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D A Barnhart is part of a Battalion Landing Team (BLT), 3rd Battalion, 5th Marines nicknamed Darkhorse. Barnhart is also part of the infantry that effects land based operations reinforced with artillery and armor as part of the ground combat element of the Marine Air-Ground Task Force (MAGTF). MAGTFs are self sustaining combined-arms forces organized to accomplish specific missions.*

There are three additional elements to the MAGTF, a command element that provides control, coordination and planning, an aviation combat element that provides air support and a logistics combat element that allows the MAGTF to sustain itself.

The members of the MAGTF train together and deploy to crises as a team prepared to fight if called upon.

MAGTFs are deployed for specific purposes and organized accordingly. This gives them the flexibility needed to respond within days anywhere in the world and immediately begin their mission.

Since the war on terror started, the MAGTF has demonstrated its capabilities of completing a wide range of operations, including crisis response, security assistance and humanitarian assistance. This highly trained team is also an extremely effective disaster relief unit, delivering supplies, offering medical aid, assisting in rebuilding efforts and saving lives. The MAGTF is an ideal rapid response team, able to quickly answer the call of duty, wherever it may take them, until their mission is completed.*

• David Kauler, Nate Robb and Michael Stevenson. 2017. "Marine Air-Ground Task Force" 2017 MCAS Miramar Air Show, A Salute to Vietnam Veterans. PROGRAM