. 2nd MEB - under MARFORCENCOM
• C. 3rd MEB - under MARFORPAC
• D. 4th MEB - under MARFORAFRICOM

Answer: (A)

Five standing MEBs exist as ready-to-deploy expeditionary brigades that fill the gap between a MEU and a full MEF, designed to surge quickly in a crisis. Each of these MEBs is assigned to a geographic combatant command for potential employment, so knowing which MEB is paired with which command is part of how the force is managed and prepared.

The fifth MEB is the one assigned to MARFORCOM, which is the Marine Corps command responsible for coordinating readiness and deployment for Marines under that command. That alignment is what makes the statement correct: there are five standing MEBs, and the fifth is under MARFORCOM. The other options would imply different pairings that don’t match this established structure.