1. United States Marine Corps Special Operations Forces (MARSOF)
Welcome to the Introduction to Special Operations Forces (ISOF) lesson on Marine Special Operations Forces. This lesson will help you gain a better understanding of the youngest service component in Special Operations Command.
Click arrow below to continue

2. MARSOF Always Forward Always Faithful SILENT WARRIORS
Marine Special Operations Forces are organized under the Marine Special Operations Command (MARSOC). Like the other SOF service components, MARSOC has its own unique history, means of organizing, core activities, and methods of employment. Understanding these facets of Marine Special Operations will expand your knowledge and understanding of US SOF.
Let’s take a look at some of the capabilities of MARSOC before we discuss them in more detail.
SILENT WARRIORS

3. Video

4. MARSOF Lineage
1954 Force Reconnaissance Concept developed at Camp Pendleton, CA.
USMC retains Force Reconnaissance Companies and does not contribute forces to USSOCOM.
June 2003 USMC stood up SOC Det 1 to assess value of USMC SOF permanently attached to USSOCOM.
March Det 1 deployed in support of OIF.
SECDEF designates Marine Corps component member of USSOCOM to provide “Expeditionary SOF”.
2005 Foreign Military Training Unit becomes MSOAG.
st and 2nd Force Recon Co become 1st and 2d MSOB.
Though new to SOCOM, MARSOC traces its lineage to specialized units throughout Marine Corps history, namely those in force reconnaissance, amphibious reconnaissance, and Marine raiders. The spirit of MARSOC can be traced through Marine recon units fighting Vietcong forces in Vietnam. Raiders conducting bold raids in the Pacific World War II campaign, small squads engaged with indigenous forces in Haiti, Nicaragua, and the Philippines, and as far back as Marine Lt Presley O’Bannon leading a force of Marines and mercenaries traveling across 600 miles of Libyan desert to attack the fortress at Derna, Tripoli, in 1805.

5. Since Activation Marine Corps Special Operations Det 1
General Lindsay prepares to take command at USSOCOM activation ceremony, April 1987.
Marine Corps Special Operations Det 1
Forerunner to MARSOF
Pilot program to assess value of Marine SOF, June 2003
Deployed to Iraq with Naval Special Warfare, March 2004
Independent study finds Marine SOF valid concept
At the time of the creation of the joint U.S. Special Operations Command in 1986, the Marine Corps retained its force reconnaissance companies within its Air Ground Task Force command structure and did not contribute forces to USSOCOM. It was not until June 2003 that the Marine Corps activated Special Operations Command Detachment One, at Camp Pendleton, as a pilot program to assess the value of Marine Special Operations Forces permanently attached to USSOCOM. Detachment 1 deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom in March 2004 and operated under Naval Special Warfare Group One to execute direct action, coalition support, and battlefield shaping operations. A study by Joint Special Operations University found that, “The trial deployment demonstrated the Marine Corps Special Operations Command detachment could effectively conduct direct action and special reconnaissance... it is reasonable to suggest that the detachment could also conduct or support foreign internal defense, counterterrorism, special activities, selected theater security cooperation plans, and other tasks as required.” 5

6. Since Activation
24 February MARSOC activated at Camp Lejeune, NC.
17 July MARSOC designated SOF by SecDef
Assigned to SOCOM in accordance with Title 10
October Full Operational Capability.
Projected FY Full Mission Capability End strength approximately ,600 Marines, Sailors, Soldiers and civilians.
Projected FY Total Force Growth
End strength approximately 4,000
On 24 February 2006, MARSOC was activated during a ceremony at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. That day marked the official entry of the Marine Corps into U.S. Special Operations Forces and was a particularly important milestone because, in the words of then Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld offered during the ceremony, “...it pairs two of history’s most dedicated groups of warriors: the men and women of the U.S. Special Operations Command with the United States Marine Corps.” 6

7. Relationships SPECIAL OPERATIONS COMMAND (SOCOM) ARMY SPECIAL
AIR FORCE
SPECIAL
OPERATIONS
COMMAND
MARINE CORPS
SPECIAL
OPERATIONS
COMMAND
JOINT
SPECIAL
OPERATIONS
COMMAND
NAVAL
SPECIAL
WARFARE
COMMAND
Established on 24 February 2006, the United States Marine Corps Special Operations Command is the Marine Corps component of USSOCOM.

8. MARSOF Mission
Recruit, organize, train, equip, educate, sustain, maintain combat readiness and deploy task organized, scalable and responsive Marine Corps Special Operations Forces (MARSOF) worldwide to accomplish Special Operations (SO) missions assigned by CDRUSSOCOM, and / or Geographic Combatant Commanders (GCC) employing SOF.
MARSOC headquarters, Camp Lejeune, N.C.
MARSOC is headquartered at Camp Lejeune, N.C., and when completely fielded will include approximately 2,600 Marines, Sailors, and civilian employees. MARSOC performs the Title 10 functions of manning, organizing, training, and equipping Marine Special Operations Forces (MARSOF) to accomplish their mission. MARSOC headquarters is responsible for identifying Marine Special Operations-unique requirements; developing MARSOF tactics, techniques, procedures, and doctrine; and executing assigned missions in accordance with designated conditions and standards.

9. Special Boat Unit (SBU) Spec Tactics Squadrons (STS)
Component Comparison
WARCOM
US Navy
SEALs
Special Boat Unit (SBU)
USASOC
US Army
Special Forces
Rangers
Spec Ops Aviation
MISO
Civil Affairs
9,480
31,551
15,236
AFSOC
US Air Force
Spec Ops Wing (SOW)
Spec Tactics Squadrons (STS)
This chart provides a graphic description of the service component sizes within SOCOM, and the relatively small size of MARSOC at four percent of the SOCOM manning. Even as MARSOC continues to grow to its full authorized strength of 2619, the portion of SOCOM will remain below five percent. This contribution from the Marine Corps to SOCOM equals less than one percent of the Marine Corps, based on fiscal year 2011 Defense Manpower Requirements Report, December 2010.
2,619
MARSOC
US Marine Corps
MSOR
MSOSG
MSOS

10. MARSOC Current MARSOC Task Organization MSOR MSOSG MSOS FMC FY14
Camp Lejeune
179 USMC
11 USN
MSOR
172 USMC
11 USN
Camp Pendleton
MSOSG
47 USMC
MSOS
279 USMC
25 USN
Intel Bn (-)
1st MSOB
173 USMC
22 USN
2d MSOB
131 USMC
8 USN
3d MSOB
111 USMC
8 USN
133 USMC
MSOC
11 USMC
1 USN
MSOC
11 USMC
1 USN
MSOC
11 USMC
1 USN
93 USMC
1 USN
MSOT
12 USMC
2 USN
MSOT
12 USMC
2 USN
MSOT
12 USMC
2 USN
A Marine Corps major general commands MARSOC with a supporting staff designed to be compatible in all functional areas with both USSOCOM and the headquarters of the Marine Corps. Although the MARSOC headquarters is a non-deployable unit, the MARSOC commander and members of his staff may augment as needed to deploy in support of USSOCOM tasks to form, deploy, and employ a Joint Special Operations Task Force. The MARSOC structure includes a headquarters and three subordinate units: the Marine Special Operations Regiment (MSOR), with three Marine Special Operations Battalions (MSOB) (1st MSOB at Camp Pendleton, California, and 2nd and 3rd MSOB at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina), the Marine Special Operations Support Group (MSOSG), and the Marine Special Operations School (MSOS) also at Camp Lejeune.
Notice the breakout of naval personnel in the MARSOC structure. Like other Marine units, MARSOC receives its medical and religious support personnel from the Navy. Corpsmen have always proudly served alongside Marines as “docs”. The Corpsmen within MARSOC trace their lineage to the Special Amphibious Reconnaissance Corpsmen (SARC), specialized Fleet Marine Force Corpsmen that supported reconnaissance units. SARCs attend joint training at the US Army John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center.
The two US Army personnel assigned are the veterinarians that provide care to the Multi-purpose Canines (MPCs), the SOF version of Military Working Dogs (MWDs).
Also note the very small number of civilian positions in the command structure.
FMC FY14
Tng Cell
Tng Cell
Tng Cell
73 USMC
23 USN
11 USMC
11 USMC
11 USMC
Current structure
USMC 2,291
USN 191 USA 2
Civ 135
TOTAL 2619
Det West
159 USMC
2 USN 10

11. MSOR, “3 Like MSOBs” and enabler growth…to increase “tooth to tail”
GAO Study
Government Accountability Office Study, Aug ’06 – Jul ‘07
“…the size of the Marine Corps special operations command (2,516 personnel) was not determined through an analysis of the Command’s assigned missions.”
“…Marine Corps planners prioritized the assignment of personnel in warfighter positions in special operations forces units over positions in support units.”
Reorganization Approval
CDRUSSOCOM and CMC in Aug 2007; MROC in May 2008
“The MROC is fully committed to funding the MARSOC reorganization costs…”
As a learning organization, MARSOC requested a Government Accounting Office (GAO) study, which was conducted from August 2006 to July Two key findings from the study determined that the MARSOC structure was not designed through analysis of any assigned missions and that the design favored warfighter positions rather than support personnel. The Marine Corps and USSOCOM committed to a restructuring that would realign the operational units and increase enablers.
MSOR, “3 Like MSOBs” and enabler growth…to increase “tooth to tail”
(growth through FY 14)
MROC DM

12. ‘EMBRACE’ MARSOC
“We will fully embrace MARSOC and Capitalize on its unique capabilities, while we strengthen the relationships between our operating forces and special operations forces.”
General Amos, excerpt from 35th CMC Commandant’s Planning Guidance 2010
Military Occupational Specialty (MOS) for MARSOC personnel
0370 FMOS
0372 PMOS
8071 NMOS
Total Force Structure Increase (1,000)
A significant transition occurred in 2010 as the 35th Commandant of the Marine Corps (CMC) assumed command and published his planning guidance. Within the 2010 CMC Planning Guidance, General Amos stated, “We will fully embrace MARSOC and capitalize on its unique capabilities, while we strengthen the relationships between our operating forces and Special Operations Forces.” This embracing of MARSOC most immediately translated into a Military Occupational Specialty (MOS) track for officers, enlisted operators, and support enablers in MARSOC, and in a force structure increase of up to 1,000 Marines. The growth in personnel is designed to strengthen the support deficiencies identified by the 2007 GAO report.

13. MARSOC MARSOC Total Force Total Force USMC 3426 USN 266 USA 6 Civ 299
317
MARSOC
Camp Lejeune
Camp Pendleton
1,455
MSOR
MSOS
285
MSOSG
1,369
MSOR Spt Det HQ
SOTB
MSOCSB
MSOLB
H&S / GS Co
Co ‘B’
ENG
Co ‘C’
1st MSOB
2d MSOB
3d MSOB
SERE
LANG
493
379
418
418
418
COMM Co
H&S / GS Co
MPC Plt
FIRES
Intel Co ‘C’
Intel Co ‘B’
MSOC
MSOC
MSOC
MSOC
MSOC
MSOC
MSOC
MSOC
MSOC
MSOC
MSOC
MSOC
MSOT
MSOT
MSOT
MSOT
MSOT
MSOT
MSOT
MSOT
MSOT
MSOT
MSOT
MSOT
Approved total force structure will “thicken the lines,” balancing out the support agencies in MARSOC. These additional Marines and Sailors will fill in the headquarters, positions within Marine Special Operations School, and several enhancements throughout the Marine Special Operations Support Group, including growth of the West Coast detachment to a battalion-sized organization. By the time these total force growth estimates are realized in fiscal year 14, the building of operators will have achieved the fourth team in each Marine Special Operations Company (MSOC) and the fourth MSOC in each Marine Special Operations Battalion (MSOB).
MSOSB
412
Total Force
USMC 3426
USN 266 USA 6
Civ 299
TOTAL 4057
MPC Plt
Intel Co ‘A’
FIRES
Log Co ‘A’
COMM Plt
GS Plt

14. Regiment (MSOR) 3 Battalions (MSOBs) Core Activities
Direct Action (DA)
Special Reconnaissance (SR)
Foreign Internal Defense (FID)
Counterterrorism (CT)
Information Operations (IO)
Counter Proliferation
The Marine Special Operations Regiment (MSOR) is located at Camp Lejeune, NC, and consists of a headquarters company and three Marine Special Operations Battalions. The MSOR, commanded by a Marine colonel, organizes, provides, trains, and equips qualified Marine forces for worldwide special operations missions as directed. MARSOC maintains assigned core activities in direct action (DA), special reconnaissance (SR), foreign internal defense (FID), counterterrorism (CT), and support to Information Operations (IO) and counter proliferation.
In the next few slides we’ll look closer at the MSOR subordinate units and capabilities.

15. Battalion (MSOB)
Deployable SOTF-level command with the capability to augment a JSOTF.
Provides command and control and basic staff functions for MSOC or MSOT(s) and attached enablers.
As a deployed MARSOTF the Command Element (CE) provides C2 capacity, special equipment support, intelligence, and fire support to two or more MSOCs.
There are three Marine Special Operations battalions (MSOBs) within the MSOR. 1st MSOB is located at Camp Pendleton, CA, and the 2nd and 3rd MSOBs are both located at Camp Lejeune, NC. Each MSOB is commanded by a lieutenant colonel and is organized, trained, and equipped to deploy for worldwide employment as directed. MSOBs are comprised of a headquarters element and four Marine Special Operations companies. They include organic combat support, intelligence, fire support, Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD), as well as water and parachute assets for amphibious and airborne insertions. MSOBs provide command and control and basic staff functions for MSOCs, and can augment a Joint Special Operations Task Force (JSOTF) as a deployable command.

16. Company (MSOC) MSOT XXX1 1/11/0/2 (14) MSOT XXX2 1/11/0/2 (14)
MSOC HQ 4/8/0/1 (13)
CO – Maj
XO – Capt
1stSgt
S2 – Capt
Ops Chf – MGySgt
S3 – GySgt
Air O – Capt
S4 – GySgt
S6 – GySgt
Data – Sgt
SAT – Sgt
Radio – Sgt
Med – HMC
Enablers: 0/22/0/0 (22)
EOD – SSgt (4)
Riggers – SSgt( 1) /Sgt (1)
Boat Mech – Sgt (1) 1
FCT SSgt – Sgt (3)
Admin – Cpl (1)
Comm Repair Tech – Cpl (2)
MT Mech – Sgt (1) / Cpl (1)
Ammo Tech – Sgt (1)
Armor – SSgt (1)
Embark – Cpl(1)
Supply Admin – Sgt (1)
Generator Mech – Cpl (1)
MPC Team (2)
Intel DST: 1/12/0/0 (13)
CI/HUMINT Off – CWO3 (1)
HUMINT – SSgt (3)
SIGINT Collector S – Sgt (1) /Sgt (2)
Crypto Linguist S – gt (1) /Sgt (1) SI Comm – Cpl (1)
Intel Analyst – Sgt (2)
Geospatial – Sgt (1)
Each Marine Special Operations Company (MSOC) is commanded by a major and is capable of deploying with three Marine Special Operations Teams (MSOTs) for conduct of special reconnaissance, direct action, and foreign internal defense missions. When deployed, each MSOC is augmented with direct intelligence support and enabler capabilities, shown graphically in green blocks on either side of the organic MSOC structure. With robust intelligence fusion, integrated combat enabler support, and specialized MSOTs, an MSOC provides a tremendous level of capabilities to commanders as a complete “find, fix, finish, exploit, and analyze” (F3EA) package.
MSOT XXX /11/0/2 (14)
MSOT XXX /11/0/2 (14)
MSOT XXX /11/0/2 (14)
Base MSOC 7/41/7 (55)
With Enablers 8/75/7 (90)

17. MSOC Future Capability
Support: 0/27/0/0 (27)
EOD SSgt (5)
Riggers SSgt (1) /Sgt (1) 0451
Boat Mech Sgt (1) 1342
FCT SSgt -Sgt (5) 8002/0861/0621
Admin Cpl (1) 0151
Comm Repair Tech Cpl (2) 2844
MT Mech Sgt (1) / Cpl (1) 3521
Ammo Tech Sgt (1) 2311
Armor SSgt (1) 2112
Embark Cpl(1) 0431
Supply Admin Sgt (1) 3043
Generator Mech Cpl (1) 1142
MPC Team (4) Any MOS
MSOC HQ 4/8/0/1 (13)
CO Maj 0302
XO Capt 0302
1stSgt 1stSgt 8999
S2 Capt 0202
Ops Chf MGySgt 0321
S3 GySgt 0321
Air O Capt 7502
S4 GySgt 0491
S6 GySgt 0629
Data Sgt 0656
SAT Sgt 0627
Radio Sgt 0621
Med HMC 8403
Intel DST: 2/23/0/0 (25)
OIC
HUMINT Off CWO3 (1) 0210
HUMINT SSgt (5) 0211
SIGINT Collector SSgt (4) /Sgt (4) 2621
Crypto Linguist Sgt (1) /Sgt (1) 267X SI Comm Cpl (1) 2651
Intel Analyst Sgt (5) 0231
GEOINT Sgt (1) 0241/61
9 at MSOC HQ
4 to each MSOT
-- HUMINT
-- SIGINT (2)
-- Intel Analyst
USSOCOM and the Marine Corps recognize the unique intelligence fusion capability integrated in an MSOC, and have committed to enhancing this capability. Future growth will add select intelligence specialties that will provide direct support elements to each MSOT. This will further enhance the intelligence fusion in the MSOC and allow greater distribution of MSOTs.
MSOT XXX /11/0/2 (14)
Plus 4 DSE
MSOT XXX /11/0/2 (14)
Plus 4 DSE
MSOT XXX /11/0/2 (14) Plus 4 DSE
MSOT XXX /11/0/2 (14) Plus 4 DSE
Base MSOC / 52/0/9 (69)
With Enablers 10/102/0/9 (121)

18. *Special Amphib Recon Corpsman
Team (MSOT)
Network Operations Course (12 wks)
MNOC
MFIC
18 B
18 C
18 D
Field Intelligence Course (3 wks)
SO Weapons Course (14 wks)
SO Engineers Course (14 wks)
SO IDC Course (6/12 mos)
The MARSOC building block
Captain
Team Leader
GySgt
Ops SNCO
MSgt
Team Chief
GySgt
Comm Chief
Each Marine Special Operations Team (MSOT) is comprised of 14 men, and is the smallest MARSOF unit capable of conducting independent Special Operations missions. Compare the size of an MSOT with SEAL platoons and Special Forces teams. An MSOT can conduct operations in remote areas and austere environments for extended periods of time with minimal external direction and support. Marines and Sailors are cross trained in five field specialty tracks: intelligence, communications, medical, weapons, and engineering. Each team has direct intelligence links to the MSOC as well as access to the company’s enabling assets for support.
SSgt
Element Leader
Cpl
Element Member
HM2
SARC-IDC
SSgt
Element Leader
Cpl
Element Member
HM2
SARC *
*Special Amphib Recon Corpsman
Sgt
Element Member
Cpl
Element Member
Sgt
Element Member
Cpl
Element Member
MSOT O-3 x 1 E-8 x 1 E-7 x 1 E-6 x 3 E-5 x 5 E-4 x 3 Total: 14
SF A Team O-3 x 1 WO x 1 E-8 x 1 E-7 x 5 E-6 x 4 Total: 12
SEAL Platoon O-3 x 1 O-2 x 2 E-7 x 1 E-6 x 5 E-5 x 8 Total: 17

19. Support Group (MSOSG)
Provides task organized detachments to support MARSOC subordinate commands and other Joint SOF.
Detachment West directly supports 1st MSOB with: Engineering Support, Intelligence, Communications, Motor Transportation, Maintenance, and Supply.
MSOSG is composed of 4 subordinate units:
HQ Company
Logistics Company
Support Company
Intel Battalion
The Marine Special Operations Support Group (MSOSG) provides scalable and deployable support capabilities for worldwide Special Operations missions. Headquartered in Camp Lejeune, North Carolina the MSOSG includes a tailored subordinate support detachment, located at Camp Pendleton, California. The MSOSG contains three subordinate elements: a logistics company, a support company, and an intelligence battalion. The logistics company provides support across MARSOC with vehicle, weapon, communication and optic maintenance, utility engineering functions, motor transportation, medical, supply, and contracting. The support company provides communication assets, combined arms planning and coordination, and has a limited multi-purpose canine support service. The Intelligence Battalion includes all-source intelligence fusion capabilities to include counterintelligence, signals intelligence, human intelligence, technical surveillance countermeasures, and computer network operations.

20. School (MSOS)
Recruit, Screen, Assess, and Select (RSAS) Marines and Sailors.
Trains and certifies MARSOF to SOF Standards.
Individual Training Course
Raven Series Exercises
Advanced Skill Courses
Develops and standardizes doctrine and TTPs.
Primary link for training and education to Marine Corps and service component SOF schools.
The Marine Special Operations School (MSOS) is the training and education arm of MARSOC and acts as the conduit between MARSOC, USSOCOM, the SOF component schools, and the Marine Corps Training and Education Command (TECOM). Headquartered in Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, MSOS educates, trains, and certifies all MARSOF to be fully interoperable with all other forces within USSOCOM. MSOS is also responsible for exercise control groups and they develop and standardize doctrine and tactics, techniques, and procedures (TTPs). MSOS’s primary function is to recruit, screen, assess, select, and provide SOF-related individual training to designated Marines and Sailors for duty with MARSOC. MARSOC draws from across the spectrum of military occupational specialties (MOSs) within the active duty Marine Forces, but currently focuses primarily on combat arms and selected combat support specialties. MSOS supervises the final selection of uniquely qualified candidates to ensure MARSOC has the right Marines and Sailors for operations conducted with minimal oversight, and the mental and physical capabilities to operate in austere environments and adverse conditions while continuing to make sound decisions. As a result of this responsibility, MARSOC has established a seven month Individual Training Course (ITC) for operators.

21. Critical Skills Operator Training
Well Trained, Mature Marines
Assessment & Selection Prep Course
Screen
Recruit
Assessment & Selection
Select
Advanced Language
Training
Individual Training Course
This diagram illustrates a pipeline of training for the Marine operator, called a Critical Skills Operator (CSO). This process of screening, assessing, selecting, and training is on average an 18-month investment. Following the chart in a clockwise fashion we see that CSOs are well-trained and mature Marines recruited from the Operating Forces of the Marine Corps. Operators are not selected directly out of initial Marine Corps training, nor are they directly recruited from the civilian population. A Marine is recruited, screened, assessed, and selected, than attends the Individual Training Course (ITC), designed to provide all of the training required in a basic level trained Marine Special Operator. Marines are designated specific Subject Matter Expert (SME) tracks and receive their initial specialty training at Camp Lejeune or Fort Bragg, NC, before joining their units in the Operating Forces of MARSOC. MARSOC conducts the MARSOC Field Intelligence Course and the MARSOC Network Operations Course at MSOS, while collaborating with USASOC for the Weapons (18B); Engineer (18C); Med Course (18D) at Fort Bragg. Marines with a propensity for learning languages are selected to attend the Advanced Linguistics Course (ALC), and all Marines will continue with other advanced specialty skills throughout their careers. Personnel will go from the operating forces to these schools as required for career progression and growth of specialty skills at the company and team levels.
Advanced/
Specialty Skills
Courses
Subject Matter Expert Tracks
Operating Forces 21

22. Assessment & Selection
Marine Special Operations School conducts an A&S to determine qualified candidates for Marine Special Operations Teams (MSOT). Assessment and Selection (A&S) is a formal process designed to identify Marines and Sailors who have particular attributes best suited for special operations. This process highlights those with a propensity for making sound decisions with minimal guidance in austere and adverse conditions.
The MARSOC A&S program is 19 days long and consists of three phases. Four of these 19 days account for screening verification to ensure the Marine is in compliance with screening prerequisites, is medically suitable to partake in the assessment, and possesses mental suitability for special operations. 11 days account for the assessment phase, and two days account for in-depth psychological interviews, and two days for a selection board and administrative processing.
Those that are selected by the board return to their units and await orders to attend the next available individual training course (ITC).

23. Individual Training Course (ITC)
Phase I centered on individual skills and small-unit tactics
Phase II & III focus on special reconnaissance and precision raids
Phase IV focus on skills and mission sets of irregular warfare / counter insurgency
The Individual Training Course is a physically and mentally challenging seven month course designed to provide MARSOC critical skills operators with a basic foundation of essential Special Operations skills. The institutional approach at ITC is to develop capable critical skills operators by process of instruction, practice, and evaluation. Skills are continually reinforced by requiring students to apply them under increasingly adverse conditions. The course is four phases:
Phase I: Basic field skills and SOCOM pre-deployment requirements to include individual and small unit movement and tactics.
Phase 2: Building block from the previous phase incorporates mission planning and special reconnaissance training, combat marksmanship, amphibious operations, weapons, demolitions, and additional small unit tactics.
Phase 3: Additional training in communications, reconnaissance, and raids. Multiple operations during this phase employ reconnaissance and raid skills in rural and urban environments.
Phase 4: The final phase expands instruction to include irregular warfare operations. The phase culminates in an exercise called Operation Derna Bridge. During Operations Derna Bridge the critical skills operators will employ all of the skills learned throughout the course while training, advising, and operating with a partner nation/ irregular force.
Marine enlisted Critical Skills Operators receive the new Primary Military Occupational Specialty of 0372, and Marine officers receive an additional military occupational skill identifier of 0370.

24. Advanced Skills Courses
Close Quarters Battle Leader
Breacher
Advanced Sniper
Tactical Acquisition Exploitation (SR level II)
Hostile Forces Tagging Tracking Locating (HFTTL)
Helicopter Rope Suspension Training
Advanced EOD
Joint Tactical Attack Controller (JTAC)
Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) Operator
Advance Special Operations (ASO) Level II
Full Spectrum Level “C” SERE
Advanced Linguist Course
The Marine Special Operations School also conducts a number of advance skill courses, some of which are displayed here.
The current operating environment has highlighted the necessity for enhanced language capabilities and cultural competency. MARSOC Marines are required to undergo continual language training; select Marines, based on ability, are given further intensive language training at the Advanced Linguist Course (ALC). ALC produces 2+/2+ proficiency speakers in eight different languages (French, Tagalog, Arabic, Portuguese, Bahasa Indonesian, Pashtu, Urdu, and Dari) that correlate to operational focus areas. These language skills in conjunction with cultural skills enable teams to achieve impacts beyond the tactical level.

25. Combat Support Enabler
Training Pipeline
Recruit and Screen
Special Operations Training Course (STC)
MOS Enhancement Courses
Advanced Language
Training
Well Trained,
Mature Marines
Intel
Comm
EOD
JTAC
MPC
Just as Critical Skills Operators require a baseline foundation of training to excel in Special Operations, the Combat Support Enablers must have basic and intermediate warfighting skills needed for SOF employment. Support enablers are screened and selected for assignment to MARSOC, and rather than attending the Individual Training Course, are provided with the Special Operations Training Course (STC). STC is a two month course that prepares combat support and combat service support personnel for operating in a SOF environment with instruction in such as areas as communications, close air support/call for fire (CAS/CFF), foreign weapons, marksmanship, machine gunnery, tactical combat casualty care (TCCC), land navigation, patrolling, military operations in urban terrain (MOUT), convoy operations, and Improvised Explosive Device defeat. Following STC, specialty tracks build on Marine Corps MOS structure to enhance specific skills for Marines in intelligence, communications, explosive ordnance disposal, joint terminal air control (JTAC), and multi-purpose canine fields. A secondary MOS of 8071 is assigned to these combat support enablers in order to track their assignments and career progressions. Select combat support enablers will be provided the opportunity to attend advanced language training courses once they are assigned to the Marine Special Operations Support Group, MSOSG.
Operating Forces

26. Conclusion MARSOC Commanded by a Major General
Organized into a Marine Special Operations Regiment, Support Group and School.
Activated in 2006
This concludes the lesson on Marine Special Operations Forces. In summary;
The United States Marine Corps Special Operations Forces are assigned to the Marine Special Operations Command, headquartered at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina.
Activated is February 2006, MARSOC is the youngest of the SOF service component commands.
MARSOC is commanded by a major general and is organized into a Marine Special Operations Regiment, Marine Special Operations Support Group, and a Marine Special Operations School.
MARSOC’s primary core activities are special reconnaissance (SR), direct action (DA), foreign internal defense (FID), and counterterrorism (CT).
Before moving to the next lesson you will need to complete the learning check on the primary lesson page.
Camp Lejeune
Special Reconnaissance (SR)
Direct Action (DA)
Foreign Internal Defense (FID)
Counter-terrorism (CT)