The US Marine Corps (USMC) has established a new special purpose task force for US Central Command (CENTCOM) that includes 2,300 marines and aircraft based throughout the region, Pentagon spokesman Rear Admiral John Kirby announced on 30 September.

Special Marine Air Ground Task Force Central Command (SPMAGTF-CENT) is meant to provide a long-range rapid reaction force to serve the CENTCOM commander, and is based on a smaller SPMAGTF-Crisis Response (SPMAGTF-CR) that was created in Moron, Spain, last year to cover Africa.

Planning began in mid-2013 for SPMAGTF-CENT and its ground and aviation units are expected to rotate regularly, similar to the Crisis Response version.

"This was a deployment that was long planned, certainly before operations in Iraq and Syria began," Adm Kirby told reporters. Still, he said that since SPMAGTF-CENT will be available to the CENTCOM chief, General Lloyd Austin, he could use them for that operation if necessary.

The force is meant to "improve CENTCOM's ability to support theatre security co-operation events such as exercises, as well as respond to contingencies", Adm Kirby said.

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