United States Marine Corps

The United States Marine Corps (USMC) is a branch of the U.S. military. While concerned almost exclusively with shipboard security service and amphibious warfare in its formative years, the Marine Corps has evolved to fill a unique, multi-purpose role within the modern United States military.

Organization

Typical aviation units are squadron, group and wing. There are four Marine aircraft wings:

Related Topics:
Squadron - Group - Wing

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• the First in Okinawa, Japan;
• the Second in Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, North Carolina;
• the Third at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, California; and
• the Fourth, a reserve unit.

There are also four Force Service Support Groups:

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• the First in Camp Pendleton, California;
• the Second in Camp Lejeune, North Carolina;
• the Third in Okinawa, Japan;
• and the Fourth in New Orleans.

Infantry

Here is the typical organization for Marine Corps infantry units, from smallest to largest:

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• fire team: four Marines; team leader, automatic rifleman, assistant automatic rifleman, and rifleman
• squad: three fire teams and a corporal or sergeant as squad leader
• platoon
• rifle platoon: three squads, a Navy corpsman, a platoon sergeant (staff sergeant), and a lieutenant as platoon commander
• weapons platoon: a 60mm mortar section, an assault section, a medium machine gun section, a Navy corpsman, a platoon sergeant (gunnery sergeant), and a lieutenant as platoon commander
• company
• rifle company: three rifle platoons, a weapons platoon, a Navy corpsman, a administrative clerk, a training NCO, a company gunnery sergeant, first sergeant, a first lieutenant as executive officer, and captain as commander
• weapons company
• headquarters and support company:
• battalion: three or four companies, commanded by a lieutenant colonel
• regiment: three or four battalions, commanded by a colonel
• brigade: less common in the Marine Corps, but typically made up of one or more regiments and commanded by a brigadier general
• division: three or four regiments, officers and others, commanded by a major general

Battalions and larger units have a sergeant major, and an executive officer as second in command, plus officers and others for: Administration (S-1), Intelligence (S-2), Operations (S-3), Logistics (S-4), Civil Affairs (S-5), and Communications (S-6).

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As of 2004, there are four Marine divisions:

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• the First in Camp Pendleton, California;
• the Second in Camp Lejeune, North Carolina;
• the Third in Camp Smedley Butler in Okinawa, Japan; and
• the Fourth is a reserve unit headquarted in New Orleans, Lousiania, with units scattered throughout the continental United States.

In World War II, two more Marine Divisions were formed: the Fifth and Sixth, which fought in the Pacific War. These divisions were disbanded after the end of the war.

Related Topics:
World War II - Fifth - Sixth - Pacific War

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Air-ground task forces

The Marine Corps organization is flexible, and task forces can be formed of any size. Modern deployed Marine units are based upon the doctrine of the Marine air-ground task force, or MAGTF. A MAGTF can generally be of any of three sizes, based upon the amount of force required in the given situation; however, all MAGTFs have a similar organization.

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A MAGTF is comprised of four elements: the command element (CE), the ground combat element (GCE), the air combat element (ACE) and the combat service support element (CSSE).

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• Command element — A headquarters unit that directs the other elements
• Ground combat element — Usually infantry, supported by armor (tanks), and artillery, but including special units such as scouts or Force Reconnaissance, snipers and forward air controllers
• Air combat element — The total airpower strength of the MAGTF, the ACE includes all aerial vehicles (both fixed wing and helicopter), their pilots and maintenance personnel and those units necessary for aviation command and control.
• Combat service support element — This element includes all of the support units for the MAGTF: communications, combat engineers, motor transport, medical and supply units, and certain specialized groups such as air delivery and landing support teams

The smallest type of MAGTF is the Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU). The MEU is trained to operated as an independent force or as part of a Joint Task Force. Four elements make up a Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable): The Command Element is the standing headquarters for the MEU, usually headed by a Colonel (O-6). The Ground Combat Element is a Battalion Landing Team; an infantry battalion reinforced with tanks, artillery, engineers, amphibious vehicles, light armored vehicles, and other ground combat assets. The Aviation Combat Element is made up of a composite squadron of both fixed and rotary-wing aircraft. The Combat Service Support Element consists of a MEU Service Support Group which handles the logistics and administration needs of the MEU. The specific makeup of the MEU can be customized based upon the task at hand; additional artillery, armor, or air units can be attached, including squadrons of F/A-18 Hornet and Harrier jets.

Related Topics:
Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) - F/A-18 Hornet - Harrier

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There are usually three MEUs assigned to each of the U.S. Navy Atlantic and Pacific Fleets, with another MEU based on Okinawa. While one MEU is on deployment, one MEU is training to deploy and one is standing down, resting its Marines, and refitting. Each MEU is rated as capable of performing special operations.

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A Marine Expeditionary Brigade (MEB) is larger than a MEU, and is based upon a Marine regiment, with larger air and support contingents.

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A Marine Expeditionary Force (MEF), as deployed in Iraq in 2003, comprises a Marine division with an artillery regiment, several tank battalions, several LAV battalions, as well as an air wing. The I Marine Expeditionary Force as deployed in the Persian Gulf War ultimately consisted of the 1st and 2nd Marine Divisions as well as considerable Marine air and support units.

Related Topics:
Marine Expeditionary Force - Iraq - 2003 - Regiment - I Marine Expeditionary Force - Persian Gulf War

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