Los Angeles, Calif - Marine Raiders with 1st Marine Raider Battalion, U.S. Marine Corps Forces, Special Operations Command, transition out of the water during a simulated underwater assault force night-raid in Los Angeles, California, Sept. 3, 2015. - photo USMC

October 13, 2015: Strategy Page

The U.S. Marine Corps is at war with itself over how to handle the future. Many marines have noticed that their traditional (for over a century) role as the overseas emergency force has been quietly taken over since the 1980s by SOCOM (Special Operations Command). It wasn’t until 2005 that the marines officially assigned its 2,600 strong Marine Special Operations Command, to SOCOM. This was in belated recognition that SOCOM, when it was formed in 1986 was indeed the most effective way to manage and use all the special operations units in the American military. Back then there was resistance from all the services, except the army (which had the most special operations troops mainly in its Special Forces.) But the Secretary of Defense overruled the services, and, by 1990, the navy (SEALS) and air force (special aircraft and pararescue troops) had assigned their special operations units to SOCOM control. The marines resisted and got away with it by insisting they didn't have any "special operations" troops or that "all marines are special operations troops," (depending on what day you asked them.)

By late 2001, it was obvious even to the marines that SOCOM was where the action was, and the marines wanted in. After four years of haggling and negotiation, the marines were in with a combination of traditional commandoes, long range recon, and "ranger" type forces. There are also support troops (dog handlers, interrogators and interpreters, intelligence analysts, supply and transportation) as well as a training unit (to instruct foreign troops, a job the marines have been helping the army Special Forces with already.) The marines also agreed to provide, as needed, other marine units that are trained to perform jobs SOCOM needs done. The marines have long had their infantry battalions train some of their troops to perform commando type operations (raids, hostage rescue and the like.) This was done so those battalions, when serving on amphibious ships at sea, had some capability to handle a wider range of emergencies (like getting Americans out of some foreign hot spot.)

At the time some observers (including a few marines) thought that the marines might contribute more forces to SOCOM in the future, or perhaps the entire Marine Corps would join SOCOM and take it over. That last jest was based in reality as before World War II the Marine Corps was the “special operations” force you called in for emergencies overseas. That changed during World War II but many American marines noted the different path taken by the British Royal Marines after the war. After 2001 many American marines thought it might be a good idea to copy their brethren, the British Royal Marines, and convert themselves to a commando force.

During World War II the Royal Marines had turned themselves into the Royal Marine Commandos. After 1945, when Britain disbanded all of its commando units, the Royal Marines retained three of their infantry battalions as Royal Marines Commandos (commando battalions). These three battalions have remained in service to the present, mainly because they always performed as advertised and were always in great demand.

The marines did change after World War II but in different ways. They gradually dropped their army-like divisional organization, using their three "division" headquarters as an administrative units for managing the battalion and brigade (2-4 battalions) size task forces for whatever assignments come their way. This worked quite well during the last two decades of the 20th century. After 2001 there was a new proposal to completely do away with the marine division. Note that the first one of these was organized in 1942 and six were active by 1945. The 2002 proposal had most marines trained more for commando operations rather than traditional infantry combat. This was a trend that was already present in marine training, although marines were still considered, first and foremost, elite ground combat troops. At the time there was a lot of resistance from marine veterans groups (over a hundred thousand marine veterans of World War II were still around then and they could be a feisty lot.) But the marines did have a tradition of constantly transforming themselves, something even old marines recognize and respect. Any such transformation had to wait because after 2003 (the Iraq invasion) the marines became a supplementary force for the army in Iraq and Afghanistan. Over the next decade the marines noted that they could not go back to what they were in 2002 because the army had become more like marines (highly trained and effective infantry) and the marines had become more like these new soldiers.

Many marines are concerned that more people will notice that SOCOM is now the marines of old and that the marines are not nearly as special and specialized as they used to be. To make matters worse in 2006 the U.S. Navy decided to create a new naval infantry force to do some of the jobs the marines had originally done but were now too busy being soldiers to take care of. By 2008 the navy had built a new ground combat force staffed by 40,000 sailors. This was NECC (Navy Expeditionary Combat Command), which was capable of operating along the coast and up rivers, as well as further inland. NECC units were already in Iraq by then and ready to deploy anywhere else they are needed. The 1,200 sailors in the EOD (Explosive Ordnance Disposal) teams are particularly sought after, because of increased use of roadside bombs and booby traps by the enemy. NECC has also organized three Riverine Squadrons which all served in Iraq. NECC basically consists of most of the combat support units the navy has traditionally put ashore, plus some coastal and river patrol units that have usually only been organized in wartime.

In light of all this many marines fear that any new effort by the politicians to eliminate the Marine Corps will succeed. The marines have been avoiding these extinction efforts for over a century mainly because they could demonstrate some unique abilities. Without that advantage the marines are vulnerable.

26 mars 2015 British Forces News

9 mars 2015 Royal Navy

3 févr. 2015 British Army

13 oct. 2014 British Forces News

11 June 2014 Ministry of Defence, Defence Equipment and Support and Philip Dunne MP

The Ministry of Defence has awarded millions of pounds worth of new contracts to maintain its fleet of small boats.

Six UK companies will benefit from a 5-year contract that will involve support for 1,450 boats used by the Royal Navy, Royal Marines, British Army, and the Ministry of Defence (MOD) Police. They are:

• Devonport Royal Dockyard Ltd, based in Bristol and Devonport
• UK Docks Tyne Slipway and Engineering Company, based in Tyne and Wear
• Berthon Boat Company, based in Lymington
• MPI Services (UK) Ltd, based in Portland
• Marine Specialised Technology, based in Liverpool
• BAE Systems Surface Ships, based in Portsmouth

The Minister for Defence Equipment, Support and Technology, Philip Dunne, said:

The award of these contracts by the MOD provides the UK’s marine support industry with a steady volume of work, helping to maintain technical and engineering skills in this sector.

The competition attracted interest from across the marine industry, and is another example of the MOD’s commitment to seek best value for money from the commercial market.

The fleet of boats includes offshore raiding craft, pontoons up to 50 metres in length, police launchers, and Pacific 24 rigid inflatable boats (RIBs), and inflatables.

The contracts will provide maintenance, upkeep, repair, chartering, defect rectification, technical support, provision of spares and replacements.

Alistair Hughes, from the MOD’s Defence Equipment & Support organisation, is the team leader for commercially supported shipping. He said about the new contracts:

Small boats make up a critical component of the UK’s military effect, operating in the UK and globally. They can be seen in all areas of maritime from policing the UK’s naval bases to counter-piracy operations off Africa to training new recruits into the Royal Navy.

The award of the contracts follows 18 months of intensive activity between the team and industry to ensure the continued support of the numerous craft that make up the small boat fleet and find the best deal for the armed forces.

27/02/2014 Armée de Terre

Le commando 40 des Royal Marines a suivi, en février 2014, un stage d’aguerrissement en milieu équatorial au Gabon. Après 3 semaines d’entraînement, les Britanniques ont pu mettre en pratique leurs acquis lors du raid final

Le jour n’est pas encore levé sur le camp des rebelles, dans la forêt d’un pays instable. Celui-ci a fait appel à l’aide internationale pour rétablir la sécurité et l’état de droit. Autour du feu, quelques hommes dorment encore. Un bruit de branche qui craque attire l’attention d’un garde. Les échanges de feux sont immédiats. Encerclés, les quelques personnes qui vivaient là ne font bientôt plus le poids face à leurs adversaires. Le 40e commando vient de s’emparer de la position et de neutraliser l’ennemi. La première phase de la mission est accomplie.

Évoluer sans se faire entendre, se repérer, vivre et combattre dans un milieu humide et hostile, élaborer un schéma tactique pour prendre une position : autant de savoir-faire que les soldats anglais ont pu perfectionner à cette occasion.

Pour le lieutenant Greenway, chef de section, le stage fut « brilliant *». Ses hommes ne le contredisent pas. Tous ont gardé le sourire aux lèvres durant le raid final.

*Génial

Royal Marines observe their target during Exercise Dragon Hammer in Albania (Picture Leading Airman Jason Ballard, UK MoD)

2 October 2013 Ministry of Defence

Royal Marines from 42 Commando have travelled to NATO ally Albania for a week-long exercise with the country's armed forces.

Hot on the heels of last month’s large-scale exercise Albanian Lion, which was the first set-piece for the UK’s Response Force Task Group on Cougar 13, elements of 42 Commando have returned to the Balkan country for a further week.

The Royal Marines are the nation’s on-call commando unit, ready to deploy anywhere in the world at short notice should the government determine their presence is required.

The week-long Exercise Dragon Hammer with the Viking amphibious vehicles of the Royal Marines Armoured Support Group saw the green berets train mainly around the bay of Vlorë – also the setting for Albanian Lion.

Lima Company used night-vision technology to practise moving through an underground tunnel complex at Porto Palermo, near Himarë, which once served as a base for Cold War submarine operations in the Adriatic.

Their week of Dragon Hammer concluded with a company-level attack on the small island fortress of Sazan, just off the Vlorë peninsula – also the focal point for an assault during Albanian Lion.

Meanwhile, Juliet Company carried out various exercises with live ammunition – including firing the new lightweight Glock pistols being introduced across the Armed Forces – and engaged in close quarters battle. Their week drew to a close getting to grips with working side-by-side with the Vikings.

The Vikings deployed on Cougar 13 hoping to show the rest of the Corps what the all-terrain armoured vehicle, which is based in Dorset, can offer on the battlefield.

Major Chris Samuel, Officer Commanding Juliet Company, said:

The story of close co-operation between Juliet Company and the Viking Troop is one that needs to be read throughout our Corps.

Put simply, during this exercise, my commanders at all levels were exploiting the Viking’s capabilities in ways that they would not have envisaged or thought possible even 3 months ago.

The green berets completed Dragon Hammer delighted at the unique training environment offered both by Albania’s landscape and its military facilities.

Lieutenant Colonel Neil Sutherland, Commanding Officer of 42 Commando, said:

Dragon Hammer was an excellent opportunity – and one that the Commando fully exploited. Arduous, complex terrain and a challenging environment provided some fantastic training opportunities.

Live firing with Viking fully integrated into one of my manoeuvre companies and close quarters battle in a complex sub-terrain cold war submarine facility, where we fully utilised black light, are but 2 examples of the excellent training we were able to run. Overall, it proved to be superb training for 42 Commando.

Cougar 13

Cougar 13 is the routine annual deployment of the Royal Navy’s very high readiness Response Force Task Group (RFTG). Elements of the RFTG deployed to the Mediterranean and east of Suez, demonstrating their ability to project a highly effective UK maritime component anywhere in the world.

The deployment includes a series of demanding exercises with partner nations throughout the region which will ensure that the Task Group is ready to respond to any contingencies as and when they arise.

The RFTG ships have now passed through the Suez Canal and are carrying out further exercises with partner nations.

6 June 2013 Ministry of Defence

The Royal Marines elite mountain leaders branch has introduced a new course, available to all marine-level ranks.

The Royal Marines want to show that the world of mountain leaders goes far beyond climbing, mountain training, clambering out of holes in ice or building makeshift snow shelters.

Joining the mountain leaders cadre also opens up the world of reconnaissance and information-gathering in the brigade patrol troop; the small, specialist team which goes in ahead of the main Royal Marines force.

Typically the mountain leaders branch, which traces its roots back to the cliff assault unit in the Second World War, has been the domain of corporals and above.

But the Corps is now expanding the branch to all marine-level ranks as it introduces the mountain leader 3 course; the most experienced being mountain leader 1.

The new course sees marines taught how to carry out surveillance and vertical assaults, spending 2 weeks in Glencoe for practical mountain training, and take part in 2 exercises where they practise close target reconnaissance and guiding attack troops to their objectives.

Major Ads Rutherford, in charge of mountain leader instruction at the Commando Training Centre in Lympstone, Devon, explains:

Military mountaineering is different because everything we do is orientated to having an effect on the ground in terms of combat operations.

We teach guys to work in cold weather conditions which range from 3°C to -30°C, as well as desert and jungle. We teach them to own the environment in which they operate so they can exploit the unique capability they have for UK defence.

What is perhaps less well known outside the Corps, however, is that mountain leaders are also taught specialist communication skills and how to be reconnaissance operators – skills vital in the patrol troop.

The troop – part of the Surveillance and Reconnaissance Squadron, based at Stonehouse in Plymouth – has seen action in every major Royal Marines operation from the first Gulf War to Afghanistan.

They’re taught how to parachute – demonstrated recently over south-west Scotland during the Joint Warrior exercise, how to drive a multitude of vehicles, how to provide first aid, and how to escape or evade capture.

Colour Sergeant Lee Waters, who runs the mountain leader 3 course at Lympstone, said:

We can see everything, hear everything, and get an understanding of exactly what is going on in our area.

It’s become a very important part of the training for mountain leaders. It’s no longer just about the climbing and tactics.

Now we concentrate massively on the end product and making sure from the marine-level right up to the mountain leader 1s that all have a thorough understanding of how important their role is and how time-sensitive information is treated.

21.10.2012 Photographer: PO(Phot) Sean Clee

British and French amphibious assault craft take part in Exercise Corsican Lion.

Elements of 3 Commando Brigade Royal Marines conducted a WADER training package on the French Island of Corsica. The exercise saw British servicemen, train alongside their French counterparts in amphibious landing techniques from British craft and French craft. The training took place off Solenzaro Beach in Corsica as part of Exercise Corsican Lion.

Young Royal Marines Commando Officers in training conducting a beach insertion exercise Picture MOD 2012

27 Sep 12 UK MoD - A Training and Adventure news article

More than 3,000 sailors and marines are gearing up for a three-month training deployment to the Mediterranean - this year's key workout of the UK's high-readiness task force.

The deployment, known as Cougar 12, will see Royal Navy warships, Royal Marines commandos and naval airpower, which make up the Response Force Task Group (RFTG), train with French and Albanian maritime forces.

The RFTG was created under the 2010 Strategic Defence and Security Review and is a rapid reaction force that deals with unexpected world events that require military intervention.

Cougar 12 will start with a beach assault by the Royal Marines in the UK's South West, from 1-9 October, before the entire Group meets up in the Mediterranean later in the month.

Four warships, one amphibious support ship, a giant transport ship, three commando units, and helicopters and personnel from eight Fleet Air Arm, RAF and Army Air Corps squadrons are committed to the three-month deployment - in all more than 3,000 sailors, Royal Marines, soldiers and airmen.

Three Sea Kings are recovered to the deck of HMS Illustrious

[Picture: Petty Officer (Photographer) Ray Jones, Crown Copyright/MOD 2012]

They will take part in two large-scale exercises, interspersed with various smaller exercises and training and goodwill visits - in some cases to places which rarely see the White Ensign.

The deployment will be the second test for the RFTG which was called upon last year to support operations off Libya: HMS Ocean launched repeated Apache gunship strikes from her flight deck while HMS Liverpool spent seven months enforcing the no-fly zone and preventing arms from reaching pro-Gaddafi forces by sea.

Twelve months on and Portsmouth-based HMS Illustrious will be taking HMS Ocean's place as the helicopter carrier assigned to the task group.

Illustrious will be joined by the nation's flagship, HMS Bulwark, from where Commodore Paddy McAlpine, Commander UK Task Group, and 3 Commando Brigade's Brigadier Martin Smith will direct Cougar 12.

They will oversee two key exercises: Corsican Lion, working hand-in-hand with the French and, later this autumn, the Group will shift to the Adriatic to work with the Albanian military.

Corsican Lion, in the second half of October, will see the RFTG link up with France's flagship, the aircraft carrier FS Charles de Gaulle - the most powerful surface ship in western European waters.

Her flight deck will be the launchpad for Super Étendard and Rafale jets, offering a first real glimpse of how the RFTG should look at the end of the decade when the new HMS Queen Elizabeth aircraft carrier enters service with the Royal Navy.

In the nearer future, Corsican Lion is the most important strand of Cougar and a major step along the road towards forging a fully-operational Anglo-French force by 2016.

There will be planned exercises with the US and Algerian forces and visits to Algeria and Malta - particularly poignant for Illustrious as she has ties with the island going back to her predecessor and the dark days of the Second World War:

    "Cougar 12 provides us with a superb opportunity to rekindle our amphibious capability after a prolonged period when our focus has been on operations elsewhere," said Cdre McAlpine.

His force stands at five days' notice to deploy anywhere in the world should the Government require it; in theory the Task Group can poise off the coast of 147 nations - three out of four countries in the world.