Marine Raider Regiment | |
---|---|
Marine Raiders Insignia
|
|
Active | 2006–present |
Country | United States of America |
Branch | United States Marine Corps |
Type | Special Operations Forces |
Role | |
Size |
1,512 personnel authorized:
|
Part of |
United States Special Operations Command United States Marine Corps Special Operations Command |
Garrison/HQ |
Camp Lejeune, North Carolina Camp Pendleton, California |
Nickname(s) | Marine Raiders |
Motto(s) | "Always Faithful, Always Forward" |
Engagements | |
Website | Marine Raider Regiment Website |
Commanders | |
Current commander |
Colonel Milborn |
1,512 personnel authorized:
The Marine Raiders, a component of the United States Marine Corps Forces Special Operations Command is a special operations force of the United States Marine Corps. Renamed from its predecessors the elite World War II Marine Raiders, this unit is the principal combat component of MARSOC, the Marine Corps’ contribution to the United States Special Operations Command (USSOCOM).
Today's Raiders can trace their roots back to their World War II predecessors the Marine Raiders. The Marine Raiders were elite units established by the United States Marine Corps to conduct special amphibious light infantry warfare, particularly in landing in rubber boats and operating behind the lines. "Edson's" Raiders of 1st Marine Raiders Battalion and "Carlson's" Raiders of 2nd Marine Raiders Battalion are said to be the first United States special operations forces to form and see combat in World War II.
Today's Marine Raiders first saw the light through a pilot program called The Marine Corps Special Operations Command Detachment One (MCSOCOM Detachment One or Det 1). In order to first assess the value of Marine special operations forces permanently detached to the United States Special Operations Command, a small unit of 86 men commanded by Col. Robert J. Coates, former commanding officer of 1st Force Reconnaissance Company, was activated on June 19, 2003 and had its headquarters at Camp Del Mar Boat Basin. In 2006 it was disbanded and succeeded by the permanent United States Marine Corps Forces Special Operations Command. Det One deployed to Iraq with Navy SEALs from Naval Special Warfare Group 1 in 2004, Marines from the detachment took part in the Second Battle of Fallujah.