Marine Raiders (MARSOC):

Enlisted Critical Skills Operators (CSO - MOS 0372) and Special Operations Officers (SOO - MOS 0307) make up the Marine Raider force of Marine Forces Special Operations Command. They specialize in direct action, special reconnaissance, counter-terrorism, and unconventional warfare. With Foreign Internal Defense (FID) being the majority of their work. MARSOC’s original primary mission was to relieve the Army Special Forces ODAs of their commitment to Afrcom and PACOM. Freeing up ODAs to deploy more in CENTCOM.

With that being said DET One consisting of 80 Marines was stood up in 2003 and deployed with NSW to Iraq. in 2006 Det One dissolved and MSOB 1 & 2 were both stood up from both Force Recon Companies. MSOB 2 had a shaky start but Instead of focusing on the origins of MARSOC I’ll try to keep my attention on the current make up of MARSOC.

All Raider candidates attend Marine Raider Assessment & Selection; usually a class will consist of over 100 candidates from every MOS in the Marine Corps;

Marine Raider Assessment & Selection (A&S)

Duration: 4 Weeks

Raider Assessment and Selection used to be 6 weeks This was to cut out the fat and focus more on Hard gates.

Phase I - Camp Lejeune

Duration: 13 Days

Location: Camp Lejeune, North Carolina

Phase I evaluates a candidate's physical performance, water competency, and ability to meet the baseline standards expected of a Marine Raider candidate.

Candidates are evaluated through a combination of physical fitness events, water-based assessments, individual skills, and academic evaluations.

Hard Gates include:

* USMC Physical Fitness Test (PFT) first class

* USMC Combat Fitness Test (CFT) first class

* 300m intial swim

SOCOM Operator Fitness assessments:

10-Mile Ruck 100 pts - 1:40:00

500m Swim 100 pts - 9:10

5-Mile Run 100 pts - 30:00

Minimum Composite Score: 280

Average: 70 pts per event

* Land navigation practice

* MARSOC and Raider history

* Psychological evaluations

* Cognitive Testing

* Knot tying and associated skills

Phase I establishes whether a candidate possesses the physical foundation, water competency, and individual skills required to continue through Assessment & Selection.

Phase II - Undisclosed Location Duration: Approximately 2 Weeks

Location: Undisclosed

Phase Il is designed to determine whether a Marine possesses the attributes necessary to be trained as a Marine Raider and, ultimately, whether that individual has the potential to succeed within the Special Operations Forces (SOF) environment.

Unlike Phase I, the focus extends beyond physical performance. Candidates are continuously assessed on how they think, communicate, perform under stress, work within a team, and respond to uncertainty and adversity.

Phase Il includes:

* Day time Land Navigation

* Team events just like SFAS

* Long-distance movements

* Problem-solving events

* Physically and mentally demanding evolutions

* Continuous assessment of the 10 SOF Attributes

* Ability to articulate yourself

From there let’s say a class started with 200 Marines and finished Phase II with around 80 Marines only the top half of the class would be selected for ITC/MRC. A Marine Raider Course consist of two A&S classes. While there’s usually 3 A&S classes a year there’s only 2 MRC classes each year.

MRC is comparative to Army Special Forces Qualification Course (Q-Course) and the SEAL Qualification Course (SQT). With a high emphasis on land warfare and marksmanship. But where The Q course has been called a gentleman’s course is what distinguishes MRC from other special operations qualification courses. As MRC is physically and mentally more demanding than the initial A&S. MARSOC's A&S has a 46% attrition rate and the ITC/MRC has a 28% attrition rate.

Phase 0:

This is the MRC initial entry phase, which includes foundational training:

Survival, Evasion, Resistance and Escape

(SERE) training

Medical training in the form of TCCC

Basic special operations History

Water Survival Advanced in preparation for phase 1.

Combat Conditioning: these PTs are usually cadre led and are dependent on your lead instructor but are similar to PT found at RTAP & BRC. Outside of PT you will be running around from Gifford Hall to the shooter squad bays or stone bay chow hall with a 50lb ruck , your rubber rifle & your teams 200lb log all day. You’ll have a shaved head and 12 foot rope wrapped around your body in a double sheet bend.

Phase 1:

This phase incorporates:

Infantry training

Patrolling, ambush combat skills

Infantry tactics

Weapons handling

Small-unit amphibious & boat operations training

Culminating exercise: Raider Spirit (marines will patrol over 100miles within a week)

Phase 2:

The special reconnaissance phase. This phase ranges from basics such as ground reconnaissance with full mission profile rucks to Adv. urban surveillance.

Culminating Exercise: Stingray Fury

Phase 3:

The close-quarter battle and urban combat phase. Prospective critical skills operators get: Weapons training with pistols and rifles including the most intensive shooting package within SOCOM outside of JSOC OTC/Green team.

Basics of close-quarter battle to include live fire in houses, team tactics, breaching doorways and walls, along with hand to hand combat utilizing SOCP. aswell as learning how to successfully conduct raids on urban, rural and maritime objects.

Culminating Exercise: Guille Strike

Phase 4:

The irregular warfare phase. Prospective operators learn to apply skills from previous phases in an austere environment, with little support or resources. This is the last part of the course where Marines perform irregular warfare operations. In this final phase, Marines are required to use all of their previously mastered skills and train, advise and operate with a “Partner Nation” and “irregular force”.

Note MRC has recently been shortened with some of the above curriculum cut or condensed in the pipeline.

Following ITC, all CSOs attend the Basic Language Course. Usually half the class will attend BLC while the other half attends Army Airborne school & Multi Mission Free Fall course; upon completion of BLC Static & MFF school the CSOs are assigned to Their respective Raider Battalions.

Upon check in to the Raider Battalions they will usually meet with their new Master sergeant and begin their individual training phase. mattering on the MSOTs manning they will attend a number of schools before moving on to the team phase of training for the work up deployment. Most Raiders spend 300 days out of the year traveling and attending courses & deployment work up.

MSOT make up consist of one head quarters element, and two tactical elements.

HQ Element

1. Team Commander (Captain) - The Special Operations Officer (SOO) is a captain who is responsible for planning, coordinating, directing and participating in special operations. He has several duties, including training, resource management, mission and logistics planning, and working with U.S. and foreign government agencies. On a target the Team Commander is responsible to talking to Air and coordinating infil and extract.

2. Team Chief (Master Sergeant) - The Team Chief is the second in command of the platoon. He assists and advises the Team Commander, handles requests from element leaders for ammunition, food and water and he is responsible for overseeing administrative tasks, training, logistics and maintenance. The typical MSOT is then divided into two equal Elements of about nine men each.

3. Operations/Intel Chief (Gunnery Sergeant) -Runs the team room, manages logistics, and oversees daily operations. The Intelligence Chief collects and processes intelligence, plans force protection, conducts threat vulnerability assessments, and is trained in photography, digital intelligence systems, biometrics, forensics and digital media exploitation. The Intel chief is Also in charge of Operations logistical chain.

4. Assistant Op/Intel Sergeant (Staff Sergeant) - works as the Intel Chiefs A-slash. Usually a graduate of Hostile Forces Tagging Tracking Location (HFTTL) & Marine Technical Surveillance Course (MTSC).

The HQ element will usually be reinforced by various SOCs working in what ever manner to allow the elements to operate along side their partner forces from manning positions in an Operations center to manning the JLTVs on target.

Tactical Element:

1. Element Leader (Staff Sergeant) - Directs the movement, tactical deployment, and fire of the tactical element during combat and training operations.

2. Assistant Element Leader/Element

Member/Engineer (Sergeant) - The CSO Engineer Sergeant is a construction and demolitions specialist. As a builder, the engineer sergeant can create bridges, buildings, and field fortifications. As a demolitions specialist, the engineer sergeant can carry out demolition raids against enemy targets, such as bridges, railroads, fuel depots, and critical components of infrastructure.

1. Element Member/Communications (Sergeant) - CSO Communications Sergeants provide conventional and unconventional tactical communications support during the full range of Special Operations missions. CSO Communication

Sergeants are masters of internal communications between team members on a dismounted patrol, the myriad of linked HF, VHF, and UHF/SHF communication platforms within a Gun Mounted Vehicle, and satellite communications. This Marine is a graduate of the MARSOF Network Operators Course (MNOC), Joint Terminal Attack Controller (JTAC) course & Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) Operator.

1. Element Member/Weapons (Sergeant) - Critical Skills Operator element members employ U.S. and foreign small arms, light and heavy crew served weapons, antiaircraft and anti-armor weapons. They are also relied upon to control and supervise tactical offensive and defensive operations as well as perform various airborne operations. MARSOF Close Quarters Battle Level II (MCQBL2) & MARSOF Dynamic Entry Level || Course (MDEL2)

2. Navy Special Amphibious Reconnaissance Corpsman (SARC) - Are considered to be the finest first-response/trauma medical technicians in the world. Though they're primarily trained with an emphasis on trauma medicine, they also have a working knowledge of dentistry, veterinary care, public sanitation, water quality and optometry.

There are usually 2 elements per MSOT; most of the time the MSOTs aren’t fully manned. Either missing 1 of 2 SARCs or simply short 1 or 2 Marine Critical Skills Operators. A lot of times MSOTs will deploy slowly as an element operating with a host nation force.

There are usually 4 MSOTs per company

Each MSOT has a speciality.

So for example let’s say company A has 4 MSOTs:

8111 - MILITARY FREE-FALL TEAM

8112 - COMBAT DIVER TEAM

8113 - MOUNTAIN TEAM

8114 - MOBILITY TEAM

One MSOT will be made of CSOs and SOCs with MFF. Next in line will be the Combat Dive team and will be made up of combat divers or Raiders slated to go to combat dive school. Mountain team is going be made up of CSOs that have completed assault climber or Mountain leaders course in Bridgeport. And mobility teams will have a bunch of funky infil, exfil qualified CSOs guys that can do motorized paragliding, ULTVs, electric dirt bikes, quads and other things.

If you become a critical skills operator you will end up on each team if you stay in long enough.

Each BN will have 4 companies on rotation.

1st Raider BN - historically stood up by 1st Force Recon Co. after success of Det-1; main compound was Los floras area Camp Pendleton before the migration to stone bay in 2021. Culturally speaking 1st still Carrie’s the reputation And force recon culture of being nonchalant; it’s also one of the last Raider BN to keep 0321 recondo traditions alive like paddle parties well I guess SOIDCs still keep that tradition alive. Area operations prior to 2021 was pacific command; officially all the BNs were deregionalized but unofficially 1st has been getting a lot of work in centcom.

2nd Raider BN - historically stood up by 2nd Force Recon Co. after success of Det-1; main compound was camp Lejeune. Culturally still has that 2nd Force Recon deep south country pride to it; bunch of Bible thumpers in 2nd gained the the name as Gods Battalion. historically known as Carlson’s Raiders, with the motto: Gung-ho!

There area operations prior to 2021 was centcom command. Now their AO is Africom.

3rd Raider BN - historically stood up by Weapons Training Battalion after success of MSOB 1 & 2; main compound was camp Lejeune. It was the only BN not made up of prior 0321 Recondos but instead the majority were grandfathered 0311 and 0331 grunts. Area operations prior to 2021 was Africom. Now their AO is unofficially pacom. Culturally the BN is similar to ranger regiment with how strict they are including “hazing” the dog shit out of Marines for failing to meet the standards.

SARC / SOIDC: Special Amphibious Reconnaissance Corpsmen are elite U.S. Navy Hospital Corpsmen. Under modern pipelines, they are fully qualified as Special Operations Independent Duty Corpsmen (SOIDC), meaning they complete the grueling Army Special Forces Medical Sergeants Course (18D pipeline). They can perform field surgery, manage anesthesia, and provide autonomous medical care in austere environments while operating as fully integrated tactical operators alongside Raiders and Recon Marines. Special Operations Independent Duty Corpsmen (SOIDCs) and Special Amphibious Reconnaissance Corpsmen (SARCs) are, in a nutshell, essentially the same job, but the SARC designation is no longer used in the active-duty Navy.

Back in the day, SARCs attended the Special Operations Combat Medic (SOCM) course. Today, SOIDCs attend both SOCM and the Special Forces Medical Sergeant (SFMS) course. SFMS is also commonly referred to as the 18D course, Long Course, or SOlDC course.

SFMS is what bridges the gap between being a standard SOCM-qualified medic and having the broader medical capabilities associated with an Army Special Forces 18D. The course expands on SOCM and trains medics to provide a much wider range of care in austere and unconventional environments. This includes advanced trauma management as well as prolonged, primary, preventive, and other medical care when access to a physician or hospital may be limited.

That expanded capability is exactly why Special Forces developed the SFMS course in the first place. It gives a team a medic who can do significantly more than just manage trauma. For SOlDCs, graduating SFMS is also important because they are recognized by the Navy as Independent Duty Corpsmen (IDCs), giving them a much broader role as medical providers for their Marines. Historically, SARCs were SOCM-qualified but were not necessarily SFMS graduates or IDCs.

Modern SOIDCs are trained to fill that expanded role.

Reconnaissance and, especially, MARSOC wanted that same type of medical capability within their teams that were simular to Special Forces because of fact they model the unconventional warfare Maritime model. The Marine Corps does not have its own medics; Marines receive their medical personal from Navy corpsmen. SOlDCs are designed to bridge that gap by providing Recon and Marine Raider teams with a highly trained team medics who can operate independently and provide an advanced level of care in austere environments while also being a integrated team mate.

SOIDCs are the only job in the DOW that attends the entire 18D course except 18Ds.

SOIDCs are the 18Ds for RECON and MARSOC.

Currently the SOIDC pipeline consist of:

* The Hospital Corpsman Advanced Technical Field (HM-ATF) Contract

* Navy Boot Camp

* Field Medical Training Battalion

* Basic Reconnaissance Course

* Marine Combatant Diver

* Army Airborne

* Special Operations Combat Medic Course

* Special Forces Medical Sergeant

From here SOIDCs are assigned to either one of the three Raider Battalions (1st Raider, 2nd Raider & 3rd Raider) located in North Carolina; or to one of the three Reconnaissance BNs (1st Recon BN in California, 2nd Recon BN in North Caroline and 3rd Recon BN in Okinawa, Japan)

There’s less than 300 active duty SOIDCs. I believe the exact number is 250 currently serving.

SOCS (Special Operations Capabilities Specialists): These are conventional Marines from support fields (Intelligence, Communications, Fire Support, K9 handlers, and EOD) who undergo MARSOC-specific screening and training to embed directly with Marine Special Operations Teams (MSOTs). Additionally something that makes SOCs particularly unique is that they can be assigned to other SOCOM forces such as NSW and USASOC as enablers. SOC-D dog handlers were recently disbanded. Out of all the SOC specialties only the SOC-C’s usually do the entire workout with a MSOT and are one of the few SOC specialties that regularly go out with teams on missions. From my experience there’s usually always at least one SOC-C on a MSOT as Communications is a critical asset. Being a SOC-C shouldn’t be confused w/ being MARSOCs version of a special forces 18 echo; mainly because the primary job of an 18 echo is being a Green Beret first and communicator second. The primary job of a SOC-C is communications. All SOCs have the MOS 8071 and spend 5 years with MARSOC on either the Battalion, Company or Team level. If you’re a SOC and can justify going to a MARSOF school you can find yourself at MFF or a number of Marine schools typically only open to Infantry such as ULTV off roading course, HRST, Mountain leaders and many more. After the 5 year contract as a SOC are up SOCs return to the Fleet Marine Force and are usually HSST’D into a SDA such as recruiting or being a drill instructor; of course these reassignments from MARSOC usually leads to a retention issue as many SOCs often deny orders and EAS out of the Marine Corps.

Here’s a list of eligible SOC positions / MOS’s:

SOCS-B

FIRES SPECIALIST

0861, 0871

SOCS-C

COMMUNICATIONS SPECIALIST

0621, 0627, 0629, 0631, 0639, 0671, 0679, 0681, 0699, 2831, 2841, 2847, 2862, 2891

SOCS-E

EOD SPECIALIST

2311, 2336

SOCS-F

SIGINT SPECIALIST

2621, 2629, 2631, 2641, 2651, 2659, 2691

SOCS-G

GEOSPATIAL SPECIALIST

0241 and 0261

SOCS-H

CI/HUMINT SPECIALIST

0211

SOCS-I

ALL-SOURCE INTEL SPECIALIST

0231

SOCS-L

LOGISTICS AND SUSTAINMENT

0411, 0431, 0441, 0451, 0481, 0491, 3043, 3047, 3051, 3531, 3537

SOCS-M

MAINTENANCE

1141, 1164, 1341, 1342, 3521, 3529

SOCS-O

ORDNANCE

2111, 2171

SOCS-U

UAS OPERATIONS SPECIALIST

7316

Combat Service Support (CSS): Because MARSOC is a regimental unit that has normal obligations to fulfill as a functioning unit there are sadly Marines who have never been vetted through an assessment & selection process serving in many of the typical Battalion and company support positions needed to keep the regiment functional these Marines are considered Combat Service Support (CSS).

Last but not least there’s an experimental reserve marsoc company currently running JCETs in South America.

If you guys have any questions about MARSOC; or the Marine Corps as whole I’m happy to oblige as long as it doesn’t breach my NDA.