USMC STRUCTURE AND
ORGANIZATION
Outline
Mission Definition
II. USMC Mission Competencies
III. Basic Structure and Organization
IV. Locations
V. Marine Corps Leadership
VI. Quiz
I.
Mission Definition
The seven-part Mission of the Marines is defined by
the National Security Act of 1947, amended in 1952.
1.
2.
3.
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.
Provide detachments and organizations for service on armed vessels
of the Navy for the protection of naval property at naval stations and
bases.
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.
5.
6.
7.
Provide Marine forces for operations, in coordination with the Army,
Navy, Air Force, according to the doctrine established by the Joint
Chiefs of Staff.
Develop, in accordance with the Army, Navy, and Air Force, the
doctrine, procedures, and equipment for operations.
Expand peacetime components to meet wartime needs.
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-making
2. Expeditionary Forward Operations
3. Sustainable and Interoperable Littoral Power Projection
4. Combined Arms Integration
5. Forcible Entry from the Sea
USMC Mission Competencies
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.
1.
USMC Mission Competencies
3.
4.
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.
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.
2.
3.
4.
Ground Combat Element
(GCE): Infantry (battalion,
regiment, or division) augmented
with tank, artillery, LAV, AAV,
combat engineers and
reconnaissance assets.
Air Combat Element (ACE):
Contains aircraft to support the
tactical situation. Tactical
helicopters with fixed wing assets
for close air support
Combat Service Support
Element (CSSE): Provides all
necessary logistical support to
the MAGTF including:
Transportation, Engineering,
Embarkation, Medical/Dental,
and Headquarters and Service.
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 majorgeneral.
 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
SelfSustainability
Ground
Combat
Element
(GCE)
Aviation Combat
Element (ACE)
Combat Service Support
Element (CSSE)
Marine
Col
Expeditionary
Unit (MEU)
1,500-3,000 15 days
2-4
amphibious
ships
Battalion
Landing
Team
(BLT)
Marine Medium
Helicopter Squadron
augmented to a
composite helicopter
squadron
MEU Service Support
Group (MSSG) –
formed
from a Marine Logistics
Group (MLG)
Marine
BGen
Expeditionary
Brigade
(MEB)
7,00012,000;
up to 25
amphibious
ships
30 days
Regimental
Landing
Team
(RLT)
Marine Aircraft
Group (MAG) multiple squadrons of
rotary wing aircraft
Brigade Service Support
Group (BSSG)–formed
from the Marine
Logistics Group (MLG)
Marine
LtGen
Expeditionary
Force (MEF)
30,00040,000
60 days
Marine
Division
Marine Aircraft Wing
(MAW) - will contain
all types of aircraft
Marine Logisitics
Group - 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 Locations
1. West Coast/1st Marine Division: 11th, 13th, 15th MEUs;
deploys to the Pacific and Persian Gulf
2. East Coast/2d Marine Division: 22nd, 24th, 26th MEUs;
deploys to the Mediterranean Sea and Persian Gulf
3. 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 fouryear 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
What does MEU stand for?
MARI NE E XPE DIT IO NARY UNIT
Where are the 3 Marine
Divisions located?
• I MARINE DIVISION: CAMP PENDLETON, CA
• II MARINE DIVISION: CAMP LEJEUNE, NC
• III MARINE DIVISION: CAMP COURTNEY,
OKINAWA, JAPAN
What are the four elements of a
MAGTF?
1. GROUND COMBAT ELEMENT (GCE)
2. AIR COMBAT ELEMENT (ACE)
3. COMBAT SERVICE SUPPORT ELEMENT (CSSE)
4. COMMAND ELEMENT (CE)
A ____ is the largest Marine ground
combat organization of a MEF and is
usually commanded by a major-general.
(MARDIV, MAW, MAG, or MLG)
MARINE DIVISION
Where is the headquarters of
Marine Corps Forces Command
(MARFORCOM)?
NORFOLK, VA
Questions?