Examine individual changes

'{{dmy}} {{Redirect|USMC|other uses|United States Maritime Commission|and|University of St. Michael's College}} {{Infobox Military Unit PLEASE NOTE THAT THE UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS IS THE MOST HIGHLY TRAINED FIGHTING FORCE ON THE EARTH. SEMPER FIDELIS -KAISER L. GILLHESPY |unit_name= [[United States Marine Corps]] |image= [[Image:USMC_logo.svg|centre|150px]] |caption= [[Portal:United States Marine Corps|United States Marine Corps portal]] |dates= November 10, 1775–present |country= [[United States]] |allegiance= |branch= [[Marine Corps]] |type= [[amphibious warfare|Amphibious]] |role= [[marine (military)|Naval Infantry]] |size= 203,000 active<small>(as of Oct 2009)<ref name="MCT 203k 10/2009">{{cite web|url=http://www.marinecorpstimes.com/news/2009/10/marine_202Kreached_101609w/|title=Corps ends year with 203,000 active Marines|last=Lamothe|first=Dan|date=Friday Oct 16, 2009 18:10:12 EDT|work=[[Marine Corps Times]]|publisher=[[Gannett Company]]|accessdate=2009-10-17}}</ref><ref name=DoD_ms0.pdf>{{cite web|accessdate=26 February 2009 |title=Armed Forces Strength Figures for January 31, 2009 |url=http://siadapp.dmdc.osd.mil/personnel/MILITARY/ms0.pdf |work=Military Personnel Statistics: Active Duty Military Strength by Service |date=February 2009 |publisher=U.S. Department of Defense |format=PDF}}</ref></small><BR>40,000 reserve <small>(as of 2009)<ref name=ConMar_2009Almanac>The [[Selected Marine Corps Reserve]] has approximately 39,600 Marines; the [[Individual Ready Reserve]] has approximately 60,000 Marines. {{cite web|accessdate=26 February 2009 |url=http://www.mfr.usmc.mil/MFRNews/ConMar/Almanac09.pdf |title=Reserve Force Figures |work=The Continental Marine Magazine - Almanac 209 |format=PDF |publisher=Marine Forces Reserve |page=9 |year=2009 }}</ref><ref name=DoD_ms0.pdf /></small> |command_structure= [[United States Department of Defense|Department of Defense]]<BR>[[United States Department of the Navy|Department of the Navy]] |garrison= [[Headquarters Marine Corps]] |garrison_label= Headquarters |nickname= ''The Few, The Proud'' |patron= |motto= [[Semper Fidelis#The United States Marine Corps|Semper Fidelis]] |colors= [[Scarlet (color)|Scarlet]] & [[Gold (color)|Gold]]<ref name="colors">{{cite web|url=http://www.tecom.usmc.mil/HD/Docs_Speeches/EstablishingMCcolors.htm|title=Marine Corps Order No. 4 (Series 1925)|last=Lejeune|first=Major General John A|authorlink=John A. Lejeune|date=18 April 1925|work=[[Commandant of the Marine Corps]]|publisher=[[United States Marine Corps History Division]]|accessdate=2 February 2010}}</ref> {{color box|#FF2400}}{{color box|#FFD700}} |colors_label= Colors |march= [[:File:John Philip Sousa - U.S. Navy Band - Semper Fidelis March.ogg|Semper Fidelis]] |mascot= |equipment= |equipment_label= |battles= <div style="height: 380px; width: 220px; overflow: auto;">[[Revolutionary War]]<BR>[[Quasi-War]]<BR>[[Barbary Wars]]<BR>[[War of 1812]]<BR>[[Seminole Wars]]<BR>[[Mexican–American War]]<BR>[[American Civil War]]<BR>[[Spanish–American War]]<BR>[[Philippine–American War]]<BR>[[Boxer Rebellion]]<BR>[[The Banana Wars]]<BR>[[World War I]]<BR>[[World War II]]<BR>[[Korean War]]<BR>[[Vietnam War]]<BR>[[Gulf War]]<BR>[[Kosovo War]]<BR>[[Operation Enduring Freedom]]<BR>[[Operation Iraqi Freedom]] </div> |anniversaries= |decorations= <div style="height: 200px; width: 220px; overflow: auto;">[[Image:Streamer PUC Navy.PNG|200px]]<BR>[[Image:Streamer PUC Army.PNG|200px]]<BR>[[Presidential Unit Citation (United States)|Presidential Unit Citation]]<BR>[[Image:Streamer JMUA.PNG|200px]]<BR>[[Joint Meritorious Unit Award]]<BR>[[Image:Navy Unit Commendation Streamer.jpg|200px]]<BR>[[Navy Unit Commendation]]<BR>[[Image:Streamer VUA Army.PNG|200px]]<BR>[[Valorous Unit Award]]<BR>[[Image:Meritorious Unit Commendation (Navy-Marine) Streamer.jpg|200px]]<BR>[[Image:Streamer MUC Army.PNG|200px]]<BR>[[Meritorious Unit Commendation]]<BR>[[Image:Streamer FCDG.PNG|200px]]<BR>[[Croix de guerre 1914-1918 (France)|Croix de Guerre]]<BR>[[Image:Streamer PPUC.PNG|200px]]<BR>[[Presidential Unit Citation (Philippines)|Philippene Presidential Unit Citation]]<BR>[[Image:Streamer KPUC.PNG|200px]]<BR>[[Presidential Unit Citation|Korean Presidential Unit Citation]]<BR>[[Image:VGCP Streamer.jpg|200px]]<BR>[[Vietnam Gallantry Cross]]<BR>[[Image:Streamer RVMUCCA.PNG|200px]]<BR>[[Vietnam Civil Actions Medal]] </div> |battle_honours= <!-- Commanders --> |commander1= Gen [[James T. Conway]] |commander1_label= [[Commandant of the Marine Corps|Commandant]] |commander2= Gen [[James F. Amos]] |commander2_label= [[Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps|A. Commandant]] |commander3= SgtMaj [[Carlton W. Kent]] |commander3_label= [[Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps|Sergeant Major]] |notable_commanders= <!-- Insignia --> |identification_symbol= [[Image:Globeanchor.svg|50px]] |identification_symbol_label= [[Eagle, Globe, and Anchor]] |identification_symbol_2= |identification_symbol_2_label= |identification_symbol_3= |identification_symbol_3_label= |identification_symbol_4= |identification_symbol_4_label= <!-- Aircraft --> |aircraft_attack=[[AV-8B Harrier II|AV-8B]], [[F/A-18 Hornet#C.2FD|F/A-18D]] |aircraft_bomber= |aircraft_electronic= [[EA-6B Prowler|EA-6B]] |aircraft_fighter=[[F/A-18 Hornet#A.2FB|F/A-18A/]][[F/A-18 Hornet#C.2FD|C]] |aircraft_helicopter=[[AH-1 SuperCobra|AH-1W]], [[UH-1N Twin Huey|UH-1N]], [[CH-46 Sea Knight|CH-46E]], [[CH-53D Sea Stallion|CH-53D]], [[CH-53E Super Stallion|CH-53E]], [[V-22 Osprey|MV-22]] |aircraft_interceptor= |aircraft_patrol= |aircraft_recon=[[RQ-7 Shadow|RQ-7]], [[ScanEagle]] |aircraft_trainer= |aircraft_transport=[[C-130J Super Hercules|KC-130J]] }} The '''United States Marine Corps''' ('''USMC''') is a branch of the [[United States armed forces]] responsible for providing [[Military power projection|force projection]] from the sea,<ref name="OMFTS">{{cite paper | author = Gen. [[Charles C. Krulak]] | title = Operational Maneuver from the Sea | version = | publisher = Headquarters Marine Corps | year = 1996 | url = http://www.dtic.mil/jv2010/usmc/omfts.pdf | format = PDF | accessdate = }}</ref> using the mobility of the [[United States Navy]] to rapidly deliver [[Marine Air-Ground Task Force|combined-arms task forces]]. It is one of seven [[uniformed services of the United States]]. In the civilian leadership structure of the United States military, the Marine Corps is a component of the [[Department of the Navy]],<ref name=USN_org>{{cite web |accessdate=3 August 2008 |url=http://www.navy.mil/navydata/organization/org-over.asp |title=U.S. Navy Organization: An Overview |publisher=United States Navy }}</ref><ref name=NSA1947sec206>{{cite web|accessdate= |url=http://www.intelligence.gov/0-natsecact_1947.shtml |title=National Security Act of 1947, SEC. 206. (a) (50 U.S.C. 409(b)) }}</ref> often working closely with [[United States Navy operating forces organization|U.S. naval forces]] for training, transportation and logistic purposes; however, in the military leadership structure the Marine Corps is a separate branch.<ref name=NSA1947sec606>{{cite web |accessdate=2009-04-25 |url=http://www.intelligence.gov/0-natsecact_1947.shtml |title=National Security Act of 1947, SEC. 606. (50 U.S.C. 426)}}</ref> Captain [[Samuel Nicholas]] formed two battalions of [[Continental Marines]] on 10 November 1775 in [[Philadelphia]] as [[Marine (military)|naval infantry]].<ref name="tpub">{{cite web|url=http://www.tpub.com/content/administration/12966/css/12966_273.htm|title=Naval Orientation|work=Chapter 14: United States Marine Corps|publisher=Integrated Publishing|pages=14–1 to 14-11|accessdate=2 May 2009}}</ref> Since then, the mission of the Marine Corps has evolved with changing military doctrine and [[Foreign policy of the United States|American foreign policy]]. The Marine Corps has served in [[Military history of the United States|every American armed conflict]] and attained prominence in the 20th century when its theories and practices of [[amphibious warfare (United States)|amphibious warfare]] proved prescient and ultimately formed the cornerstone of the [[Pacific War|Pacific campaign]] of [[World War II]].<ref name="Warren">{{cite book | last = Warren | first = James A. | authorlink = | title = American Spartans: The U.S. Marines: A Combat History From Iwo Jima to Iraq | publisher = Free Press, Simon & Schuster | year = 2005 | location = New York | isbn = 0-684-87284-6 }}</ref> By the mid-20th century, the Marine Corps had become the dominant theorist and practitioner of amphibious warfare.<ref name=USMC-WW2-I-I-2>{{cite book|accessdate=2 June 2007 url=http://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/USMC/I/USMC-I-I-2.html |chapter=Part I, Chapter 2: Evolution of Modern Amphibious Warfare, 1920–1941 |title=Pearl Harbor to Guadalcanal |series=History of U.S. Marine Corps Operations in World War II, Volume I |author=Hough, Col Frank O. (USMCR); Ludwig, Maj Verle E. (USMC), and Henry I. Shaw, Jr. |publisher= Historical Branch, HQMC, United States Marine Corps}}</ref><ref name=USMC-WW2-IV-II-1>{{cite book |accessdate=3 August 2008|url=http://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/USMC/IV/USMC-IV-II-1.html |chapter=Part II, Chapter 1: The Development of FMFPac |title=Western Pacific Operations |year=1971 |author=Garand, George W. and Truman R. Strobridge |series=History of U.S. Marine Corps Operation in World War II, Volume IV |publisher=Historical Branch, HQMC, United States Marine Corps}}</ref><ref name=USMC-WW2-V-VI-1>{{cite book |accessdate=3 August 2008 |url=http://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/USMC/V/USMC-V-VI-1.html |year=1968 |chapter=Part VI, Chapter 1: Amphibious Doctrine in World War II |title=Victory and Occupation |author=Frank, Benis M and Henry I. Saw, Jr. |series=History of U.S. Marine Corps Operations in World War II, Volume V |publisher=Historical Branch, HQMC, United States Marine Corps}}</ref> Its ability to respond rapidly to regional crises gives it a strong role in the implementation and execution of American foreign policy.<ref name="forwardfromthesea">{{cite paper | author = John H. Dalton, Secretary of the Navy; [[Jeremy Michael Boorda|Adm. J. M. Boorda]], Chief of Naval Operations; [[Carl Epting Mundy, Jr.|General Carl E Mundy]], Commandant, U.S. Marine Corps | title = Forward...From the Sea | version = | publisher = Department of the Navy | date = 11 November 1994 }}</ref> The United States Marine Corps includes just over 203,000 (as of October 2009) active duty Marines<ref name="MCT 203k 10/2009" /><ref name=DoD_ms0.pdf/> and just under 40,000 [[Marine Forces Reserve|reserve Marines]].<ref name=ConMar_2009Almanac> The [[Selected Marine Corps Reserve]] has approximately 39,600 Marines; the [[Individual Ready Reserve]] has approximately 60,000 Marines. {{cite web|accessdate=26 February 2009 |url=http://www.mfr.usmc.mil/MFRNews/ConMar/Almanac09.pdf |title=Reserve Force Figures |work=The Continental Marine Magazine - Almanac 209 |format=PDF |publisher=Marine Forces Reserve|pages=9|year=2009}}</ref> It is the smallest of the United States' armed forces in the [[United States Department of Defense|Department of Defense]] (the [[United States Coast Guard]] is smaller, about one-fifth the size of the Marine Corps, but is normally under the [[United States Department of Homeland Security|Department of Homeland Security]]). The Marine Corps is nonetheless larger than the entire armed forces of many significant military powers; for example, it is larger than the active duty [[Israel Defense Forces]] or the whole of the [[British Army]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Israeli Defense Forces, CSIS |page=12 |date=25 July 2006 |url=http://www.csis.org/media/csis/pubs/050323_memilbaldefine%5B1%5D.pdf |format=PDF }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=United States Armed Forces, DOD |date=25 July 2006 |publisher=DOD |url=http://siadapp.dior.whs.mil/personnel/MILITARY/ms0.pdf |format=PDF }}</ref> The Marine Corps accounts for around six percent of the [[Military budget of the United States]]. The cost per Marine is $20,000 less than the cost of a serviceman from the other services, and the entire force can be used for both hybrid and major combat operations,<ref>{{cite web|author=Samantha L. Quigley |url=http://www.defense.gov/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=54372| title=Marine Corps Ready for Review’s Scrutiny, Commandant Says |publisher=defense.gov |date= |accessdate=2009-12-09}}</ref> that is, the Marines cover the entire [[Three Block War]]. ==Mission== The United States Marine Corps serves as an amphibious force-in-readiness. As outlined in {{USC|10|5063}} and as originally introduced under the [[National Security Act of 1947]], it has three primary areas of responsibility: * "The seizure or defense of advanced naval bases and other land operations to support [[naval warfare|naval campaigns]]; * The development of tactics, technique, and equipment used by [[Amphibious warfare|amphibious landing]] forces; and * Such other duties as the [[President of the United States|President]] may direct." This last clause, while seemingly redundant given the president's position as [[Commander-in-chief]], is a codification of the [[Expeditionary warfare|expeditionary]] duties of the Marine Corps. It derives from similar language in the [[United States Congress|Congressional]] acts ''"For the Better Organization of the Marine Corps"'' of 1834, and ''"Establishing and Organizing a Marine Corps"'' of 1798. In 1951, the [[United States House of Representatives|House of Representatives']] [[United States House Committee on Armed Services|Armed Services Committee]] called the clause "one of the most important statutory — and traditional — functions of the Marine Corps." It noted that the corps has more often than not performed actions of a non-naval nature, including its famous actions in the [[War of 1812]], at [[First Barbary War|Tripoli]], [[Battle of Chapultepec|Chapultepec]], numerous [[counter-insurgency]] and occupational duties (such as those in Central America), [[World War I]], and the [[Korean War]]. While these actions are not accurately described as support of naval campaigns nor as amphibious warfare, their common thread is that they are of an expeditionary nature, using the mobility of the Navy to provide timely intervention in foreign affairs on behalf of American interests.<ref name="Estes">{{cite book | last = Estes | first = Kenneth W. | title = The Marine Officer's Guide, 6th Edition | publisher = Naval Institute Press | year = 2000 | location = | isbn = 1-55750-567-5 }}</ref> In addition to its primary duties, the Marine Corps has missions in direct support of the [[White House]] and the [[United States Department of State|State Department]]. The [[United States Marine Band|Marine Band]], dubbed the "President's Own" by [[Thomas Jefferson]], provides music for state functions at the White House. Marines guard presidential retreats, including [[Camp David]],<ref name="GlobalSecurity-8thandI">{{cite web | title = Marine Barracks, Washington, DC | work = | publisher = [[GlobalSecurity.org]] | date = | url = http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/facility/marine-barracks.htm | accessdate = }}</ref> and the Marines of the Executive Flight Detachment of [[HMX-1]] provide helicopter transport to the President and [[Vice President of the United States|Vice President]], using the call signs "[[Marine One]]" and "Marine Two" respectively. By authority of the 1946 Foreign Service Act, the [[Marine Corps Security Guard|Marine security guards]] of the Marine Embassy Security Command provide security for American [[diplomatic mission|embassies]], [[legation]]s, and [[Consul (representative)|consulates]] at more than 140 posts worldwide.<ref name="GlobalSecurity-MSG">{{cite web | title = Marine Security Guard Battalion | work = | publisher = [[GlobalSecurity.org]] | date = | url = http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/agency/usmc/msgbn.htm | accessdate = }}</ref> ===Historical mission=== The Marine Corps was founded to serve as an infantry unit aboard naval vessels and was responsible for the security of the ship and its crew by conducting offensive and defensive combat during [[Boarding (attack)|boarding actions]] and defending the ship's officers from [[mutiny]]; to the latter end, their quarters on ship were often strategically positioned between the officers' quarters and the rest of the vessel. Continental Marines also manned raiding parties, both at sea and ashore. America's first amphibious assault landing occurred early in the [[American Revolutionary War|Revolutionary War]] as the Marines gained control of a [[British Empire|British]] ammunition depot and naval port in [[New Providence]], [[Bahamas]]. The role of the Marine Corps has since expanded significantly; as the importance of its original naval mission declined with changing naval warfare doctrine and the professionalization of the Naval service, the corps adapted by focusing on what were formerly secondary missions ashore. The Advanced Base Doctrine of the early 20th century codified their combat duties ashore, outlining the use of Marines in the seizure of bases and other duties on land to support naval campaigns. Throughout the late nineteenth and twentieth centuries, Marine detachments served aboard Navy cruisers, battleships and carriers. Marine detachments (generally one platoon per cruiser, a company for battleships or carriers) served their traditional duties as ship's landing force, manning the ship's weapons and providing shipboard security. Marine detachments were also augmented by members of the ship's company for landing parties, especially in the Caribbean and Mexico campaigns of the early 20th centuries. Marines would also develop tactics and techniques of amphibious assault on defended coastlines in time for use in [[World War II]].<ref name="Lawliss">{{cite book | last = Lawliss | first = Chuck | authorlink = | coauthors = | title = The Marine Book: A Portrait of America's Military Elite | publisher = Thames and Hudson | year = 1988 | location = New York | id = }}</ref> During World War II, Marines continued to serve on capital ships. They often were assigned to man anti-aircraft batteries. When gun cruisers were retired by the 1960s, the remaining Marine detachments were only seen on battleships and carriers. Its original mission of providing shipboard security finally ended in the 1990s when nuclear weapons were withdrawn from active deployment and the battleships were retired. ===Capabilities=== [[File:13th MEU disembarking Bright Star 2005.jpg|thumb|alt=color photo of two columns of Marines wade through waist deep water disembarking from a landing craft onto a beach|Marines from the [[13th Marine Expeditionary Unit]]]] The Marine Corps fulfills a vital role in national security as an amphibious, expeditionary, air-ground combined arms task force, capable of forcible entry from the air, land and sea. While the Marine Corps does not employ any unique combat arms, as a force it has the unique ability to rapidly deploy a combined-arms task force to almost anywhere in the world within days. The basic structure for all deployed units is a [[Marine Air-Ground Task Force]] (MAGTF) that integrates a [[ground combat element]], an [[aviation combat element]] and a [[logistics combat element]] combat component under a common [[Command element (United States Marine Corps)|command element]]. While the creation of joint commands under the [[Goldwater-Nichols Act]] has improved inter-service coordination between each branch, the Corps' ability to permanently maintain integrated multi-element task forces under a single command provides a smoother implementation of combined-arms warfare principles.<ref name="Warren" /> The close integration of disparate Marine units stems from an organizational culture centered around the infantry. Every other Marine capability exists to support the infantry. Unlike some Western militaries, the corps remained conservative against theories proclaiming the ability of new weapons to win wars independently. For example, [[United States Marine Corps Aviation|Marine aviation]] has always been focused on [[close air support]] and has remained largely uninfluenced by air power theories proclaiming that [[strategic bombing]] can single-handedly win wars.<ref name="Lawliss" /> This focus on the infantry is matched with the doctrine that "Every Marine is a rifleman", a focus of Commandant [[Alfred M. Gray, Jr.]], emphasizing the infantry combat abilities of every Marine. All enlisted Marines, regardless of military specialization, receive training as a [[rifleman]]; all officers receive training as infantry platoon commanders.<ref>{{cite web | last = Milks | first = Keith A. | title = Ensuring 'Every Marine a Rifleman' is more than just a catch phrase | work = Marine Corps News | publisher = 22 MEU, USMC | date = 8 May 2003 | url = http://www.usmc.mil/marinelink/mcn2000.nsf/0/b5ac3322e236c38985256feb00492f93?OpenDocument | archiveurl = http://web.archive.org/web/20071224075658/http://www.usmc.mil/marinelink/mcn2000.nsf/0/b5ac3322e236c38985256feb00492f93?OpenDocument | archivedate=24 December 2007 | id = Story ID # 20071230234422 | accessdate = 3 August 2008}}</ref> Marines have demonstrated the value of this culture many times throughout history. For example, at [[Battle of Wake Island|Wake Island]], when all of the Marine aircraft were shot down, pilots continued the fight as ground officers, leading supply clerks and cooks in a final defensive effort.<ref name="Heinl">{{cite paper | author = Lieutenant Colonel R.D. Heinl, Jr., USMC | title = Marines in WWII Historical Monograph: The Defense of Wake | version = | publisher = Historical Section, Division of Public Information, Headquarters, USMC | year = 1947 | url = http://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/USMC/USMC-M-Wake.html | accessdate = }}</ref> As a result, a large degree of initiative and autonomy is expected of junior Marines, particularly the [[non-commissioned officer|NCOs]] ([[corporal]]s and [[sergeant]]s), as compared with many other military organizations. The Marine Corps emphasizes authority and responsibility downward to a greater degree than the other military services. Flexibility of execution is implemented via an emphasis on "commander's intent" as a guiding principle for carrying out orders; specifying the end state but leaving open the method of execution.<ref name="Lind">{{cite book | last = Lind | first = William S. | authorlink = William S. Lind | coauthors = Col. [[Michael Wyly]] | title = Maneuver Warfare Handbook | publisher = Westview Press | year = 1985 | location = Boulder, Colorado | url = | isbn = 0-86531-862-X }}</ref> The amphibious assault techniques developed for World War II evolved, with the addition of [[air assault]] and [[maneuver warfare]] doctrine, into the current "''Operational Maneuver from the Sea''" doctrine of power projection from the seas.<ref name="OMFTS" /> The Marines are credited with the development of helicopter insertion doctrine and were the earliest in the American military to widely adopt maneuver-warfare principles which emphasize low-level initiative and flexible execution.{{Citation needed|date=January 2010}} The Marine Corps relies on the Navy for [[sealift]] to provide its rapid deployment capabilities. In addition to basing a third of the [[Marine Corps Operating Forces]] in Japan, [[Marine Expeditionary Unit]]s (MEU) are typically stationed at sea. This allows the ability to function as first responders to international incidents. The [[United States Army]] now maintains [[light infantry]] units capable of rapid worldwide deployment, but those units do not match the combined-arms integration of a MAGTF and lack the logistics that the Navy provides.<ref name="Warren" /> For this reason, the Marine Corps is often assigned to non-combat missions such as the evacuation of Americans from unstable countries and providing [[humanitarian aid|humanitarian relief]] during natural disasters. In larger conflicts, Marines act as a stopgap, to get into and hold an area until larger units can be mobilized. The corps performed this role in [[World War I]] and the [[Korean War]], where Marines were the first significant combat units deployed from the United States and held the line until the country could mobilize for war.<ref name="ChenowethNihart">{{cite book | last = Chenoweth, USMCR (Ret.) | first = Colonel H. Avery | authorlink = | coauthors = Colonel Brooke Nihart, USMC (ret) | title = Semper fi: The Definitive Illustrated History of the U.S. Marines | publisher = Main Street | year = 2005 | location = New York | url = | doi = | isbn = 1-4027-3099-3}}</ref> To aid rapid deployment, the [[Military Sealift Command#Prepositioning Program|Maritime Pre-Positioning System]] was developed: fleets of [[container ship]]s are positioned throughout the world with enough equipment and supplies for a [[Marine Expeditionary Force]] to deploy for 30 days. ===Doctrine=== Two small manuals published during the 1930s would establish USMC doctrine in two areas. The [[Small Wars Manual]] laid the framework for Marine [[counter-insurgency]] operations from Vietnam to Iraq and Afghanistan while the [[Amphibious warfare (United States)|Tentative Landing Operations Manual]] established the doctrine for the amphibious operations of World War II. ==History== {{Main|History of the United States Marine Corps}} <!--This is a summary meant as an overview for general audiences. Please keep concise. Additions should be made to the main article linked above.--> ===Origins=== [[File:Battle of Nassau.jpg|thumb|alt=Painting of Continental Marines landing on a tropical beach from rowboats, with two ships in the background|[[Continental Marines]] land at [[New Providence]] during the [[Battle of Nassau]].]] The United States Marine Corps traces its institutional roots to the [[Continental Marines]] of the [[American Revolutionary War]], formed by Captain [[Samuel Nicholas]] at [[Tun Tavern]] in [[Philadelphia]], by a resolution of the [[Second Continental Congress]] on 10 November 1775, to raise 2 [[battalion]]s of Marines. That date is regarded and celebrated as the date of the Marine Corps' "[[United States Marine Corps birthday ball|birthday]]". At the end of the American Revolution, both the [[Continental Navy]] and Continental Marines were disbanded in April 1783. The institution itself would not be resurrected until 1798. In that year, in preparation for the [[Quasi-War]] with [[First French Republic|France]], Congress created the United States Marine Corps.<ref>{{cite web | author = U.S. Congress | authorlink = Congress of the United States | title = An Act for Establishing and Organizing a Marine Corps | date = 11 July 1798 | url = http://www.patriotfiles.com/index.php?name=Sections&req=viewarticle&artid=7833&page=1 | accessdate = }}</ref> Marines had been enlisted by the War Department as early as August 1797<ref>{{cite web | author = Captain John Barry | authorlink = US Frigate United States | title = Muster Roll of Officers, Petty Officers, Seamen, and Marines, on the Frigate United States | date = 9 February 1798 | url = http://wardepartmentpapers.org/document.php?id=25096 | accessdate = 16 May 2009 }}</ref> for service in the new build frigates authorized by Congress. The "Act to provide a Naval Armament" of March 18, 1794<ref>{{cite web | author = U.S. Congress | authorlink = Congress of the United States | title = Act to provide a Naval Armament | date = 18 March, 1794 | location = NARA | url = http://www.archives.gov/education/lessons/new-us-navy/act-draft.html | accessdate = 16 May 2009}}</ref> authorizing them had specified the numbers of Marines to be recruited for each frigate. The Marines' most famous action of this period occurred during the [[First Barbary War]] (1801&ndash;1805) against the [[Barbary pirate]]s,<ref>Richard Leiby, [http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn?pagename=article&node=&contentId=A59720-2001Oct14 Terrorists by Another Name: The Barbary Pirates], [[The Washington Post]], 15 October 2001</ref> when [[William Eaton (soldier)|William Eaton]] and First Lieutenant [[Presley O'Bannon]] led eight Marines and 500 [[mercenary|mercenaries]] in an effort to capture [[Tripoli]]. Though they only reached [[Battle of Derne|Derna]], the action at Tripoli has been immortalized in the [[Marines' hymn]] and the [[Mameluke Sword]] carried by Marine officers.<ref name="Simmons">{{cite book | last = Simmons | first = Edwin H. | authorlink = | title = The United States Marines: A History, Fourth Edition | publisher = Naval Institute Press | year = 2003 | location = Annapolis, Maryland | doi = | isbn = 1-59114-790-5 }}</ref> During the [[War of 1812]], Marine naval detachments took part in the great [[frigate]] duels that characterized the war, which were the first American victories in the conflict. Their most significant contributions were delaying the British march to [[Washington, D.C.]] at the [[Battle of Bladensburg]] and holding the center of Gen. [[Andrew Jackson]]'s defensive line at the [[Battle of New Orleans|defense of New Orleans]]. By the end of the war, the Marines had acquired a well-deserved reputation as expert [[marksman|marksmen]], especially in ship-to-ship actions.<ref name="Simmons" /> After the war, the Marine Corps fell into a depression that ended with the appointment of [[Archibald Henderson]] as its fifth commandant in 1820. Under his tenure, the Corps took on expeditionary duties in the [[Caribbean]], the [[Gulf of Mexico]], [[Key West, Florida|Key West]], [[West Africa]], the [[Falkland Islands]], and [[Sumatra]]. Commandant Henderson is credited with thwarting [[President of the United States|President]] Jackson's attempts to combine and integrate the Marine Corps with the Army.<ref name="Simmons" /> Instead, [[United States Congress|Congress]] passed the ''Act for the Better Organization of the Marine Corps'' in 1834, stipulating that the Corps was part of the [[United States Department of the Navy|Department of the Navy]] as a sister service to the Navy.<ref>{{cite web | author = U.S. Congress | authorlink = Congress of the United States | title = An Act for the Better Organization of the United States Marine Corps | date = 30 June 1834 | location = | url = http://www.tecom.usmc.mil/hd/Docs_Speeches/Establishingamarinecorps.htm | accessdate =3 August 2008}}</ref> This would be the first of many times that the existence of the Corps was challenged. [[File:Storming of Chapultepec.jpg|thumb|left|alt=color painting of American soldiers and Marines attacking Chapultepec castle|James Walker, [[Battle of Chapultepec|''Storming of Chapultepec'']], 1847]] Commandant Henderson volunteered the Marines for service in the [[Seminole Wars]] of 1835, personally leading nearly half of the entire Corps (two battalions) to war. A decade later, in the [[Mexican–American War]] (1846–1848), the Marines made their famed [[Battle of Chapultepec|assault on Chapultepec Palace]] in Mexico City, which would be later celebrated by the phrase "From The Halls of Montezuma" in Marines' hymn. In the 1850s, the Marines would see further service in [[Panama]] and Asia, escorting [[Matthew Calbraith Perry|Matthew Perry's]] [[East India Squadron]] on its historic trip to the Far East.<ref name="Moskin">{{cite book | last = Moskin | first = J. Robert | title = The U.S. Marine Corps Story | publisher = McGraw-Hill | year = 1987 | location = New York | doi = | id = }}</ref> With their vast service in foreign engagements, the Marine Corps played a moderate role in the [[American Civil War|Civil War]] (1861–1865); their most prominent task was [[blockade]] duty. As more and more states [[Ordinance of Secession|seceded]] from the [[Union (American Civil War)|Union]], about half of the Corps' officers also left the Union to join the [[Confederate States of America|Confederacy]] and form the [[Confederate States Marine Corps]], which ultimately played little part in the war. The battalion of recruits formed for the [[First Battle of Bull Run]] (First Manassas) performed poorly, retreating with the rest of the Union forces.<ref name="ChenowethNihart" /> [[File:Marines01.jpg|thumb|alt=black & white photograph of six Marines staning in line, five with Civil-War era rifles and one with an NCO sword|Five Marines with fixed [[bayonet]]s, and their NCO with his sword at the [[Washington Navy Yard]], 1864]] ===Interim: Civil War to World War I=== The remainder of the 19th century was marked by declining strength and introspection about the mission of the Marine Corps. The Navy's transition from [[sailing ship|sail]] to [[steamboat|steam]] put into question the need for Marines on naval ships. Meanwhile, Marines served as a convenient resource for interventions and landings to protect American lives and interests overseas. The Corps was involved in over 28 separate interventions in the 30 years from the end of the American Civil War to the end of 19th century. They would also be called upon to stem political and labor unrest within the United States.<ref name="Ellsworth">{{cite book | last = Ellsworth | first = Harry Allanson | authorlink = | coauthors = | title = One Hundred Eighty Landings of United States Marines 1800–1934 | publisher = History and Museums Division, HQ, USMC | year = 1934 | location = Washington, D.C. | url = | doi = | id = }}</ref> Under Commandant [[Jacob Zeilin]]'s tenure, Marine customs and traditions took shape: the Corps adopted the [[Eagle, Globe, and Anchor|Marine Corps emblem]] on 19 November 1868. It was also during this time that "[[Marines' hymn|The Marines' Hymn]]" was first heard. Around 1883, the Marines adopted their current motto "''[[Semper Fidelis]]''" ({{lang-en|Always Faithful}}).<ref name="Simmons" /> [[John Philip Sousa]], the musician and composer, enlisted as a Marine apprentice at the age of 13, serving from 1867 until 1872, and again from 1880 to 1892 as the leader of the [[United States Marine Band|Marine Band]]. During the [[Spanish–American War]] (1898), Marines led American forces ashore in the [[Philippines]], [[Cuba]], and [[Puerto Rico]], demonstrating their readiness for deployment. At [[Guantánamo Bay|Guantánamo Bay, Cuba]], the Marines seized an [[Guantanamo Bay Naval Base|advanced naval base]] that remains in use today. Between 1899 and 1916, the Corps continued its record of vigorous participation in foreign expeditions, including the [[Philippine–American War]], the [[Boxer Rebellion]] in China (1899–1901), [[Panama]], the Cuban Pacifications, the [[Ion Perdicaris|Perdicaris Incident]] in [[Morocco]], [[Veracruz]], [[Santo Domingo]], and the [[Banana Wars]] in [[United States occupation of Haiti|Haiti]] and [[United States occupation of Nicaragua|Nicaragua]]; the experiences gained in [[counter-insurgency]] and guerrilla operations during this period were consolidated into the ''[[Small Wars Manual]]''.<ref>{{cite paper | author = | title = Report on Marine Corps Duplication of Effort between Army and Navy | version = | publisher = U.S. Marine Corps. | date = 17 December 1932 | url = | accessdate = }}Contains a very detailed account of almost all the actions of the Continental Marines and USMC until 1932. It is available in scanned TIFF format from the archives of the Marine Corps University.</ref> ===World War I=== [[File:Scott Belleau Wood.jpg|thumb|left|alt=monochromatic artwork of Marines fighting Germans in a forest|Georges Scott, [[Battle of Belleau Wood|''American Marines in Belleau Wood'']], 1918]] During [[World War I]] veteran Marines served a central role in the late American entry into the conflict. Unlike the Army, the Marine Corps had a deep pool of officers and NCOs with battle experience, and experienced a smaller expansion. Here, the Marines fought their famed battle at [[Battle of Belleau Wood|Belleau Wood]], creating the Marines' reputation in modern history. While its previous expeditionary experiences had not earned it much acclaim in the Western world, the Marines' ferocity and toughness in France earned them the respect of the Germans, who rated them of [[stormtrooper]] quality. Though Marines and American media reported that Germans had nicknamed them ''<!--Do not use a spell checker here-->Teufel Hunden<!--Look at the hyperlink, before correcting the word, it is supposed to be misspelled--->'' as meaning "[[Devil Dog]]s", there is no evidence of this in German records (as ''Teufelshunde'' would be the proper German phrase), it was possibly American [[propaganda]]. Nevertheless, the name stuck.<ref>{{cite web | last = Flippo | first = Hyde | authorlink = | coauthors = | title = The ''devil dog'' legend | work = | publisher = [[About.com]] | date = | url = http://german.about.com/od/culture/a/germyth13.htm | doi = | accessdate = }}</ref> The Corps had entered the war with 511 officers and 13,214 enlisted personnel, and by 11 November 1918 had reached a strength of 2,400 officers and 70,000 men.<ref>{{cite web | last = | first = | authorlink = | coauthors = | title = History of Marine Corps Aviation — World War One | work = | publisher = AcePilots.com | date = | url = http://www.acepilots.com/usmc/hist2.html | doi = | accessdate = }}</ref> Between the World Wars, the Marine Corps was headed by Commandant [[John A. Lejeune]], and under his leadership, the Corps presciently studied and developed amphibious techniques that would be of great use in World War II. Many officers, including Lt. Col. [[Earl Hancock Ellis|Earl Hancock "Pete" Ellis]], foresaw a war in the Pacific with [[Empire of Japan|Japan]] and took preparations for such a conflict. Through 1941, as the prospect of war grew, the Corps pushed urgently for joint amphibious exercises and acquired amphibious equipment that would prove of great use in the upcoming conflict.<ref name="Ballendorf">{{cite book | last = Ballendorf | first = Dirk Anthony | authorlink = | coauthors = | title = Pete Ellis: an amphibious warfare prophet, 1880–1923 | publisher = Naval Institute Press | year = 1997 | location = Annapolis, Md. | url = | doi = | id = }}</ref> [[File:USMC War Memorial Night.jpg|thumb|alt=color photo of the War Memorial, a bronze statue of six men planting a flagpole with an American Flag into the ground|[[USMC War Memorial]], modeled on Joe Rosenthal's famous [[Raising the Flag on Iwo Jima|photograph of the flag raising at Iwo Jima]] ]] ===World War II=== In [[World War II]], the Marines played a central role in the [[Pacific War]]. The battles of [[Battle of Guadalcanal|Guadalcanal]], [[Bougainville Campaign|Bougainville]], [[Battle of Tarawa|Tarawa]], [[Battle of Guam|Guam]], [[Battle of Tinian|Tinian]], [[Battle of Saipan|Saipan]], [[Battle of Peleliu|Peleliu]], [[Battle of Iwo Jima|Iwo Jima]], and [[Battle of Okinawa|Okinawa]] saw fierce fighting between Marines and the [[Imperial Japanese Army]]. [[Philip Johnston (code talker)|Philip Johnston]] proposed the use of [[Navajo language|Navajo]] as a [[Code talker#Use of Navajo|code language]] to the Corps. The idea was accepted, and the Navajo code was formally developed and modeled on the [[Joint Army/Navy Phonetic Alphabet]]. During the battle of Iwo Jima, photographer [[Joe Rosenthal]] took the famous photograph ''[[Raising the Flag on Iwo Jima]]'' of five Marines and one Navy [[Hospital Corpsman|Corpsman]] raising the [[Flag of the United States|American flag]] on [[Iwo Jima|Mt. Suribachi]]. [[United States Secretary of the Navy|Secretary of the Navy]] [[James Forrestal]], having come ashore earlier that day, said of the flag raising, "...the raising of that flag on Suribachi means a Marine Corps for the next five hundred years." The acts of the Marines during the war added to their already significant popular reputation. By war's end, the Corps expanded from two [[brigade]]s to six [[division (military)|divisions]], five [[wing (air force unit)|air wings]], and supporting troops, totaling about 485,000 Marines. In addition, 20 [[Marine defense battalions|defense battalions]] and a [[paramarines|parachute battalion]] were set raised.<ref>{{cite web|title=Marines in World War II Commemorative Series|publisher=Marine Corps Historical Center|url= http://www.nps.gov/archive/wapa/indepth/extContent/usmc/index.htm|accessdate=17 January 2008}}</ref> Nearly 87,000 Marines were casualties during World War II (including nearly 20,000 killed), and 82 were awarded the [[Medal of Honor]].<ref>{{cite web| title = Marine Corps History|publisher = [[GlobalSecurity.org]]| url = http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/agency/usmc/history.htm|accessdate=17 January 2008}}</ref> Despite Secretary Forrestal's prediction, the Corps faced an immediate institutional crisis following the war due to the low budget. Army generals pushing for a strengthened and reorganized defense establishment also attempted to fold the Marine mission and assets into the Navy and Army. Drawing on hastily assembled Congressional support, the Marine Corps rebuffed such efforts to dismantle the Corps, resulting in statutory protection of the Marine Corps in the [[National Security Act of 1947]].<ref name="Krulak">{{cite book |last = Krulak | first = Victor H. | authorlink = Victor H. Krulak | coauthors = | title = First To Fight: An Inside View of the U.S. Marine Corps | publisher = Naval Institute Press | year = 1984 | location = Annapolis, Maryland | url = | doi = | isbn = 0-87021-785-2}} Chapter 7, ''The Marines' Push Button'' 113–119 </ref> Shortly afterward, in 1952 the [[Douglas-Mansfield Bill]] afforded the Commandant an equal voice with the [[Joint Chiefs of Staff]] on matters relating to the Marines and established the structure of [[List of United States Marine Corps divisions|three active divisions]] and [[List of United States Marine Corps aircraft wings|air wings]] that remain today. ===Korean War=== [[File:Lopez scaling seawall.jpg|thumb|left|upright|alt=black & white photo of Marines using ladders to scale a seawall|Marine lieutenant [[Baldomero Lopez]] scaling the seawall at [[Battle of Inchon|Inchon]], September 1950]] The [[Korean War]] (1950–1953) saw the hastily formed [[1st Provisional Marine Brigade|Provisional Marine Brigade]] holding the defensive line at the [[Pusan Perimeter]]. To execute a [[flanking maneuver]], General [[Douglas MacArthur]] called on Marine air and ground forces to make an amphibious landing at [[Battle of Inchon|Inchon]]. The successful landing resulted in the collapse of [[North Korea]]n lines and the pursuit of North Korean forces north near the [[Yalu River]] until the entrance of the [[People's Republic of China]] into the war. Chinese troops surrounded, surprised and overwhelmed the overextended and outnumbered American forces. X Corps, which included the [[1st Marine Division (United States)|1st Marine Division]] and the Army's 7th Infantry Division, regrouped and inflicted heavy casualties during their fighting withdrawal to the coast, now known as the [[Battle of Chosin Reservoir]]. Marines would continue a battle of attrition around the [[38th parallel north|38th Parallel]] until the 1953 armistice.<ref name="Fehrenbach">{{cite book | last = Fehrenbach | first = T.R. | authorlink = | coauthors = | title = This Kind of War: The Classic Korean War History | publisher = Brassey's | year = 1994 | location = | url = | doi = | isbn = 1-57488-259-7 }}</ref> The Korean War saw the Corps expand from 75,000 regulars to a force of 261,000 Marines, mostly reservists. 30,544 Marines were killed or wounded during the war and 42 were awarded the Medal of Honor.<ref>{{cite web | last = | first = | authorlink = | coauthors = | title = Fast Facts on the Korean War | work = | publisher = History Division, U.S. Marine Corps | date = | url = http://hqinet001.hqmc.usmc.mil/HD/Special_Interests/KWC/Fast_Facts.htm | archiveurl = http://web.archive.org/web/20070806010111/http://hqinet001.hqmc.usmc.mil/HD/Special_Interests/KWC/Fast_Facts.htm | archivedate=6 August 2007 | doi = | accessdate = 3 August 2008}}</ref> [[File:Dong Ha, Vietnam Operation Hastings.jpg|thumb|alt=black & white photo Marines of Company H, 2nd Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment wading through a waist deep river in a jungle|[[Operation Hastings]]: Marines on patrol near [[Cam Lo]], 1966]] ===Vietnam War=== The Marine Corps served an important role in the [[Vietnam War]] taking part in such battles as [[Da Nang]], [[Battle of Hue|Hue City]], [[Con Thien]] and [[Battle of Khe Sanh|Khe Sanh]]. Individuals from the USMC operated in the Northern I Corps Regions of [[South Vietnam]]. While there, they were constantly engaged in a [[guerrilla warfare|guerrilla war]] against the [[National Front for the Liberation of South Vietnam]] (NLF) and an intermittent conventional war against the [[Vietnam People's Army|North Vietnamese Army]] (NVA). Portions of the Corps were responsible for the less-known [[Combined Action Program]] (CAP) that implemented unconventional techniques for [[counter-insurgency]] and worked as military advisors to the [[Republic of Vietnam Marine Corps]]. Marines were withdrawn in 1971, and returned briefly in 1975 to evacuate [[Ho Chi Minh City|Saigon]] and attempt a rescue of the crew of the [[Mayagüez incident|Mayagüez]].<ref name="Millet">{{cite book | last = Millet | first = Alan R. | title = Semper Fidelis: The History of the United States Marine Corps | publisher = Macmillan | year = 1991 | location = New York | doi = | id = }}</ref> Vietnam was the longest war for Marines; by its end, 13,091<ref>[http://www.history.navy.mil/faqs/faq56-1.htm Casualties: U.S. Navy and Marine Corps], history.navy.mil.</ref><ref name=CasualtiesTheWall>Official Navy figures number the Marine deaths at 13,091. This source provides a number of 14,837. {{cite web |url=http://www.thewall-usa.com/summary.asp |date=31 March 1997 |title=U.S. Military Casualties in Southeast Asia |publisher=The Wall-USA}}</ref> had been killed in action, 51,392 had been wounded, and 57 Medals of Honor had been awarded.<ref name=CasualtiesUSN> {{cite web|url=http://www.history.navy.mil/faqs/faq56-1.htm |title=Casualties: U. S. Navy and Marine Corps Personnel Killed and Wounded in Wars, Conflicts, Terrorist Acts, and Other Hostile Incidents |date=7 August 2006 |publisher=Naval Historical Center, Department of the Navy }}</ref><ref name=USMC-MOH> {{cite web|url=http://hqinet001.hqmc.usmc.mil/HD/Historical/Frequently_Requested/Medal_of_Honor.htm|archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20070806030250/http://hqinet001.hqmc.usmc.mil/HD/Historical/Frequently_Requested/Medal_of_Honor.htm|archivedate=6 August 2007 |title= Marines Awarded the Medal of Honor |publisher=United States Marine Corps }}</ref> Due to policies concerning rotation, more Marines were deployed for service during Vietnam than World War II.<ref>Simmons, 247. Roughly 800,000 Marines served in Vietnam, as opposed to 600,000 in World War II.</ref> While recovering from Vietnam, the Corps hit a detrimental low point in its service history caused by [[court-martial|courts-martial]] and Non-Judicial Punishments related partially to increased [[desertion|Unauthorized Absences and Desertions]] during the war. Overhauling of the Corps began in the late 1970s, discharging the most delinquent, and once quality of new recruits improved, the Corps focused on reforming the NCO Corps, a vital functioning part of its forces.<ref name="Warren" /> ===Interim: Vietnam to the War on Terror=== After Vietnam, the Marines resumed their expeditionary role, participating in the 1980 Iran hostage rescue attempt [[Operation Eagle Claw]], the [[invasion of Grenada]] (Operation Urgent Fury) and the [[United States invasion of Panama|invasion of Panama]] (Operation Just Cause). On 23 October 1983, the Marine headquarters building in [[Beirut]], [[Lebanon]], was [[1983 Beirut barracks bombing|bombed]], causing the highest peacetime losses to the Corps in its history (220 Marines and 21 other service members of the [[24th Marine Expeditionary Unit]] were killed) and leading to the American withdrawal from the country. The year of 1990 saw Marines of the Joint Task Force Sharp Edge save thousands of lives by evacuating British, French and American nationals from the violence of the [[First Liberian Civil War|Liberian Civil War]]. During the [[Gulf War|Persian Gulf War]] (1990–1991), Marine task forces formed the initial core for Operation Desert Shield, while United States and Coalition troops mobilized, and later liberated [[Kuwait]] in Operation Desert Storm.<ref name="Simmons" /> Marines participated in combat operations in [[Somalia]] (1992–1995) during Operations [[Operation Restore Hope|Restore Hope]], Restore Hope II, and [[Operation United Shield|United Shield]] to provide humanitarian relief.<ref>{{cite web | last = | first = | authorlink = | coauthors = | title = The preannounced landing of U.S. Marines was witnessed by millions of U.S. primetime television viewers | work = United States Naval Aviation, 1910–1995 | publisher = U.S. Navy | date = | url = http://www.history.navy.mil/avh-1910/PART12.PDF | format = PDF | doi = | accessdate = }} (PDF file, see 1992, 9 December, p. 16.</ref> ===Global War on Terrorism=== [[File:Marines in Saddams palace DM-SD-04-12222.jpg|thumb|left|alt=color photo of three Marines entering a partially destroyed palace|Marines from [[1st Battalion 7th Marines]] enter a palace in [[Baghdad]].]] Following the [[11 September 2001 attacks]] President [[George W. Bush]] announced the [[War on Terrorism]]. The stated objective of the Global War on Terror is "the defeat of [[Al-Qaeda]], other [[terrorism|terrorist]] groups and any nation that supports or harbors terrorists".<ref name=WhiteHouse>{{cite web |accessdate=3 August 2008 |url=http://georgewbush-whitehouse.archives.gov/news/releases/2001/09/print/20010920-8.html |title=Address to Congress |publisher=whitehouse}}</ref> Since then, the Marine Corps, alongside other military and federal agencies, has engaged in global operations around the world in support of that mission. ====Operation Enduring Freedom==== Marines and other American forces began staging in [[Pakistan]] and [[Uzbekistan]] on the border of [[Afghanistan]] as early as October 2001 in preparation for [[Operation Enduring Freedom]].<ref name=CNN>{{cite web |accessdate=27 April 2007 |url=http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0110/07/sm.06.html |title=CNN Transcript |publisher=CNN}}</ref> The [[15th Marine Expeditionary Unit|15th]] and [[26th Marine Expeditionary Unit]]s were the first conventional forces into Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom in November 2001, and in December, the Marines seized [[Kandahar International Airport]].<ref name=IHT>{{cite web |accessdate=3 August 2008 |url=http://www.iht.com/articles/2001/11/27/a1_46.php |title=Marines land in Afghanistan |publisher=International Herald Tribune}}</ref> Since then, Marine battalions and squadrons have been rotating through, engaging [[Taliban]] and [[Al-Qaeda]] forces. Marines of the [[24th Marine Expeditionary Unit]] flooded into the Taliban-held town of [[Battle of Garmsir|Garmsir]] on April 29, 2008, in [[Helmand province]], in the first major American operation in the region in years.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://edition.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/asiapcf/04/28/afghan.usmarines.ap/index.html |title=U.S. Marines launch Afghan operation |publisher=CNN}}</ref> In June 2009, 7,000 Marines with the [[2nd Marine Expeditionary Brigade (United States)|2nd Marine Expeditionary Brigade]] deployed to Afghanistan in an effort to improve security,<ref name="CBS MEB-A">{{cite web|url=http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2009/06/08/world/main5070688.shtml|title=7,000 Marines Join Fight In Afghanistan|date=June 8, 2009|work=[[Associated Press]]|publisher=[[CBS News]]|accessdate=2009-11-03|location=[[Camp Leatherneck|Camp Leatherhead]] ^([[sic]])}}</ref> and began [[Operation Strike of the Sword]] the next month. In 2002, [[Combined Joint Task Force – Horn of Africa]] was stood up at [[Camp Lemonier]], [[Djibouti]] to provide regional security.<ref name=CJTF-HOA>{{cite web |accessdate=3 August 2008 |url=http://www.hoa.centcom.mil/resources/english/facts.asp |archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20080103014254/http://www.hoa.centcom.mil/resources/english/facts.asp |archivedate=3 January 2008 |title=Fact Sheet - CJTF-HOA |publisher=Combined Joint Task Force - Horn of Africa}}</ref> Despite transferring overall command to the Navy in 2006, the Marines continued to [[Operation Enduring Freedom – Horn of Africa|operate]] in the [[Horn of Africa]] into 2007.<ref name=USMC>{{cite web |accessdate=3 August 2008 |url=http://www.marines.mil/marinelink/mcn2000.nsf/lookupstoryref/20072844311 |archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20071210224157/http://www.marines.mil/marinelink/mcn2000.nsf/lookupstoryref/20072844311 |archivedate=10 December 2007 |title=USMC.mil - 26th MEU in HOA |publisher=United States Marine Corps}}</ref> ====Operation Iraqi Freedom==== Most recently, the Marines have served prominently in the [[Iraq War]]. The [[I Marine Expeditionary Force]], along with the Army's [[3rd Infantry Division (United States)|3rd Infantry Division]], spearheaded the [[2003 invasion of Iraq]].<ref>{{cite book | last = West | first = Bing | authorlink = Bing West | coauthors = General Ray L. Smith | title = The March Up: Taking Baghdad with the 1st Marine Division | publisher = Bantam Books |month=September | year=2003 | location = New York | url = | doi = | isbn = 0-553-80376-X }}</ref> The Marines left Iraq in the summer of 2003, but returned for occupation duty in the beginning of 2004. They were given [[Multi-National Forces West|responsibility]] for the [[Al Anbar Governorate|Al Anbar Province]], the large desert region to the west of [[Baghdad]]. During this occupation, the Marines spearheaded both assaults on the city of [[Fallujah]] in April ([[First Battle of Fallujah|Operation Vigilant Resolve]]) and November 2004 ([[Second Battle of Fallujah|Operation Phantom Fury]]) and also saw intense fighting in such places as [[Ramadi]], [[Al-Qa'im (town)|Al-Qa'im]] and [[Hit during the Iraq War|Hit]].<ref>{{cite book | last = West | first = Bing | authorlink = Bing West | coauthors = | title = No True Glory: A Frontline Account of the Battle for Fallujah | publisher = Bantam Dell |month=October | year=2005 | location = New York | url = | doi = | isbn = 978-0-533-90402-7 }}</ref> Their time in Iraq has also courted controversy with the [[Haditha killings]] and the [[Hamdania incident]].<ref name=CNN>{{cite news |accessdate=27 April 2007 |url=http://www.cnn.com/2006/US/12/21/iraq.haditha/index.html |title=Marines face charges in Haditha killings |publisher=CNN}}</ref><ref name=Post>{{cite web |accessdate=3 August 2008 |url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/06/21/AR2006062100887.html |title=8 Troops Charged In Death Of Iraqi |publisher=CNN}}</ref> The [[Sons of Iraq|Anbar Awakening]] and [[Iraq War troop surge of 2007|2007 surge]] reduced levels of violence. On March 1, 2009, President [[Barack Obama]] [[n:Obama sets deadline to withdraw troops from Iraq|announced]] an accelerated withdrawl at Camp Lejeune, promising all troops out by August 2010.<ref name="Detroit">{{cite news |accessdate=23 January 2010 |url=http://detnews.com/article/20100123/NATION/1230372/Marines-end-role-in-Iraq-as-Biden-visits-Baghdad |title=Marines end role in Iraq as Biden visits Baghdad |publisher=The Detroit News}}</ref> The Marine Corps officially ended its role in Iraq on January 23, 2010 when they handed over responsibility for Al Anbar Province to the United States Army.<ref name="outofiraq?">{{cite web|url=http://www.military.com/news/article/are-marines-out-of-iraq-for-good.html?ESRC=marine-a.nl|title=Are Marines Out of Iraq for Good?|last=Burns|first=Robert|date=January 25, 2010|work=[[Associated Press]]|publisher=[[Military.com]]|accessdate=28 January 2010}}</ref><ref name="Detroit" /> ==Organization== {{Main|Organization of the United States Marine Corps}} The [[United States Department of the Navy|Department of the Navy]], led by the [[United States Secretary of the Navy|Secretary of the Navy]], oversees both the Marine Corps and the Navy. The most senior Marine officer is the [[Commandant of the Marine Corps]], responsible for organizing, recruiting, training, and equipping the Marine Corps so that it is ready for operation under the command of the [[Unified Combatant Command]]ers. The Marine Corps is organized into four principal subdivisions: [[Headquarters Marine Corps]] (HQMC), the Operating Forces, the Supporting Establishment, and the [[Marine Forces Reserve]] (MARFORRES or USMCR). The Operating Forces are further subdivided into three categories: Marine Corps Forces (MARFOR) assigned to unified commands, [[Marine Corps Security Force Regiment|Marine Corps Security Forces]] guarding high-risk naval installations, and [[Marine Corps Security Guard]] detachments at American embassies. Under the "Forces for Unified Commands" memo, Marine Corps Forces are assigned to each of the regional unified commands at the discretion of the [[United States Secretary of Defense|Secretary of Defense]] with the approval of the President. Since 1991, the Marine Corps has maintained component headquarters at each of the regional unified combatant commands.<ref>{{cite web | last = GlobalSecurity.org | first = | authorlink = GlobalSecurity.org | coauthors = | title = Marine Corps Organization | work = | publisher = GlobalSecurity.org | date = | url = http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/agency/usmc/overview.htm | doi = | accessdate = }}</ref> Marine Corps Forces are further divided into [[United States Marine Corps Forces Command|Marine Forces Command]] (MARFORCOM) and [[Marine Forces Pacific]] (MARFORPAC), each headed by a [[Lieutenant General (United States)|Lieutenant General]]. MARFORCOM has operational control of the [[II Marine Expeditionary Force]]; MARFORPAC has operational control of the [[I Marine Expeditionary Force]] and [[III Marine Expeditionary Force]].<ref name="ChenowethNihart" /> The Supporting Establishment includes [[Marine Corps Combat Development Command]] (MCCDC), [[United States Marine Corps Boot Camp|Marine Corps Recruit Depots]], [[Marine Corps Logistics Command]], [[List of United States Marine Corps installations|Marine bases]] and [[List of United States Marine Corps installations#Marine Corps Air Stations|air stations]], Recruiting Command, and the [[United States Marine Band|Marine Band]]. ===Relationship with other services=== In general, the Marine Corps shares many resources with the other branches of the [[Military of the United States|United States military]]. However, the Corps has consistently sought to maintain its own identity with regards to mission, funding, and assets, while utilizing the support available from the larger branches. While the Marine Corps has far fewer [[List of United States Marine Corps installations|installations]] both in the US and worldwide than the other branches, most [[List of United States Army installations|Army posts]], [[List of United States Navy installations|Naval stations]], and [[List of United States Air Force installations|Air Force bases]] have a Marine presence. ====United States Army==== The Marine Corps combat capabilities in some ways overlap those of the [[United States Army]], the latter having historically viewed the Corps as encroaching on the Army's capabilities and competing for funding, missions, and renown. The attitude dates back to the founding of the [[Continental Marines]], when General [[George Washington]] refused to allow the initial Marine battalions to be drawn from among his [[Continental Army]]. Most significantly, in the aftermath of World War II, Army efforts to restructure the American defense establishment included the dissolution of the Corps and the folding of its capabilities into the other services. Leading this movement were such prominent Army officers as General [[Dwight D. Eisenhower]] and [[Chief of Staff of the United States Army|Army Chief of Staff]] [[George C. Marshall]].<ref name="Krulak" /> While the rivalry is still present today, most Marines and soldiers adopt a more cooperative attitude when operating jointly. Doctrinally, Marines focus on being expeditionary and independent, while the Army tends more toward overwhelming force with a large support element.{{Citation needed|date=July 2009}} The emphasis on mobility and [[combined arms]] makes the Marine Corps a much lighter force than the Army. The Marine Corps maintains a larger percentage of its personnel and assets in the combat arms ([[infantry]], [[artillery]], [[armoured warfare|armor]], and [[close air support]]) than the Army. However, the Army maintains much larger and diverse [[armor]], [[artillery]], ground transport, and logistics forces, while the Marines have a larger and more diverse aviation arm, which is usually organic to the MAGTF. Marines tend to have better cohesion as an expeditionary unit, as well as being completely [[amphibious warfare|amphibious]]. The Army operates a great many different types of units, while the "Every Marine's a rifleman" creed shows the Marines' focus on standardized infantry units with the other arms in support roles. This commitment to standardized units can be seen in the short-lived experiment of the [[Marine Raiders]], while the [[75th Ranger Regiment]] has continued for the last four decades. The Marines often utilize the Army for the acquisition of ground equipment (as well as benefiting from Army research and development resources), training resources, and other support concepts. The majority of [[List of vehicles of the United States Marine Corps|vehicles]] and [[List of weapons of the United States Marine Corps|weapons]] are shared with, modified, or inherited from Army programs. Culturally, Marines and soldiers share most of the common U.S. military slang and terminology, but the Corps utilizes a large number of [[Glossary of nautical terms|naval terms]] and traditions incompatible with the Army lifestyle, as well as their own [[List of United States Marine Corps acronyms and expressions|unique vernacular]]. Many Marines regard their [[Culture of the United States Marine Corps|culture]] to have a deeper warrior tradition, with the ethos that every Marine is a rifleman and emphasis on cross-training and combat readiness despite actual job, be it infantry or otherwise. ====United States Navy==== [[File:Amphibious assault ship USS Belleau Wood (July 7 2004).jpg|thumb|alt=color photo of a landing craft approaching the well deck of an amphibious assault ship|The [[amphibious assault ship]] [[USS Belleau Wood (LHA-3)|USS Belleau Wood]]]] The Marine Corps' counterpart under the Department of the Navy is the [[United States Navy]]. As a result, the Navy and Marine Corps have a close relationship, more so than with other branches of the military. Whitepapers and promotional literature have commonly used the phrase "Navy-Marine Corps Team",<ref name="Seapower21">{{cite journal | last = Clark | first = Adm. Vern | authorlink = Vern Clark | coauthors = | title = Sea Power 21 | journal = Proceedings | volume =130 | issue = October 2002 | pages =3005 | publisher = Naval Institute Press |month=October | year=2002 | url = http://www.usni.org/proceedings/Articles02/proCNO10.htm | doi =10.1090/S0002-9939-02-06392-X | id = | accessdate =28 July 2006 }} </ref><ref name="EnduringFreedomVid"> {{cite video | people = Lt. Col. James Kuhn | title = Enduring Freedom | medium = Film | publisher = Department of the Navy | url= http://www.nuwc.navy.mil/hq/video/enduringfreedom/video.html | date = 2 November 2005 }}</ref> or to "the Naval Service". Both the [[Chief of Naval Operations]] (CNO) and Commandant of the Marine Corps report directly to the Secretary of the Navy. Cooperation between the two services begins with the training and instruction of Marines. The Corps receives a significant portion of its officers from the [[United States Naval Academy]] and [[Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps]] (NROTC). NROTC staff includes Marine instructors, while Marine [[drill instructor]]s contribute to training of officers in the [[Officer Candidate School (U.S. Navy)|Navy's Officer Candidate School]]. [[United States Marine Corps Aviation|Marine aviators]] are trained in the Naval Aviation training pipeline. Training alongside each other is viewed as critical, as the Navy provides transport, logistical, and combat support to put Marine units into the fight, for example, the [[Maritime Prepositioning ship]]s and [[naval gunfire support]]. Most Marine aviation assets ultimately derive from the Navy, with regards to acquisition and funding, and Navy [[aircraft carrier]]s typically deploy with a Marine squadron alongside Navy squadrons. Marines do not recruit or train noncombatants such as [[chaplain]]s or medical/dental personnel; naval personnel fill these roles. Some of these sailors, particularly [[Hospital Corpsman|Hospital Corpsmen]] and [[Religious Programs Specialist]]s, generally wear Marine uniforms emblazoned with Navy insignia. Conversely, the Marine Corps is responsible for conducting land operations to support naval campaigns, including the seizure of naval and air bases. Both services operate a network security team in conjunction. Marines and Sailors share many naval traditions, especially terminology and customs. Marine Corps [[Medal of Honor]] recipients wear the Navy variant of this and other awards;<ref name="Lawliss" /> and with few exceptions, the awards and badges of the Navy and Marine Corps are identical. The Navy's [[Blue Angels]] flight demonstration team is staffed by both Navy and Marine officers and enlisted men, and includes a Marine [[C-130 Hercules]] aircraft.<ref name="Lawliss" /> In 2007, the Marine Corps joined with the Navy and Coast Guard to adopt a new maritime strategy called ''[[A Cooperative Strategy for 21st Century Seapower]]'' that raises the notion of prevention of war to the same philosophical level as the conduct of war.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.navy.mil/search/display.asp?story_id=32655 |title=Sea Services Unveil New Maritime Strategy |publisher=Navy News Service |date=17 October 2007 |accessdate=3 August 2008 |author=Jim Garamone}}</ref> This new strategy charts a course for the Navy, Coast Guard and Marine Corps to work collectively with each other and international partners to prevent regional crises, man-made or natural, from occurring or reacting quickly should one occur to avoid negative impacts to the United States. ====United States Air Force==== [[File:C-5 CH-46.jpg|thumb|upright|alt=color photo of Marines pushing carted equipment from the open bay of a large cargo jet|Marines unload [[CH-46 Sea Knight|CH-46 helicopters]] from an Air Force [[C-5 Galaxy]].]] While the majority of Marine [[United States Marine Corps Aviation|aviation]] assets ultimately derive from the Navy, some support is drawn from the [[United States Air Force]]. The Marine Corps also makes extensive use of the [[Air Mobility Command]] to [[airlift]] Marines and equipment around the globe. The Air Force also traditionally provides the [[United States Air Force#Aerospace Expeditionary Task Force|Joint Force Air Component Commander]] who controls "sorties for air defense, and long range interdiction and reconnaissance" while the MAGTF commander retains control of the Marines' organic aviation assets.<ref>[http://www.apc.au.af.mil/text/oap/purpose.htm Purpose of JFACC]</ref><ref>[http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/library/report/1992/MD.htm Joint Force Air Component Commander: The Joint Air Control Cold War Rages On]</ref> ===Air-ground task forces=== {{Main|Marine Air-Ground Task Force}} Today, the basic framework for deployable Marine units is the [[Marine Air-Ground Task Force]] (MAGTF), a flexible structure of varying size. A MAGTF integrates a [[ground combat element]] (GCE), an [[aviation combat element]] (ACE), and a [[logistics combat element]] (LCE)<ref> {{cite web | last = | first = | authorlink = | coauthors = | title = MARADMIN 562/06 |work = Renaming of the Combat Service Support Element (CSSE) to the Logistics Combat Element (LCE) | publisher = US Marine Corps | date = | url = http://www.usmc.mil/maradmins/maradmin2000.nsf/37f49138fc3d9c00852569b9000af6b7/4f61f759901f02128525723500679aac?OpenDocument | archiveurl = http://web.archive.org/web/20071222072946/http://www.usmc.mil/maradmins/maradmin2000.nsf/37f49138fc3d9c00852569b9000af6b7/4f61f759901f02128525723500679aac?OpenDocument | archivedate=22 December 2007 | doi = | accessdate = 3 August 2008}}</ref> under a common [[Command element (United States Marine Corps)|command element]] (CE), capable of operating independently or as part of a larger coalition. The MAGTF structure reflects a strong tradition in the Corps towards self-sufficiency and a commitment to [[combined arms]], both essential assets to an [[expeditionary force]] often called upon to act independently in discrete, time-sensitive situations. The history of the Marine Corps as well has led to a wariness of overreliance on its sister services, and towards joint operations in general.<ref name="Warren" /> A MAGTF varies in size from the smallest, a [[Marine Expeditionary Unit]] (MEU), based around a reinforced infantry [[battalion]] and a composite [[squadron]], up to the largest, a [[Marine Expeditionary Force]] (MEF), which ties together a [[division (military)|Division]], an [[wing (air force unit)|Air Wing]], and a [[Marine Logistics Group|Logistics Group]] under a MEF Headquarters Group. The seven MEUs constantly rotate between themselves and their attached components to maintain a high state of readiness. Each MEU is rated as capable of performing [[special forces|special operations]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.usmc.mil/meus/other_expeditionary_units.htm|archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20071214162400/http://www.usmc.mil/meus/other_expeditionary_units.htm|archivedate=14 December 2007 |title=Prepared for the Larger Conflicts: Capable of specializing for the unique conflict |work=Other Marine Expeditionary Forces |publisher=United States Marine Corps |accessdate=3 August 2008}}</ref> The three MEFs contain the vast majority of Active duty deployable forces. ===Special warfare=== {{Main|United States Marine Corps Forces Special Operations Command}} {{See also|United States Marine Corps Special Operations Capable Forces}} Although the notion of a Marine special forces contribution to the [[United States Special Operations Command]] (USSOCOM) was considered as early as the founding of USSOCOM in the 1980s, it was resisted by the Marine Corps. Then-Commandant [[Paul X. Kelley]] expressed the popular belief that Marines should support Marines, and that the Corps should not fund a special warfare capability that would not support Marine operations.<ref name="WThomasSmith">{{cite web | last = Smith, Jr. | first = W Thomas | authorlink = | coauthors = | title = Marines, Navy SEALs Forge New Special Operations Team; An exclusive interview with U.S. Navy SEAL Commander Mark Divine | work = | publisher = Military.com | year = 2005 | url = http://www.military.com/NewContent/0,13190,082205_Marines,00.htm?ESRC=marine.nl | doi = | accessdate = 3 August 2008}}</ref> However, much of the resistance from within the Corps dissipated when Marine leaders watched the Corps' 15th and 26th MEU(SOC)s "sit on the sidelines" during the very early stages of [[Operation Enduring Freedom]] while other special operations units actively engaged in operations in Afghanistan.<ref name="Priddy">{{cite journal | last = Priddy | first = Maj. Wade | authorlink = | coauthors = | title = Marine Detachment 1: Opening the door for a Marine force contribution to USSOCom | journal = Marine Corps Gazette | volume = | issue = June 2006 | pages = 58–59 | publisher = Marine Corps Association | month = June | year = 2006 | url = | doi = | id = | accessdate = }}</ref> After a three-year development period, the Corps agreed in 2006 to supply a 2,600-strong unit, Marine Forces Special Operations Command (MARSOC), which would answer directly to USSOCOM.<ref name="Bradley Graham">{{cite news | last = Graham | first = Bradley | coauthors = | title = Elite Marine Unit to Help Fight Terrorism, Force to Be Part of Special Operations | work = | pages = | language = | publisher = Washington Post | date = 2 November 2005 | url = http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/11/01/AR2005110102069.html | accessdate = 3 August 2008}}</ref> ==Personnel== {{Seealso|List of notable United States Marines|List of historically notable United States Marines}} ===Leadership=== {{multiple image | align = right | direction = horizontal | width = 125 | image1 = James T. Conway, official military photo portrait, 2006.jpg | width1 = | alt1 = color photograph of James T. Conway | caption1 = [[James T. Conway]],<br />[[Commandant of the Marine Corps]] | image2 = Gen James F. Amos.jpg | width2 = | alt2 = color photograph of James F. Amos | caption2 = [[James F. Amos]],<br />[[Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps]] | image3 = KentCarlton USMC.jpg | width3 = | alt3 = color photograph of Carlton W. Kent | caption3 = [[Carlton W. Kent]],<br />[[Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps]] }} As stated above, the [[Commandant of the Marine Corps]] is the highest-ranking officer of the Marine Corps; though he may not be the senior officer by time in [[pay grade|grade]]. He is both the symbolic and functional head of the Corps, and holds a position of very high esteem among Marines. The Commandant has the [[Title 10 of the United States Code|U.S. Code Title 10]] responsibility to man, train, and equip the Marine Corps. He does not serve as a direct battlefield commander. The Commandant is a member of the [[Joint Chiefs of Staff]], and reports to the [[United States Secretary of the Navy|Secretary of the Navy]].<ref>Estes (1986), p. 60</ref> The [[Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps]] acts as a deputy to the Commandant. The [[Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps]] is the senior enlisted Marine, and acts as an advisor to the Commandant. [[Headquarters Marine Corps]] comprises the rest of the Commandant's counsel and [[staff (military)|staff]], with deputy commandants that oversee various aspects of the Corps assets and capabilities. The current and 34th Commandant is General [[James T. Conway]], who assumed the position on 13 November 2006.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.military.com/NewsContent/0,13319,118890,00.html |title=Conway confirmed as new commandant |date=3 August 2006 |work=Marine Corps Times |accessdate=3 August 2008}}</ref> {{As of|2007|10}}, Marine General [[James E. Cartwright]] ([[Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff]]) is senior in terms of time in grade and billet to the commandant.<ref>{{cite news | last = Kreisher | first = Otto | coauthors = | title = Pendleton's Hagee seen as crossroads commandant | work = | pages = | language = | publisher = San Diego Union-Tribune | date = 6 September 2002 | url = http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/military/20020906-9999_6m6hagee.html | accessdate = }}</ref> The 31st and current Assistant Commandant is [[James F. Amos]], while the 16th and current Sergeant Major is [[Carlton W. Kent]]. ===Rank structure=== {{Main|United States Marine Corps rank insignia}} As in the rest of the United States military, Marine Corps [[military rank|ranks]] fall into one of three categories: [[officer (armed forces)|commissioned officer]], [[Warrant Officer (United States)|warrant officer]], and enlisted, in decreasing order of authority (excluding the Air Force, which does not currently appoint warrant officers). To standardize compensation, each rank is assigned a [[pay grade]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.defenselink.mil/specials/insignias/|title=DoD Defense Insignia}}</ref> ====Commissioned Officers==== Commissioned Officers are distinguished from other officers by their [[Letters patent|commission]], which is the formal written authority, issued in the name of the [[President of the United States]], that confers the rank and authority of a Marine Officer. Commissioned officers carry the "special trust and confidence" of the President of the United States.<ref name="Estes"/> {| style="border:1px solid #8888aa; background:#f7f8ff; padding:5px; font-size:95%; margin:0 12px 12px 0;" |- style="background:#ccc;" ![[U.S. uniformed services pay grades#Officer pay grades|US DoD Pay Grade]]||O-1||O-2||O-3||O-4||O-5||O-6||O-7||O-8||O-9||O-10 |- align=center ||Insignia ||[[Image:US-OF1B.svg|center|22px|alt=gold vertical bar]] ||[[Image:US-OF1A.svg|center|22px|alt=silver vertical bar]] ||[[Image:US-O3 insignia.svg|center|60px|alt=two silver vertical bars]] ||[[Image:US-O4 insignia.svg|center|60px|gold oak leaf]] ||[[Image:US-O5 insignia.svg|center|60px|silver oak leaf]] ||[[Image:US-O6 insignia.svg|center|70px|silver eagle with shield clutching arrows]] ||[[Image:US-O7 insignia.svg|center|35px|single silver star]] ||[[Image:US-O8 insignia.svg|center|65px|two silver stars]] ||[[Image:US-O9 insignia.svg|center|100px|three silver stars]] ||[[Image:US-O10 insignia.svg|center|135px|four silver stars]] |- align=center ||Title ||[[Second Lieutenant]] ||[[First Lieutenant]] ||[[Captain (United States)|Captain]] ||[[Major (United States)|Major]] ||[[Lieutenant Colonel (United States)|Lieutenant Colonel]] ||[[Colonel (United States)|Colonel]] ||[[Brigadier General]] ||[[Major General]] ||[[Lieutenant General (United States)|Lieutenant General]] ||[[General (United States)|General]] |- align=center ||Abbreviation ||2ndLt ||1stLt ||Capt ||Maj ||LtCol ||Col ||BGen ||MajGen ||LtGen ||Gen |- align=center ||NATO Code |colspan=2|OF-1 ||OF-2 ||OF-3 ||OF-4 ||OF-5 ||OF-6 ||OF-7 ||OF-8 ||OF-9 |} ====Warrant Officers==== {{See also|Warrant Officer (United States)}} Warrant Officers are primarily former enlisted experts in a specific specialized field, and provide leadership generally only within that speciality. {| style="border:1px solid #8888aa; background:#f7f8ff; padding:5px; font-size:95%; margin:0 12px 12px 0;" |- style="background:#ccc;" !'''[[U.S. uniformed services pay grades#Warrant officer pay grades|US DoD Pay Grade]]'''||W-1||W-2||W-3||W-4||W-5 |- align=center ||Insignia || [[Image:USMC WO1.svg|25px|gold bar with two red squares]] || [[Image:USMC CWO2.svg|25px|gold bar with three red squares]] || [[Image:USMC CWO3.svg|25px|silver bar with two red squares]] || [[Image:USMC CWO4.svg|25px|siver bar with three red squares]] || [[Image:USMC CWO5.svg|25px|silver bar with a red line down the long axis]] |- align=center ||Title || [[Warrant Officer (United States)#Marine Corps|Warrant Officer 1]] || [[Warrant Officer (United States)#Marine Corps|Chief Warrant Officer 2]] || [[Warrant Officer (United States)#Marine Corps|Chief Warrant Officer 3]] || [[Warrant Officer (United States)#Marine Corps|Chief Warrant Officer 4]] || [[Warrant Officer (United States)#Marine Corps|Chief Warrant Officer 5]] |- align=center ||Abbreviation||WO1||CWO2||CWO3||CWO4||CWO5 |- align=center ||NATO Code ||WO-1 ||WO-2 ||WO-3 ||WO-4 ||WO-5 |} ====Enlisted==== Enlisted Marines in the pay grades E-1 to E-3 make up the bulk of the Corps' ranks, usually referred to simply as "Marines" or "junior Marines". Although they do not technically hold leadership ranks, the Corps' ethos stresses leadership among all Marines, and junior Marines are often assigned responsibility normally reserved for superiors. Those in the pay grades of E-4 and E-5 are [[non-commissioned officer]]s (NCOs). They primarily supervise junior Marines and act as a vital link with the higher command structure, ensuring that orders are carried out correctly. Marines E-6 and higher are Staff Non-Commissioned Officers (SNCOs), charged with supervising NCOs and acting as enlisted advisors to the command. The E-8 and E-9 levels each have two ranks per pay grade, each with different responsibilities. The First Sergeant and Sergeant Major ranks are command-oriented, serving as the senior enlisted Marines in a unit, charged to assist the commanding officer in matters of discipline, administration and the morale and welfare of the unit. Master Sergeants and Master Gunnery Sergeants provide technical leadership as occupational specialists in their specific MOS. The [[Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps]] is a unique rank and billet conferred on the senior enlisted Marine of the entire Marine Corps, personally selected by the Commandant. Different forms of address can be found at [[United States Marine Corps rank insignia]] and [[List of United States Marine Corps acronyms and expressions]]. {| style="border:1px solid #8888aa; background:#f7f8ff; padding:5px; font-size:95%; margin:0 12px 12px 0;" |- style="background:#ccc;" !'''[[U.S. uniformed services pay grades#Enlisted pay grades|US DoD Pay grade]]'''||E-1||E-2||E-3||E-4||E-5||E-6||E-7||colspan=2|E-8||colspan=3|E-9 |- align=center ||Insignia ||''No Insignia'' ||[[Image:USMC-E2.svg|50px|single chevron]] ||[[Image:USMC-E3.svg|50px|single chevron with crossed rifles]] ||[[Image:USMC-E4.svg|50px|two chevrons with crossed rifles]] ||[[Image:USMC-E5.svg|50px|three chevrons with crossed rifles]] ||[[Image:USMC-E6.svg|50px|three chevrons up and one down with crossed rifles]] ||[[Image:USMC-E7.svg|50px|three chevrons up and two down with crossed rifles]] ||[[Image:USMC-E8-MSG.svg|50px|three chevrons up and three down with crossed rifles]] ||[[Image:USMC-E8-1SG.svg|50px|three chevrons up and three down with diamond]] ||[[Image:USMC-E9-MGyS.svg|50px|three chevrons up and four down with bursting bomb]] ||[[Image:USMC-E9-SGM.svg|50px|three chevrons up and four down with star]] ||[[Image:USMC-E9-SGMMC.svg|50px|three chevrons up and four down with Eagle, Globe, and Anchor insignia flanked by two stars]] |- align=center ||Title ||[[Private (rank)#United States|Private]] ||[[Private First Class#United States|Private<br>First Class]] ||[[Lance Corporal#United States|Lance<br>Corporal]] ||[[Corporal#United States Marine Corps|Corporal]] ||[[Sergeant#Marine Corps|Sergeant]] ||[[Staff Sergeant#United States|Staff<br>Sergeant]] ||[[Gunnery Sergeant|Gunnery<br>Sergeant]] ||[[Master Sergeant#United States|Master<br>Sergeant]] ||[[First Sergeant#United States Marine Corps|First<br>Sergeant]] ||[[Master Gunnery Sergeant|Master Gunnery<br>Sergeant]] ||[[Sergeant Major#United States Marine Corps|Sergeant<br>Major]] ||[[Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps|Sergeant Major<br>of the Marine Corps]] |- align=center ||Abbreviation ||Pvt ||PFC ||LCpl ||Cpl ||Sgt ||SSgt ||GySgt ||MSgt ||1stSgt ||MGySgt ||SgtMaj ||SgtMajMarCor || |- align=center ||NATO Code ||OR-1 ||OR-2 ||OR-3 ||OR-4 ||OR-5 ||OR-6 ||OR-7 |colspan=2|OR-8 |colspan=3|OR-9 |} ===Military Occupational Specialty=== {{Main|Military Occupational Specialty|List of United States Marine Corps MOS}} The Military Occupational Specialty (MOS) is a system of job classification. Using a four digit code, it designates what field and specific occupation a Marine performs. Segregated between officer and enlisted, the MOS determines the staffing of a unit. Some MOSs change with rank to reflect supervisory positions, others are secondary and represent a temporary assignment outside of a Marine's normal duties or special skill. [[File:Chosin Range.jpg|thumb|alt=color photo of a rifle range, with recruits firing rifles at distant targets while a Warrant Officer observes|A [[Warrant Officer (United States)|Warrant Officer]] observes recruits firing on a [[shooting range|rifle range]].]] ===Initial training=== {{Main|United States Marine Corps Recruit Training|Officer Candidates School (United States Marine Corps)}} Every year, over 2,000 new Marine officers are commissioned, and 38,000 recruits accepted and trained.<ref name="ChenowethNihart" /> All new Marines, enlisted or officer, are [[military recruitment|recruited]] by the [[Marine Corps Recruiting Command]]. Commissioned officers are commissioned mainly through one of three sources: [[Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps]] (NROTC), [[Officer Candidates School (United States Marine Corps)|Officer Candidates School]] (OCS), or the [[United States Naval Academy]] (USNA). Following commissioning, all Marine commissioned officers, regardless of accession route or further training requirements, attend [[The Basic School]] (TBS) at [[Marine Corps Base Quantico]], [[Virginia]]. At TBS, second lieutenants, warrant officers, and selected foreign officers learn the art of [[infantry]] and [[combined arms]] warfare. Along with the concept that ''"Every Marine is a rifleman"'', every officer, regardless of his MOS/billet, is qualified to be an infantry platoon commander.<ref name="Estes" /> Enlisted Marines attend [[United States Marine Corps Recruit Training|recruit training]], known as ''[[boot camp]]'', at either [[Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego]] or [[Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island]]. Historically, the [[Mississippi River]] served as the dividing line which delineated who would be trained where, while more recently, a [[Marine Corps Recruiting Command#Structure|district system]] has ensured a more even distribution of male recruits between the two MCRD facilities. Females attend only the Parris Island depot as part of the segregated Fourth Recruit Training Battalion. All recruits must pass a fitness test to start training; those who fail receive individualized attention and training until the minimum standards are reached. Marine recruit training is the longest among the American military services; it is 13 weeks long, compared to the Army's 9 weeks. Following recruit training, enlisted Marines then attend [[United States Marine Corps School of Infantry|School of Infantry]] training at [[Camp Geiger]] or [[Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton|Camp Pendleton]]. Infantry Marines begin their combat training, which varies in length, immediately with the Infantry Training Battalion (ITB). Marines in all other MOSs other than infantry train for 29 days in Marine Combat Training (MCT), learning common infantry skills, before continuing on to their MOS schools which vary in length.<ref name=SOI>{{cite web|accessdate=3 August 2008 |url=http://www.pendleton.usmc.mil/schools/soi/new/itb/itbtraininginfo.htm |title=Training Information |publisher=Infantry Training Battalion, School of Infantry (West), United States Marines Corps}}</ref> ==Uniforms== {{Main|Uniforms of the United States Marine Corps}} [[File:USMC uniforms.jpg|thumb|alt=color drawings of four Marines wearing various uniforms|left to right: Utility Uniform, Dress Uniform, Service Uniform, and Evening Dress uniforms]] The Marine Corps has the most stable and most recognizable uniforms in the American military; the Blue Dress dates back to the early 19th century<ref name="ChenowethNihart" /> and the service uniform to the early 20th century. Marines' uniforms are also distinct in their simplicity; Marines do not wear [[Shoulder Sleeve Insignia (US Army)|unit patches]] or [[Flag of the United States|United States flags]] on any of their uniforms, nor name tags on their service and formal uniforms. Only a handful of skills (parachutist, air crew, explosive ordnance disposal, etc.) warrant [[Badges of the United States Marine Corps|distinguishing badges]], and rank insignia is not worn on uniform headgear (with the exception of an officer's garrison service cover). While other servicemembers commonly identify with a sub-group as much as or more than their service ([[Ranger tab|Ranger]], [[Submarine Warfare insignia|submariner]], aircrew, etc.), Marine uniforms do not reflect such division. Marines have three main uniforms: Dress, Service, and Utility. The Marine Corps '''[[Dress uniform]]''' is the most elaborate, worn for formal or ceremonial occasions. There are three different forms of the Dress uniform, the most common being the Blue Dress Uniform, also called "Dress Blues" or simply "Blues". It is most often seen in recruiting advertisements and is equivalent to [[black tie]]. There is also a "Blue-White" Dress for summer, and [[mess dress|Evening Dress]] for formal ([[white tie]]) occasions. Versions with a khaki shirt in lieu of the coat are worn as a daily working uniform by Marine recruiters.<ref name="uniform">{{cite web | last = | first = | authorlink = | coauthors = | title = MCO P1020.34G | work = | publisher = United States Marine Corps | date = | url = http://www.marcorsyscom.usmc.mil/sites/mcub/PAGES/Uniform%20Regs%20Chapters/Uniform%20Regs%20Index.asp | doi = | dateformat=mdy | accessdate=27 November 2005}}</ref> The '''Service Uniform''' was once the prescribed daily work attire in garrison; however, it has been largely superseded in this role by the utility uniform. Consisting of olive green and khaki colors, it is commonly referred to as "Greens". It is roughly equivalent in function and composition to a [[suit (clothing)|business suit]].<ref name="uniform" /> The '''Utility Uniform''', currently the [[Marine Corps Combat Utility Uniform]], is a camouflage uniform intended for wear in the field or for dirty work in garrison, though it has now been standardized for regular duty. It is rendered in a distinctive [[MARPAT]] pixelated [[camouflage]] (sometimes referred to as digitals or digies) that breaks up the wearer's shape, and also serves to distinguish Marine uniforms from those of other services. In garrison, the woodland uniform is worn sleeves down in winter, and the desert uniform is worn with sleeves rolled up in summer.<ref> [http://www.marines.mil/news/messages/Pages/MESSAGES198.aspx ALMAR 007/08] directing seasonal uniform changes</ref> The sleeves are rolled tightly to the biceps, exposing the lighter inside layer, and forming a neat cuff to present a crisper appearance to the otherwise formless uniform. In years past when Marines wore identical utilities to their Army and [[United States Air Force|Air Force]] counterparts, this served to distinguish them as the other services have a different practice for rolling sleeves. Marines consider the utilities a working uniform and do not permit their wear off-base, except in transit to and from their place of duty and in the event of an emergency. This, too, distinguishes them from other services, which have less stringent restrictions.<ref name="uniform" /> ==Culture== {{Main|Culture of the United States Marine Corps}} As in any military organization, the official and unofficial traditions of the Marine Corps serve to reinforce camaraderie and set the service apart from others. The Corps' embrace of its rich culture and history is cited as a reason for its high ''esprit de corps''.<ref name="Estes" /> [[File:Flags USMC.gif|thumb|left|alt=color artwork of an Eagle, Globe, and Anchor over crossed American and Marine flags|Eagle, Globe and Anchor along with the US flag, the Marine Corps flag and the Commandant's flag]] ===Official traditions and customs=== {{listen |filename=John_Philip_Sousa_-_U.S._Marine_Band_-_Semper_Fidelis_March.ogg |title=Semper Fidelis March |description=[[John Philip Sousa]]'s ''Semper Fidelis March'', the official march of the U.S. Marine Corps. Performed by the U.S. Marine Band in June 1909. }} The '''[[Marines' Hymn]]''' dates back to the 19th century and is the oldest official song in the United States armed forces. The Marine motto '''''[[Semper Fidelis]]''''' means ''always faithful'' in [[Latin]], often appearing as ''Semper Fi''; also the name of the official march of the Corps, composed by [[John Phillip Sousa]]. The mottos ''"Fortitudine"'' (With Fortitude); ''By Sea and by Land'', a translation of the [[Royal Marines]]' ''Per Mare, Per Terram''; and ''To the Shores of Tripoli'' were used until 1868.<ref name="Customs">{{cite web | last = | first = | authorlink = | coauthors = | title = USMC Customs and Traditions | work = | publisher = History Division, U.S. Marine Corps | date = | url = http://hqinet001.hqmc.usmc.mil/hd/historical/Customs_and_Traditions.htm | archiveurl = http://web.archive.org/web/20070304212218/http://hqinet001.hqmc.usmc.mil/hd/historical/Customs_and_Traditions.htm | archivedate=4 March 2007 | doi = | accessdate = 3 August 2008}}</ref> The '''Marine Corps emblem''' is the [[Eagle, Globe, and Anchor]], sometimes abbreviated "EGA", adopted in 1868.<ref>{{cite web | last = | first = | authorlink = | coauthors = | title = U.S. Marine Corps Emblem | work = | publisher = U.S. Marine Corps | date = | url = http://www.uspharmd.com/usmc/mcega.htm | doi = | accessdate = }}</ref> The '''Marine Corps seal''' includes the emblem, also is found on the [[flag of the United States Marine Corps]], and establishes scarlet and gold as the official colors.<ref name=Customs_EmblemSeal>{{cite web|accessdate=2008-10-11 |url=http://www.tecom.usmc.mil/HD/Customes_Traditions/Emblem_Seal.htm |title=Marine Corps Emblem and Seal |work=Customs and Traditions |publisher=Reference Branch, History Division, United States Marine Corps}}</ref> Two styles of '''swords''' are worn by Marines: the officers' [[Mameluke Sword]], similar to the Persian [[shamshir]] presented to Lt. [[Presley O'Bannon]] after the [[Battle of Derna]], and the [[Marine Noncommissioned Officers' Sword, 1859-Present|Marine NCO sword]].<ref name="ChenowethNihart" /> The '''[[United States Marine Corps birthday ball|Marine Corps Birthday]]''' is celebrated every year on the [[November 10|10 November]] in a cake-cutting ceremony where the first slice of cake is given to the oldest Marine present, who in turn hands it off to the youngest Marine present. The celebration also includes a reading of Marine Corps Order 47, Commandant [[John A. Lejeune|Lejeune's]] Birthday Message.<ref>{{cite web | last = | first = | authorlink = | coauthors = | title = Marine Corps Birthday Celebration | work = | publisher = USMC History Division | date = | url = http://hqinet001.hqmc.usmc.mil/HD/Historical/Customes_Traditions/Birthday_Celebration.htm | archiveurl = http://web.archive.org/web/20070806095953/http://hqinet001.hqmc.usmc.mil/HD/Historical/Customes_Traditions/Birthday_Celebration.htm | archivedate=6 August 2007 | doi = | accessdate = 3 August 2008}}</ref> '''Close Order Drill''' is heavily emphasized early on in a Marine's initial training, incorporated into most formal events, and is used to teach discipline by instilling habits of precision and automatic response to orders, increase the confidence of junior officers and noncommissioned officers through the exercise of command and give Marines an opportunity to handle individual weapons.<ref>{{cite web | last = | first = | authorlink = | coauthors = | title = Drill a Platoon Sized Unit | work = Student Handout | publisher = Marine Corps University | date = | url = http://www.iiimef.usmc.mil/medical/FMF/FMFE/FMFEref/SC_0503_SH_Drill_(Platoon).doc | archiveurl = http://web.archive.org/web/20070710044843/http://www.iiimef.usmc.mil/medical/FMF/FMFE/FMFEref/SC_0503_SH_Drill_(Platoon).doc | archivedate=10 July 2007 | doi = | accessdate = 3 August 2008}}</ref> An important part of the Marine Corps culture is the traditional seafaring [[Glossary of nautical terms|naval terminology]] derived from its history with the Navy. ===Unofficial traditions and customs=== [[File:Teufel Hunden US Marines recruiting poster.jpg|thumb|upright|alt=cartoon of a bulldog wearing a Marine helmet chasing a dachshund wearing a German helmet, the poster reads "Teufelhunden: German nickname for U.S. Marines. Devil Dog recruiting station, 628 South State Street"|A recruiting poster makes use of the "Teufel Hunden" nickname.]] Marines have several generic [[nickname]]s: * ''[[Devil Dog]]'' is oft-disputed as well,<ref name=GermanMyth>{{cite web|accessdate= |url=http://german.about.com/od/culture/a/germyth13.htm |title=German Myth 13: Teufelshunde - Devil Dogs: Did German soldiers give the U.S. Marines the nickname "Teufelshunde"? |author=Flippo, Hyde Flippo |work=German Language |publisher=about.com}}</ref> but the tradition has expanded to include the [[bulldog]]'s association with the Corps, especially as a mascot.<ref name="ChenowethNihart" /> * ''gyrene'' has dropped out of popular use. * ''[[Jarhead]]'' has several oft-disputed explanations. * ''[[Leatherneck]]'' refers to a leather collar formerly part of the Marine uniform during the Revolutionary War period. Some other unofficial traditions include mottos and exclamations: * ''[[Oorah (Marines)|Oorah]]'' is common among Marines, being similar in function and purpose to the Army's [[hooah]] and the Navy's [[hooyah]] cries. Many possible [[Etymology|etymologies]] have been offered for the term.<ref>{{cite web | last = Hiresman III | first = LCpl. Paul W | authorlink = | coauthors = | title = The meaning of 'Oorah' traced back to its roots | work = Marine Corps News | publisher = United States Marine Corps | date = | url = http://www.usmc.mil/marinelink/mcn2000.nsf/0/5e9ec5069a2612df85256fea0055d070?OpenDocument&Highlight=2,Oorah | archiveurl = http://web.archive.org/web/20071224075640/http://www.usmc.mil/marinelink/mcn2000.nsf/0/5e9ec5069a2612df85256fea0055d070?OpenDocument&Highlight=2,Oorah | archivedate=24 December 2007 | doi = | accessdate = 3 August 2008}}</ref> * ''Semper Fi, Mac'' was a common and preferred form of greeting in times past. * ''Improvise, Adapt and Overcome'' has become an adopted mantra in many units.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.answers.com/topic/improvise-adapt-and-overcome |title=Improvise, Adapt, and Overcome |publisher=Answers.com |date= |accessdate=3 February 2009}}</ref> ===Veteran Marines=== The ethos that "''Once a Marine, Always a Marine''" has led to the objection to the use of the term "ex-Marine", leading to myriad forms of address for those no longer on active duty:<ref name="Krulak" /> * "Marine", since the title is permanent, once earned. * "Veteran Marine" or "Prior-service Marine" can refer to anyone who has been discharged from the Corps. * "Retired Marine" refers to those who have completed 20 or more years of service and formally retired. * "Former Marine" is considered acceptable among those who are honorably discharged from the United States Marine Corps. * "Sir" or "Ma'am" is appropriate out of respect. * According to one of the "Commandant's White letters" from Commandant [[Alfred M. Gray, Jr.]], referring to a Marine by their last earned rank is appropriate.<ref name="Freedman">{{cite book | last = Freedman | first = David H. | authorlink = | coauthors = | title = Corps Business: The 30 Management Principles of the U.S. Marines | publisher = Collins | year = 2000 | location = New York | pages = | url = | doi = | id = }}</ref> * Marines that have left service with a less than full honorable discharge might still be considered Marines (depending on the view of the individual), however that title is also in keeping with a stigma, and many will avoid the issue altogether by addressing the individual by name with no other title. [[File:MCMAP shoulder throw.JPG|thumb|left|upright|alt=color photo of a Marine tossing another Marine over his shoulder onto a mat|Marine performs a shoulder throw.]] === Martial arts program === {{Main|Marine Corps Martial Arts Program}} In 2001, the Marine Corps initiated an internally designed [[martial arts]] program, called Marine Corps Martial Arts Program (MCMAP). Due to an expectation that urban and police-type [[peacekeeping]] missions would become more common in the 21st century, placing Marines in even closer contact with unarmed civilians, MCMAP was implemented to provide Marines with a larger and more versatile set of less-than-lethal options for controlling hostile, but unarmed individuals. It is also a stated aim of the program to instill and maintain the "Warrior Ethos" within Marines.<ref name="Yi">Yi, Capt. Jamison, USMC. "MCMAP and the Warrior Ethos", ''Military Review'', November-December 2004.</ref> The Marine Corps Martial Arts program is an eclectic mix of different styles of martial arts melded together. MCMAP consists of [[boxing]] movements, [[joint lock]]ing techniques, opponent weight transfer ([[Jujitsu]]), ground grappling (mostly [[wrestling]]), [[bayonet]], knife and [[club (weapon)|baton]] fighting, non-compliance joint manipulations, and airway and blood restriction [[chokehold|chokes]]. Marines begin MCMAP training in boot camp, where they will earn the first of five available [[Marine Corps Martial Arts Program#Structure and belt system|belts]]. {{-}} ==Equipment== {{Main|:Category:United States Marine Corps equipment|List of United States Marine Corps individual equipment}} [[File:Designated Marksman Rifle 2.jpg|thumb|alt=color photo of a Marine peering through the optics of a large rifle|Marine sniper using the [[United States Marine Corps Designated Marksman Rifle|Designated Marksman Rifle]] (DMR)]] ===Infantry weapons=== {{Main|List of weapons of the United States Marine Corps}} The basic infantry weapon of the Marine Corps is the [[M16 rifle|M16 assault rifle]] family, with a majority of Marines being equipped with the M16A2 or M16A4 service rifles (the M16A2 is being phased out), or more recently the [[M4 carbine]]—a compact variant. The standard [[side arm]] is the [[M9 pistol]]. Suppressive fire is provided by the [[M249 light machine gun|M249 SAW]] and [[M240 machine gun|M240G]] machine guns, at the squad and company levels respectively. In addition, indirect fire is provided by the [[M203 grenade launcher]] in fireteams, [[M224 mortar|M224 60&nbsp;mm mortar]] in companies, and [[M252 mortar|M252 81&nbsp;mm mortar]] in battalions. The [[M2 Browning machine gun|M2 .50&nbsp;caliber heavy machine gun]] and [[Mk 19 grenade launcher|MK19 automatic grenade launcher (40&nbsp;mm)]] are available for use by dismounted infantry, though they are more commonly vehicle-mounted. Precision firepower is provided by the [[M40 rifle|M40 sniper rifle]] and [[Barrett M82|M82 anti-material rifle]] by [[Scout Sniper]]s, while [[Designated marksman|designated marksmen]] use the [[United States Marine Corps Designated Marksman Rifle|DMR]] (being replaced by the [[M39 Enhanced Marksman Rifle|M39 EMR]]), and the [[United States Marine Corps Squad Advanced Marksman Rifle|SAM-R]].<ref>{{cite web | last = | first = | authorlink = | coauthors = | title = M40A1 Sniper Rifle | work = USMC Fact File | publisher = U.S. Marine corps | date = | url = http://www.hqmc.usmc.mil/factfile.nsf/7e931335d515626a8525628100676e0c/03ae5c82962bc0f48525627b006d3126?OpenDocument | archiveurl = http://web.archive.org/web/20070225004953/http://www.hqmc.usmc.mil/factfile.nsf/7e931335d515626a8525628100676e0c/03ae5c82962bc0f48525627b006d3126?OpenDocument | archivedate=25 February 2007 | doi = | accessdate = 3 August 2008}}</ref> The Marine Corps utilizes a variety of direct-fire rockets and missiles to provide infantry with an offensive and defensive anti-armor capability. The [[Shoulder-launched Multipurpose Assault Weapon|SMAW]] and [[AT4]] are [[shoulder-launched missile weapon|unguided rockets]] that can destroy armor and fixed defenses (e.g., bunkers) at ranges up to 500&nbsp;meters. The [[FGM-172 SRAW|Predator SRAW]], [[FGM-148 Javelin|FGM-148 ''Javelin'']] and [[BGM-71 TOW]] are [[anti-tank guided missile]]s. The Javelin can utilize top-attack profiles to avoid heavy frontal armor. The Predator is a short-range [[fire-and-forget]] weapon; the Javelin and TOW are heavier missiles effective past 2,000 meters that give infantry an offensive capability against armor.<ref>{{cite web | last = | first = | authorlink = | coauthors = | title = Tube Launched, Optically Tracked, Wire Guided (TOW) Missile Weapon System | work = USMC Fact File | publisher = U.S. Marine Corps | date = | url = http://www.hqmc.usmc.mil/factfile.nsf/7e931335d515626a8525628100676e0c/4ba8f1e3958ca16d8525628100789abb?OpenDocument | archiveurl = http://web.archive.org/web/20070211021126/http://www.hqmc.usmc.mil/factfile.nsf/7e931335d515626a8525628100676e0c/4ba8f1e3958ca16d8525628100789abb?OpenDocument | archivedate=11 February 2007 | doi = | accessdate = 3 August 2008}}</ref> [[File:M1-A1 Abrams 1.jpg|thumb|left|alt=color photo of an Abrams tank sitting in an open sandy field|An [[M1 Abrams|M1A1 Abrams]] tank of the 13th MEU]] ===Ground vehicles=== {{Main|List of vehicles of the United States Marine Corps}} The Corps operates the same [[High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle]] (HMMWV) and [[M1 Abrams|M1A1 Abrams]] tank as does the Army. However, for its specific needs, the Corps uses a number of unique vehicles. The [[LAV-25]] is a dedicated wheeled armored personnel carrier, similar to the Army's [[Stryker]] vehicle, used to provide strategic mobility.<ref>{{cite web | last = | first = | authorlink = | coauthors = | title = Light Armored Vehicle-25 (LAV-25) | work = USMC Fact File | publisher = U.S. Marine Corps | date = | url = ALSO, THE UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS IS THE MOST HIGHLY TRAINED FIGHTING FORCE ON THE FACE OF THE EARTH. SEMPER FIDELIS -KAISER L. GILLHESPY http://www.hqmc.usmc.mil/factfile.nsf/7e931335d515626a8525628100676e0c/b54eb957c0d3b17a852562830058111b?OpenDocument | archiveurl = http://web.archive.org/web/20061211110308/http://hqmc.usmc.mil/factfile.nsf/7e931335d515626a8525628100676e0c/b54eb957c0d3b17a852562830058111b?OpenDocument | archivedate=11 December 2006 | doi = | accessdate = 3 August 2008}}</ref> Amphibious capability is provided by the [[Amphibious Assault Vehicle|AAV-7A1 Amphibious Assault Vehicle]], an armored tracked vehicle that doubles as an [[armored personnel carrier]], due to be replaced by the [[Expeditionary Fighting Vehicle]], a faster vehicle with superior armor and weaponry. The threat of [[land mine]]s and [[improvised explosive device]]s in Iraq and Afghanistan has also seen the Corps begin purchasing heavy armored vehicles that can better withstand the effects of these weapons as part of the [[MRAP (armored vehicle)|Mine Resistant Ambush Protected vehicle program]].<ref>{{cite web | last = | first = | authorlink = | coauthors = | title = U.S. Marine Corps Orders More Force Protection Vehicles | work = Force Protection, Inc. — In the News | publisher = Force Protection, Inc. |month=August | year=2006 | url = http://www.forceprotection.net/news/news_article.html?id=142 | doi = | dateformat= mdy | accessdate= 3 January 2007 }}</ref> The Marine Corps has ordered 1,960 MRAP vehicles, hoping to use them to [[HMMWV replacement process|replace all HMMWVs]] on patrols in Iraq.<ref>{{cite paper | author = Andrew Feickert | title = Mine-Resistant, Ambush-Protected (MRAP) Vehicles: Background and Issues for Congress | version = | publisher = [[United States Congress]] | date = 21 August 2007 | url = http://fpc.state.gov/documents/organization/92961.pdf |format=PDF| accessdate = 3 August 2008}}</ref> Prior to 2005, the Marines operated exclusively tube artillery—the [[M198 howitzer|M198 155&nbsp;mm howitzer]], now being replaced by the [[M777 howitzer|M777 155&nbsp;mm howitzer]]. However, the Corps has expanded its artillery composition to include the [[High Mobility Artillery Rocket System]] (HIMARS), a truck-mounted rocket artillery system. Both are capable of firing guided munitions.<ref name="JCLewis">{{cite journal | last = Lewis | first = Maj. J Christopher | authorlink = | coauthors = | title = The Future Artillery Force...Today | journal = Marine Corps Gazette | volume = | issue = July 2006 | pages = 24–25 | publisher = Marine Corps Association | month = July | year = 2006 | url = | doi = | id = | accessdate = }}</ref> ===Aircraft=== [[File:Aircraft.osprey.678pix.jpg|thumb|alt=color photo of four parachutists jumping from the open ramp of an MV-22 Osprey in flight|[[MV-22 Osprey]]]] {{Main|United States Marine Corps Aviation}} The organic [[United States Marine Corps Aviation|aviation]] capability of the Marine Corps is essential to its mission. The Corps operates both [[helicopter|rotary-wing]] and [[fixed-wing aircraft]] mainly to provide [[assault support]] and [[close air support]] to its ground forces. However, other aircraft types are also used in a variety of support and special-purpose roles. The light-attack and light transport capabilities are provided by [[AH-1 SuperCobra|AH-1W SuperCobras]] and [[UH-1N Twin Huey|UH-1N Hueys]], [[H-1 upgrade program|slated to be replaced]] by the [[AH-1Z Viper]] and the [[UH-1Y Venom]].<ref>{{cite web | title = AH-1W Super Cobra Helicopter | work = USMC Fact File | publisher = U.S. Marine Corps | date = | url = http://www.hqmc.usmc.mil/factfile.nsf/7e931335d515626a8525628100676e0c/a251c8116905c4b98525626d00777b4b?OpenDocument | archiveurl = http://web.archive.org/web/20070205090648/http://www.hqmc.usmc.mil/factfile.nsf/7e931335d515626a8525628100676e0c/a251c8116905c4b98525626d00777b4b?OpenDocument | archivedate=5 February 2007 | accessdate = 3 August 2008}}</ref> Medium-lift squadrons flying the [[CH-46 Sea Knight|CH-46E Sea Knight]] and [[CH-53 Sea Stallion|CH-53D Sea Stallion]] helicopters are in the process of converting to the [[V-22 Osprey]], a [[tilt-rotor aircraft]] with superior range and speed. Heavy-lift squadrons are equipped with the [[CH-53E Super Stallion]] helicopter, eventually to be replaced with the upgraded [[CH-53E Super Stallion#CH-53K|CH-53K]].<ref>{{cite web | title = Marine Corps Rotary Wing | work = | publisher = [[Federation of American Scientists]] | date = | url = http://www.fas.org/man/dod-101/navy/docs/vision/Corpsr.htm | doi = | accessdate = }}</ref> Marine attack squadrons fly the [[AV-8 Harrier II|AV-8B Harrier II]]; while the fighter/attack mission is handled by the single-seat and dual-seat versions of the [[F/A-18 Hornet]] strike-fighter aircraft. The AV-8B is a [[V/STOL]] aircraft that can operate from [[amphibious assault ship]]s, land air bases and short, expeditionary airfields, while the F/A-18 can only be flown from land or aircraft carriers. Both are slated to be replaced by the STOVL B version of the [[F-35 Lightning II]], beginning training operations in 2008.<ref>{{cite web | last = | first = | authorlink = | coauthors = | title = F-35 Joint Strike Fighter Program | work = | publisher = [[United States Department of Defense|Department of Defense]] | date = | url = http://www.jsf.mil/ | doi = | accessdate = 3 August 2008 }}</ref> In addition, the Corps operates its own organic [[aerial refueling]] and [[electronic warfare]] (EW) assets in the form of the [[C-130 Hercules|KC-130 Hercules]] and [[EA-6B Prowler]]. The Hercules doubles as a ground refueller and tactical-airlift transport aircraft. The Prowler is the only active tactical electronic warfare aircraft left in the United States inventory, and has been labeled a "national asset"; frequently borrowed along with Navy Prowlers and [[EA-18G Growler]]s to assist in any American combat action since the retirement of the US Air Force's own EW aircraft.<ref>{{cite web | last = | first = | authorlink = | coauthors = | title = EA-6B Prowler | work = USMC Fact File | publisher = U.S. Marine corps | date = | url = http://www.hqmc.usmc.mil/factfile.nsf/7e931335d515626a8525628100676e0c/b69da93e5a6094a18525626e00490b3f?OpenDocument | archiveurl = http://web.archive.org/web/20061023105631/http://www.hqmc.usmc.mil/factfile.nsf/7e931335d515626a8525628100676e0c/b69da93e5a6094a18525626e00490b3f?OpenDocument | archivedate=23 October 2006 | doi = | accessdate = 3 August 2008}}</ref> The Marines also operate [[unmanned aerial vehicle]]s: the [[RQ-7 Shadow]] and [[Scan Eagle]] for tactical reconnaissance.<ref>{{cite web | last = Talton | first = Trista | authorlink = | coauthors = | title = U.S. Marines’ Shadow UAV Sees First Combat | work = | publisher = Defensenews.com | date = | url = http://www.defensenews.com/story.php?F=3117663&C=airwar | doi = | accessdate = 3 August 2008}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | last = Scully | first = Megan | authorlink = | coauthors = | title = Army assumes Navy, Marine UAV training | work = | publisher = Seapower | date = | url = http://www.seapower-digital.com/seapower/200712/ | doi = | accessdate = 6 December 2007}}</ref> Marine Fighter Training Squadron 401 ([[VMFT-401]]), operates [[Northrop F-5|F-5E, F-5F and F-5N Tiger II]] aircraft in support of air combat adversary ([[dissimilar air combat training|aggressor]]) training. Marine Helicopter Squadron One ([[HMX-1]]) operates the [[H-3 Sea King|VH-3D Sea King]] and [[Sikorsky S-70|VH-60N Nighthawk]] helicopters in the VIP transport role, most notably [[Marine One]], but are due to be replaced by the [[VH-71 Kestrel]]. A single Marine Corps C-130 Hercules aircraft "Fat Albert" is used to support the US Navy's flight demonstration team, the "[[Blue Angels]]". ==Marine bases and stations== [[File:Harriers over the MCAS Cherry Point sign.jpg|thumb|left|alt=color photo fo a pair of Harriers fling over the lanscaped sign reading "Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point"||[[AV-8B Harrier II]]s from [[VMA-231]] fly over [[Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point|MCAS Cherry Point]] ]] {{Main|List of United States Marine Corps installations}} The Marine Corps operates many major bases, 14 of which host operating forces, several support and training installations, as well as satellite facilities.<ref name="BGenWilliams">{{cite journal | last = Williams | first = BGen Willie J. | authorlink = | coauthors = | title = Bases and Stations: Are They Relevant? | journal = Marine Corps Gazette | volume = 88 | issue = 10 | pages = 12–16 | publisher = Marine Corps Association |month=October | year=2004 | url = | doi = | id = | accessdate = }}</ref> Marine Corps bases are concentrated around the locations of the [[Marine Expeditionary Force]]s, though [[Marine Forces Reserve|reserve units]] are scattered throughout the United States. The principal bases are [[Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton|Camp Pendleton]] on the West Coast, home to [[I Marine Expeditionary Force|I MEF]]; [[Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune|Camp Lejeune]] on the East Coast, home to [[II Marine Expeditionary Force|II MEF]]; and [[Marine Corps Base Camp Smedley D. Butler|Camp Butler]] in [[Okinawa Prefecture|Okinawa, Japan]], home to [[III Marine Expeditionary Force|III MEF]]. Other important bases include air stations, recruit depots, logistics bases, and training commands. [[Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms]] in [[California]] is the Marine Corps' largest base and home to the Corps' most complex, combined-arms, live-fire training. [[Marine Corps Base Quantico]] in [[Virginia]] is home to [[Marine Corps Combat Development Command]], and nicknamed the "Crossroads of the Marine Corps".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.quantico.usmc.mil/about_quantico.htm|title=About MCB Quantico}}</ref><ref>{{cite book | last = | first = | authorlink = | coauthors = | title = About Marine Corps University | publisher = U.S. Marine Corps | date = | location = | pages = | url = http://www.mcuf.org/about.asp | archiveurl = http://web.archive.org/web/20070927174929/http://www.mcuf.org/about.asp | archivedate=27 September 2007 | doi = | id = }}</ref> Marines also operate [[detachment]]s at many installations owned by other branches, to better share resources, such as specialty schools. Marines are also present at, and operate many, forward bases during expeditionary operations. Finally, Marines operate a presence in the [[National Capital Region (United States)|National Capital Region]], with [[Headquarters Marine Corps]] scattered amongst [[the Pentagon]], [[Henderson Hall (Arlington, Virginia)|Henderson Hall]], [[Washington Navy Yard]], and [[Marine Barracks, Washington, D.C.]]. ==See also== {{portal|Military of the United States|Naval Jack of the United States.svg|65}} {{USMCportallink}} *[[Five paragraph order]] *[[General Orders for Sentries]] *[[Iron Mike]] *[[Marine (military)]] *[[United States Marine Corps Women's Reserve]] == References == {{reflist|colwidth=25em}} {{Marine Corps}} == Further reading == {{refbegin}} *{{cite book | last = Ballendorf | first = Dirk Anthony | authorlink = | coauthors = | title = Pete Ellis: an amphibious warfare prophet, 1880–1923 | publisher = Naval Institute Press | year = 1997 | location = Annapolis, Md. | url = | doi = | id = }} *{{cite book | last = Chenoweth, USMCR (Ret.) | first = Colonel H. Avery | authorlink = | coauthors = Colonel Brooke Nihart, USMC (ret) | title = Semper fi: The Definitive Illustrated History of the U.S. Marines | publisher = Main Street | year = 2005 | location = New York | url = | doi = | isbn = 1-4027-3099-3 }} *{{cite book | last = Ellsworth | first = Harry Allanson | authorlink = | coauthors = | title = One Hundred Eighty Landings of United States Marines 1800–1934 | publisher = History and Museums Division, HQ, USMC | year = 1934 | location = Washington, D.C. | url = | doi = | id = }} *{{cite book | last = Estes | first = Kenneth W. | authorlink = | coauthors = | title = The Marine Officer's Guide, 6th Edition | publisher = Naval Institute Press | year = 2000 | location = | url = | doi = | isbn = 1-55750-567-5 }} *{{cite book | last = Fehrenbach | first = T.R. | authorlink = | coauthors = | title = This Kind of War: The Classic Korean War History | publisher = Brassey's | year = 1994 | location = | url = | doi = | isbn = 1-57488-259-7 }} *{{cite book | last = Foster | first = Douglas | authorlink = | coauthors = | title = Braving the Fear: The True Story of Rowdy US Marines in the Gulf War | publisher = PA | year = 2006 | location = Frederick, Md. | url =http://www.DouglasFosterBooks.com | doi = | isbn = 1-4137-9902-7 }} *{{cite book | last = Freedman | first = David H. | authorlink = | coauthors = | title = Corps Business: The 30 Management Principles of the U.S. Marines | publisher = Collins | year = 2000 | location = New York | pages = | url = | doi = | id = }} *{{cite book |last = Krulak | first = Victor H. | authorlink = Victor H. Krulak | coauthors = | title = First To Fight: An Inside View of the U.S. Marine Corps | publisher = Naval Institute Press | year = 1984 | location = Annapolis, Maryland | url = | doi = | isbn = 0-87021-785-2 }} *{{cite book | last = Lawliss | first = Chuck | authorlink = | coauthors = | title = The Marine Book: A Portrait of America's Military Elite | publisher = Thames and Hudson | year = 1988 | location = New York | url = | doi = | id = }} *{{cite book | last = Lind | first = William S. | authorlink = William S. Lind | coauthors = Col. [[Michael Wyly]] | title = Maneuver Warfare Handbook | publisher = Westview Press | year = 1985 | location = Boulder, Colorado | url = | doi = | isbn = 0-86531-862-X }} *{{cite book | last = Martinez | first = Marco | title = Hard Corps: From Gangster to Marine Hero | publisher = Crown Forum | year = 2007 | location = New York | url = | doi = | isbn = 978-0-307-38304-4 }} *{{cite book | last = Millet | first = Alan R. | title = Semper Fidelis: The History of the United States Marine Corps | publisher = Macmillan | year = 1991 | location = New York | doi = | id = }} *{{cite book | last = Moskin | first = J. Robert | title = The U.S. Marine Corps Story | publisher = McGraw-Hill | year = 1987 | location = New York | doi = | id = }} *{{cite book | last = Ricks | first = Thomas E. | authorlink = | coauthors = | title = Making the Corps | publisher = Scribner | year = 1997 | location = New York, NY | url = | doi = | isbn = 1-4165-4450-X }} *{{cite book | last = Simmons | first = Edwin H. | authorlink = | title = The United States Marines: A History, Fourth Edition | publisher = Naval Institute Press | year = 2003 | location = Annapolis, Maryland | doi = | isbn = 1-59114-790-5 }} *{{cite book | last = Warren | first = James A. | authorlink = | title = American Spartans: The U.S. Marines: A Combat History From Iwo Jima to Iraq | publisher = Free Press, Simon & Schuster | year = 2005 | location = New York | url = | doi = | isbn = 0-684-87284-6 }} *{{cite book | last = West | first = Bing | authorlink = Bing West | coauthors = General Ray L. Smith | title = The March Up: Taking Baghdad with the 1st Marine Division | publisher = Bantam Books |month=September | year=2003 | location = New York | url = | doi = | isbn = 0-553-80376-X }} *{{cite book | last = West | first = Bing | authorlink = Bing West | coauthors = | title = No True Glory: A Frontline Account of the Battle for Fallujah | publisher = Bantam Dell |month=October | year=2005 | location = New York | url = | doi = | isbn = 978-0-533-90402-7 }} {{refend}} ==External links== {{Spoken Wikipedia|en-wikivoice-okso-20070417.ogg|17 April 2007}} {{Sisterlinkqsc}} * [http://www.marines.mil/ Marines.mil - Official site] * [http://www.marines.com/ Official recruitment site] * [http://our.marines.com/cms_content/showblogvideo/rel_id/169/id/870 Official recruitment video] * {{MySpace|themarinecorps|United States Marine Corps}} * [http://www.navy.mil/maritime/ A Cooperative Strategy for 21st Century Seapower] * [http://www.usmcmuseum.org/ Marine Corps Heritage Foundation] * [http://4mermarine.com/USMC/dictionary.html An Unofficial Dictionary for Marines] {{US Marine Corps navbox}} {{US military navbox}} {{United States topics}} {{featured article}} [[Category:United States Marine Corps|*]] [[Category:Uniformed services of the United States|Marine Corps]] [[Category:Military units and formations established in 1775]] [[ar:قوات مشاة بحرية الولايات المتحدة]] [[az:ABŞ dəniz piyadası]] [[bg:Американски морски пехотен корпус]] [[ca:Cos de Marines dels Estats Units d'Amèrica]] [[cs:Námořní pěchota Spojených států amerických]] [[da:United States Marine Corps]] [[de:United States Marine Corps]] [[es:Cuerpo de Marines de los Estados Unidos]] [[eo:Marista infanterio de Usono]] [[eu:Ameriketako Estatu Batuetako Marineen Gorputza]] [[fa:تفنگداران دریایی ایالات متحده آمریکا]] [[fr:United States Marine Corps]] [[ko:미국 해병대]] [[hr:Korpus mornaričkog pješaštva SAD-a]] [[id:Korps marinir Amerika Serikat]] [[it:United States Marine Corps]] [[he:חיל הנחתים האמריקני]] [[lt:Jungtinių Valstijų jūrų pėstininkų korpusas]] [[ms:Kor Marin Amerika Syarikat]] [[nl:United States Marine Corps]] [[ja:アメリカ海兵隊]] [[no:United States Marine Corps]] [[nn:United States Marine Corps]] [[pl:United States Marine Corps]] [[pt:Corpo de Fuzileiros Navais dos Estados Unidos]] [[ro:United States Marine Corps]] [[ru:Корпус морской пехоты США]] [[simple:United States Marine Corps]] [[sl:Korpus mornariške pehote Združenih držav Amerike]] [[fi:Yhdysvaltain merijalkaväki]] [[sv:USA:s marinkår]] [[tr:Amerika Birleşik Devletleri Deniz Piyade Kolordusu]] [[uk:Корпус морської піхоти США]] [[vi:Thủy quân lục chiến Hoa Kỳ]] [[yi:יו.עס. מארין קארפס]] [[zh:美国海军陆战队]]'