Antillean Expeditionary Force

  

United Commonwealth Expeditionary Force
UCEF Headquarters Badge
Active	1964–1976 2016–present
Country	Antilles
Branch	Antillean Army Antillean Navy Antillean Air Force
Type	Theater Command
Role	Expeditionary warfare
Part of	Armed Forces Joint Staff
Garrison/HQ	National Military Center, Columbia City, Hispaniola
Engagements	Vietnam War Colombia War Syrian Civil War
Commanders
Commander	Admiral William Salzer, UCN
Deputy Commander	Lieutenant General Wallace Thurman, UCAF

The Antillean Expeditionary Force (AEF), officially known as the United Commonwealth Expeditionary Force (UCEF), is a unified combatant command of the Antillean Armed Forces, the military of the Antilles. The AEF was originally established in 1964 as a means of allowing the overseas deployments of Antillean troops to assist the Western Bloc in conflicts against Eastern Bloc countries with the first major deployment being during the Vietnam War to support SEATO forces in defense of South Vietnam and later Champa against North Vietnam and the Viet Cong. The AEF also fought in the Colombia War in support of the Republic Colombia and Anglo-American forces against the Communist Party of the Andes as well. The AEF was disbanded in 1976 due to Antillean involvement in Colombia increasing tensions in the Caribbean, a focus on defending Antillean influence in the region, and a general shift towards domestic defense and away from overseas activity.

The AEF would be re-established in February 2016 by then Secretary of the Army Arian Lawrence as part of an initiative to strengthen the Antilles' defenses. The AEF is a rapid deployment force that consists of land, naval, and air units, which are on permanent stand by and are capable of being deployed anywhere in the world within 48 hours. Its re-establishment was viewed as Lawrence's greatest accomplishments as army secretary and has called "Lawrence's crowbar" by many political analysts.

It is the first combatant command established by the Antillean military since 2002, and was formed in response to increased Continental Navy activity in Caribbean waters near the Antilles as well as to increase the overall capabilities of the Armed Forces. Between 2017 and 2021, the AEF participated in the Syrian Civil War as part of the International Security Assistance Force. The AEF consists of the Army Airborne Corps, the Navy Expeditionary Combat Command, and the Air Expeditionary Group.

Structure

The headquarters of the AEF is located at the National Military Center in Columbia City, and consists of a headquarters staff.

Emblem	Command	Acronym	Commander	Established	Headquarters	Subordinate Commands
	Antillean Army Airborne Corps Joint Force Land Component Command	UCAAC	Lt. Gen. Melvin Bringham	1 February 2016	TBD	1st (United Commonwealth) Division 11th (United Commonwealth) Division 5th Separate Theater Logistics Brigade 18th Separate Medical Brigade
	Antillean Navy Expeditionary Combat Command Joint Force Maritime Component Command	UCNECC	Vice Adm. John Galvin	1 February 2016	TBD	Carrier Strike Group 1 Destroyer Squadron 1 Combined Logistics Force Submarine Squadron 4
	Antillean Air Expeditionary Group Joint Force Air Component Command	UCAEG	Lt. Gen. Rudyard Wilson	1 February 2016	TBD	4th Fighter Wing 28th Bomb Wing 67th Reconnaissance Wing 314th Airlift Wing
	Antillean Marine Expeditionary Force Joint Force Marine Component Command	UCMEF	Maj. Gen. Mike Weatherington	1 February 2016	TBD	2nd Marine Expeditionary Brigade 2nd Marine Logistics Group 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit

See also

• Antillean Armed Forces
• Antilles in the Vietnam War