USMC STRUCTURE AND ORGANIZATION

Outline

I. Mission DefinitionII. USMC Mission CompetenciesIII. Basic Structure and OrganizationIV. LocationsV. Marine Corps LeadershipVI. Quiz

Mission Definition

The seven-part Mission of the Marines is defined by the National Security Act of 1947, amended in 1952.

1. Provide Fleet Marine Forces with combined arms and supporting air components for service with the United States Fleet in the seizure or defense of advanced Naval bases.

2. Provide detachments and organizations for service on armed vessels of the Navy for the protection of naval property at naval stations and bases.

3. Develop, in coordination with the Army, Navy, and Air Force, the doctrine, tactics techniques, and equipment employed by landing forces in amphibious operations.

Mission Definition

4. Provide Marine forces for operations, in coordination with the Army, Navy, Air Force, according to the doctrine established by the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

5. Develop, in accordance with the Army, Navy, and Air Force, the doctrine, procedures, and equipment for operations.

6. Expand peacetime components to meet wartime needs.7. Perform such other duties as the President may direct.

USMC Mission Competencies

MAGTF operations are built upon a foundation of five special core competencies. Core competencies are developed from inherent Marine missions, such as expeditionary amphibious operations, and drive Marines to develop specific sets of skills while executing special roles and missions.1. Warfighting Culture and Dynamic Decision-making2. Expeditionary Forward Operations3. Sustainable and Interoperable Littoral Power

Projection4. Combined Arms Integration5. Forcible Entry from the Sea

USMC Mission Competencies

1. Warfighting Culture and Dynamic Decision-making: Marines focus on the force of human resolve and utilize technology to leverage the chaos and complexity of the battlefield. From early on, Marines are instilled with a determination to accomplish the mission. Marines focus on the force of human resolve and utilize technology to leverage the chaos and complexity of the battlefield.

2. Expeditionary Forward Operations: Marines are continuously deployed around the world near potential trouble spots where they can deter aggression, respond quickly, and resolve crises whenever called. The naval character and strategically mobile presence enhance cultural and situational awareness of potential operating areas.

USMC Mission Competencies

3. Sustainable and Interoperable Littoral Power Projection: Today’s scalable MAGTFs can access the world’s littoral regions on short notice, responding quickly with a force tailored to the mission at hand. Their partnership with the Navy provides significant organic sustainment capabilities from the sea and reduces a theater commander’s requirement to dedicate lift assets to early entry forces.

4. Combined Arms Integration: Marines pioneered development of concepts such as close air support and vertical envelopment. MAGTFs constantly blend the art and science of commanding, controlling, training, and executing combined arms operations from air, land, seas and space. Marines understand the logic and synergy of joint and multinational forces under the ‘Single Battle’ concept.

USMC Mission Competencies

5. Forcible Entry from the Sea: Together, the Navy and Marines provide the Nation with its primary capability to rapidly project and sustain combat power ashore in the face of armed opposition. MEFs, reinforced by maritime prepositioned assets when required, allow the US to protect its worldwide interests, reassure allies, and fortify other elements of national power.

Basic Structure and Organization

The Marine Corps' minimum peacetime structure shall consist of not less than three combat divisions, three aircraft wings, and such other combat, aviation, and other land services as may be organic, therein. The Marine Corps will also maintain a fourth division and air wing in the reserve. The operating forces of the Marine Corps are currently

organized into: (1) Marine Corps Forces Command (MARFORCOM) with

headquarters in Norfolk, VA (2) Marine Corps Forces Pacific (MARFORPAC) with headquarters

in Camp Smith, HI (3) Marine Corps Forces Special Operations Command

(MARSOC) with headquarters in Camp Lejeune, NC.

Basic Structure and Organization

The Commander, MARFORCOM is assigned to the Commander, U.S. Joint Forces Command (JFCOM). He provides the 2d Marine Expeditionary Force (II MEF) and other unique capabilities to JFCOM.

Likewise, the Commander MARFORPAC is assigned to the Commander, U.S. Pacific Command. He provides I and III MEFs to PACOM.

The Commander, MARSOC is assigned to the Commander, Special Operations Command (SOCOM). He provides assigned forces to SOCOM.

Basic Structure and Organization

Marine Air-Ground Task Force (MAGTF): For operations and training, Marine Forces will be formed into Marine Air-Ground Task Forces (MAGTFs). The MAGTF is the basic structure of deployed Marines and can operate across a full spectrum of conflicts, including amphibious operations. They have no standard structure, but rather are constituted as appropriate for the specific situation/mission. The MAGTF provides a single commander the optimum combined-arms force for the situation he or she faces. As the situation changes, it may of course be necessary to restructure the MAGTF. Regardless of its size, a MAGTF is always comprised of four elements:

1. Ground Combat Element (GCE): Infantry (battalion, regiment, or division) augmented with tank, artillery, LAV, AAV, combat engineers and reconnaissance assets.

2. Air Combat Element (ACE): Contains aircraft to support the tactical situation. Tactical helicopters with fixed wing assets for close air support

3. Combat Service Support Element (CSSE): Provides all necessary logistical support to the MAGTF including: Transportation, Engineering, Embarkation, Medical/Dental, and Headquarters and Service.

4. 4.) Command Element (CE)

Basic Structure and Organization

Marine Expeditionary Force (MEF): The MEF is the principal war fighting element in the active force structure of the Marine Corps and is usually commanded by a Lieutenant General. The size and composition of a deployed MEF varies depending on the needs of the mission. Each MEF has one to three Marine Expeditionary Units (MEU) assigned to it that deploy throughout the globe.

Marine Expeditionary Brigade (MEB): A MEB, usually led by a brigadier general, is built around a reinforced infantry regiment, an aircraft group and a Service Support Group. Capable of rapid deployment and employment via amphibious or airlift methods, it is the first echelon of a Marine Expeditionary Force.

Basic Structure and Organization

Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU): The smallest task force unit, the MEU has approximately 2,200 personnel and is built around a reinforced infantry battalion, a composite aircraft squadron and a support group. It is commanded by a colonel and is routinely deployed with an Amphibious Ready Group. The ground element of a MEU is a Battalion Landing Team (BLT), comprised of a reinforced infantry battalion of approximately 1,200 Marines, including three Rifle Companies. The aviation unit of a MEU is a reinforced medium helicopter squadron.

Basic Structure and Organization

Marine Division: There are three Marine divisions in the active force and one in the reserve. It is the largest Marine ground combat organization of a MEF and is usually commanded by a major-general.

Marine Air Wing (MAW): The largest Marine aviation organization of the MEF, each MAW has a unique organizational structure and is commanded by a brigadier general.

Marine Aircraft Group (MAG): Similar to an Air Force Wing and commanded by a colonel, a MAG is the smallest aviation unit that is designed for independent operations.

Marine Logistics Group (MLG): Formerly called Force Service Support Group, the MLG provides responsive, quality logistics support to a MEF, other Marine, joint, and combined forces and federal agencies, as directed, through expeditionary means, forward basing, and global sourcing.

Basic Structure and Organization

  CO Personnel and Ships

Self-Sustain-ability

Ground Combat Element (GCE)

Aviation Combat Element (ACE)

Combat Service Support Element (CSSE)

MarineExpeditionaryUnit (MEU) 

Col 

1,500-3,0002-4 amphibiousships 

15 days BattalionLanding Team(BLT) 

Marine MediumHelicopter Squadronaugmented to acomposite helicoptersquadron

MEU Service SupportGroup (MSSG) – formedfrom a Marine Logistics Group (MLG)

MarineExpeditionaryBrigade (MEB) 

BGen 7,000-12,000;up to 25amphibiousships 

30 days RegimentalLanding Team(RLT) 

Marine AircraftGroup (MAG) -multiple squadrons ofrotary wing aircraft 

Brigade Service SupportGroup (BSSG)–formed from the Marine Logistics Group (MLG)

MarineExpeditionaryForce (MEF)

LtGen 

30,000-40,000

60 days MarineDivision

Marine Aircraft Wing (MAW) - will containall types of aircraft

Marine LogisiticsGroup - established at sea and ashore

Locations of Major Air/Ground Elements

 Locations of Major Air/Ground Elements I MEF: Camp Pendleton, CA II MEF: Camp Lejeune, NC III MEF: Camp Courtney, Okinawa, Japan

I Marine Air Wing: MCAS Butler, Okinawa, Japan II Marine Air Wing: MCAS Cherry Point, NC III Marine Air Wing: MCAS Miramar, CA

I Marine Division: Camp Pendleton, CA II Marine Division: Camp Lejeune, NC III Marine Division: Camp Courtney, Okinawa, Japan

I MLG: Camp Pendleton, CA II MLG: Camp Lejeune, NC III MLG: Camp Smedley Butler, Okinawa, Japan

MEU Locations

 MEU Locations1. West Coast/1st Marine Division: 11th, 13th, 15th MEUs; deploys to the Pacific and Persian Gulf2. East Coast/2d Marine Division: 22nd, 24th, 26th MEUs; deploys to the Mediterranean Sea and Persian Gulf3. Overseas/ 3d Marine Division: 31st MEU; deploys to the Western Pacific **MEUs are not standing units. The command element of a MEU is a standing command. The units that comprise the GCE, ACE, and CSSE rotate after each scheduled deployment. Each particular unit is “chopped” or attached to a MEU for a period of approximately 18 months

Marine Corps Reserves

Marine Forces Reserve (MARFORRES) is located in New Orleans, Louisiana, and serves as the headquarters for all Marine Reservists and Reserve units. MARFORRES provides policy, guidance, direction, and support to 104,000 Reserve Marines throughout the U.S. The four subordinate commands of MARFORRES are the 4th Marine Division, the 4th Marine Aircraft Wing, the 4th Marine Logistics Group, and the Marine Corps Mobilization Command in Kansas City, Missouri.

Marine Corps Leadership

Marine Corps Leadership: The Marine Corps is commanded by the Commandant of the Marine Corps (CMC). He is assisted in his duties by the Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps (SMMC). They serve a four-year term of duty by the direction of the President. The current billet holders at print are:

35th CMC: General James F. Amos, USMC.17th SMMC: Sgt. Maj. Micheal P. Barrett,

USMC.

Quiz

MARINE EXPEDITIONARY UNIT

What does MEU stand for?

• I MARINE DIVISION: CAMP PENDLETON, CA

• II MARINE DIVISION: CAMP LEJEUNE, NC

• III MARINE DIVISION: CAMP COURTNEY, OKINAWA, JAPAN

Where are the 3 Marine Divisions located?

1. GROUND COMBAT ELEMENT (GCE)

2. AIR COMBAT ELEMENT (ACE)

3. COMBAT SERVICE SUPPORT ELEMENT (CSSE)

4. COMMAND ELEMENT (CE)

What are the four elements of a MAGTF?

MARINE DIVISION

A ____ is the largest Marine ground combat organization of a MEF and is usually commanded by a major-

general. (MARDIV, MAW, MAG, or MLG)

NORFOLK, VA

Where is the headquarters of Marine Corps Forces

Command (MARFORCOM)?

Questions?