103 United States Marine Corps Mission And Organization Fundamentals

Question 1

Seven elements of the Marine Corps Mission

Answer 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 and for the conduct of such land operations as may be essential to the execution of a naval campaign.

Provide detachments and organizations for service on armed vessels of the Navy and security detachments 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

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

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

Expand peacetime components to meet wartime needs according to the joint mobilization plans.

Perform such other duties as the President may direct.

Question 2

Two parallel chains of command

Answer 2

Service and Operational

Question 3

Service Chain of command consists of

Answer 3

President, Secretary of Defense Secretary of the Navy, and Commandant of the Marine Corps

Question 4

Operational Chain of Command Consist of

Answer 4

President, Secretary of Defense, then directly to Commanders of Combatant Commands for missions and forces assigned to their commands.

Question 5

Marine Corps Forces (MARFOR)

Answer 5

MARFOR are organized as MAGTFs and are either employed as part of naval expeditionary forces or separately as part of larger joint or combined force. The commanders of MARFOR Atlantic and Pacific serve as Marine Corps component commanders to their respective Combatant Commanders and may also serve as Commanding Generals of Fleet Marine Forces (FMFs) Atlantic, Pacific, and Europe. As Commanding Generals, with the status of a naval type Commander, they provide forces for service with Commander US Atlantic Fleet, Commander US Pacific Fleet, and Commander US Naval Forces Europe, respectively.

Question 6

Marine Corps Security Forces (MCSF)

Answer 6

The MCSF include approximately 3,400 Marines who protect key naval installations and facilities worldwide. Although not assigned to combatant commands, they are part of the Operating Forces of the Marine Corps as well as Marine detachments afloat.

Question 7

Marine Security Guard (MSG)

Answer 7

Detachments at embassies and consulates around the globe. The Marine security guard battalion provides forces to the Department of State for embassy security. These Marines are currently assigned to 171 posts in 135 countries throughout the world

Question 8

Purpose of Headquarters Marine Corps

Answer 8

Headquarters, U.S. Marine Corps, consists of the Commandant of the Marine Corps and those staff agencies that advise and assist the Commandant in discharging those responsibilities prescribed by law and higher authority
The Commandant of the Marine Corps is directly responsible to the Secretary of the Navy for the administration, discipline, internal organization, training, requirements, efficiency, and readiness of the Marine Corps; the operation of the Marine Corps materiel support system; and the total performance of the Marine Corps.

Question 9

Marine Air Ground Task Force MAGTF

Answer 9

 The MAGTF is the Marine Corps’ principle organization for the conduct of all missions across the range of military operations. MAGTFs are task-organized, combined-arms forces with organic ground, aviation, and sustainment elements that can respond rapidly to a contingency anywhere in the world.
 The MAGTF provides a combatant commander or other operational commander with a versatile expeditionary force that is capable of multinational major operations and/or campaigns.
 MAGTFs are organized, trained, and equipped to perform shore-or sea-based missions ranging from humanitarian assistance to peacekeeping to intense combat and can operate in permissive, uncertain, and hostile environments.
 When deployed aboard amphibious shipping, MAGTFs maintain a continuous presence at strategic locations around the globe and can be rapidly moved to and indefinitely stationed at the scene of potential trouble.
 The MAGTF provides the JFC with the capability of reconstitution, which is the ability of an expeditionary force to regenerate, reorganize, replenish, and reorient itself for a new mission without having to return to its home base

Question 10

Command Element of the MEF

Answer 10

Is the MAGTF Headquarters. It is task organized to provide command and control capabilities (including intelligence and communications) necessary for effective planning, direction, and execution of all operations.
 G-1 Division (Personnel and Administration)
 G-2 Division (Intelligence and Counterintelligence)
 G-3 Division (Operations and Training)
 G-4 Division (Logistics)
 G-5 Division (Plans)
 G-6 Division (Communications and Information Systems)
 Command Section
 Comptroller Division
 Communication Security Management Office
 Special Operations Training Group
 Staff Judge Advocate Branch
 Public Affairs Office Branch

Question 11

The mission of MEF CE

Answer 11

to provide command, control, direction, planning and coordination of corps-level air, ground, and logistical operations of assigned forces, normally consisting of one or more Marine Divisions, Marine Aircraft Wings, and force service support groups, and other separate units.

Question 12

Mission of Marine Headquarters Group

Answer 12

Provides administrative, training, and logistical support while in CONUS and forward deployed to the MEF and MEB Command Elements. Additionally, function as Higher Headquarters for the four Major Subordinate Elements in order to allow MEF CE to execute war fighting functions in support of service and COCOM initiatives as required

Question 13

MARCENT

Answer 13

Is designated as the Marine Corps service component for U.S. Central Command. MARCENT is responsible for all Marines Corps forces in the CENTCOM area of responsibility

Question 14

Marine Corps Reserve

Answer 14

Is designated to augment and reinforce active Marine forces in time of war, national emergency or contingency operations, provide personnel and operational tempo relief for the active forces in peacetime, and provide service to the community (for example, through Toys for Tots).

Question 15

Marine Air Wing ACE

Answer 15

Task-organized to support the MAGTF mission by performing some or all of the six functions of Marine aviation.
 Normally built around an aviation organization that is augmented with appropriate air command and control, combat, combat support, and CSS units.
 Operates effectively from ships, expeditionary airfields, or austere forward operating sites and can readily and routinely transition between sea bases and expeditionary airfields without loss of capability.
 Varies in size and composition from an aviation detachment with specific capabilities to one or more MAWs.

Question 16

Marine Division Ground Combat Element

Answer 16

Task-organized to conduct ground operations in support of the MAGTF mission.
 Normally formed around an infantry organization reinforced with requisite artillery, reconnaissance, armor, and engineer forces and can vary in size and composition from a rifle platoon to one or more Marine Divisions.

Question 17

Marine Logistic Group Logistical combat element

Answer 17

 Task-organized to provide the full range of CSS functions and capabilities needed to support the continued readiness and sustainability of the MAGTF as a whole.
 It is formed around a CSS headquarters and may vary in size and composition from a support detachment to one or more Marine MLGs.

Question 18

Location of the three standing MEFs

Answer 18

I Marine Expeditionary Force (I MEF)
 Southern California and Arizona
II Marine Expeditionary Force (II MEF)
 North and South Carolina
III Marine Expeditionary Force (III MEF)
 Japan and Hawaii

Question 19

Marine Expeditionary Brigades MEB

Answer 19

A MAGTF built around a reinforced infantry regiment, an aircraft group, and a Combat Logistics Regiment (FWD).
 A Brigadier General normally commands the MEB.
 As an expeditionary force, it is capable of rapid deployment and employment via amphibious shipping, strategic airlift, marrying with Maritime prepositioned Force (MPF) assets, or any combination thereof

Question 20

CE of a MEB

Answer 20

Command Element, (CE)

 Exercises command and control, is commanded by a general, and contains a SRIG detachment.

Question 21

ACE of a MEB

Answer 21

Air Combat Element, (ACE)

 Marine Aircraft Group

Question 22

GCE of a MEB

Answer 22

Ground Combat Element, (GCE)

 Reinforced Infantry Regiment

Question 23

LCE of a MEB

Answer 23

Logistics Combat Element, (LCE)

 Combat Logistics Regiment (FWD

Question 24

The Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable (MEU (SOC))

Answer 24

 Standard forward-deployed Marine expeditionary organization.
 Marine Corps Forces Atlantic and Pacific maintain forward-deployed MEUs (SOC) in the Mediterranean Sea, the Western Pacific, and the Indian Ocean or Arabian Gulf region.
 MEU (SOC) can be thought of both as a self- contained operating force capable of missions of limited scope and duration and as a forward-deployed extension of the MEF.

Question 25

The mission of the MEU (SOC

Answer 25

is to provide the NCA and the combatant commanders with a forward deployed, sea-based, rapid crisis response capability to execute a full range of military operations. It is organized, trained, and equipped as a self-sustaining, general-purpose expeditionary MAGTF that possesses the capability to conduct operations across the spectrum of conflict, from military operations other than war, to amphibious and other conventional operations in support of various contingency requirements

Question 26

MEU Maritime special operations

Answer 26

 Tactical recovery of aircraft and personnel (TRAP).
 Reconnaissance and surveillance.
 In-extremis hostage recovery.
 Visit, board, search, and seizure of vessels.
 Specialized demolitions.
 Seizure/recovery of offshore energy facilities.
 Seizure/recovery of selected personnel or materiel.

Question 27

The mission of the MEU (SOC) CE

Answer 27

provide command and control to the MEU (SOC). The MEU (SOC) CE is responsible for the command and control, direction, planning, and coordination of air, ground, and logistic operations of assigned forces, consisting of a Marine battalion landing team, Marine composite squadron, MEU service support group, and other separate units. Sections include:
 S-1 - Personnel and administration
 S-2 - Intelligence and counterintelligence
 S-3 - Operations and training
 S-4 - Logistics
 S-6 - Communications and information systems
 Command Section
 Chaplain Section
 Headquarters Commandant
 Public Affairs

Question 28

Air Combat Element Marine Air wing of a MEU

Answer 28

Reinforced helicopter squadron with transport, utility, and attack helicopters, a detachment of vertical/short takeoff and landing (V/STOL) fixed-wing attack aircraft, and other detachments as required

Question 29

GCE of a Meu

Answer 29

An Infantry Battalion reinforced with artillery, reconnaissance, engineer, armor, assault amphibian units, and other detachments as required

Question 30

LCE of a MEU

Answer 30

Combat logistics Batallion

Question 31

Seven Standing MEUs

Answer 31

I MEF
 11th, 13th, and 15th MEUs (SOC);
II MEF
 22nd, 24th, and 26th MEUs (SOC);
III MEF
 31st MEU (SOC).

Question 32

Special Purpose MAGTF (SPMAGTF

Answer 32

A fourth type of MAGTF organization
 Normally used for a special purpose (e.g., disaster relief, humanitarian assistance, noncombatant evacuation operation, or security operations)
 Unique instances (e.g., Exxon Valdez oil spill containment) where employment of one of the three basic MAGTFs would be inappropriate

Question 33

CE of a SPMAGTF

Answer 33

A fourth type of MAGTF organization
 Normally used for a special purpose (e.g., disaster relief, humanitarian assistance, noncombatant evacuation operation, or security operations)
 Unique instances (e.g., Exxon Valdez oil spill containment) where employment of one of the three basic MAGTFs would be inappropriate

Question 34

ACE of a SPMAGTF

Answer 34

Task organized detachment of aircraft

Question 35

GCE of a SPMAGTF

Answer 35

Composed of at least a platoon sized element

Question 36

LCE of SPMAGTF

Answer 36

Task-organized to meet the specific logistics support requirements of the SPMAGTF and is centered on the unit designated to provide most of the logistics support