Ch. 7: The USMC

Comprehend the mission of the USMC

“We are warfighters within a warfighting organization. Our Corps performs three important functions for our Nation - we Make Marines and we Win Battles and we Return Quality Citizens.”

Know the elements and organization of the MAGTF

Marine Air-Ground Task Forces

1. Ground Combat Element (GCE): infantry augmented with artillery

2. Aviation Combat Element (ACE): contains aircraft to support tactical situation

3. Logistics Combat Element (LCE): provides necessary logistical support including transportation

4. Command Element (CE): Admin, intel, ops, logistics, comms, etc.

Know the elements and organization of the MEF

Marine Expeditionary Force (40k-80k)

• Largest principal warfighting element in active force structure of USMC

• usually commanded by Lt Gen

• Each MEF has 1-3 MEUs assigned to it

• permanent structure

Know the elements and organization of the MEB

Marine Expeditionary Brigade (14k-17k)

• next largest MAGTF structure behind MEF

• stood up for specific theaters and engagements or deployed as smaller element of MEF

• Typically commanded by BGen or MajGen

Know the elements and organization of the MEU

Marine Expeditionary Unit (~2.2k)

• self-contained, forward-deployed response force

• embarked aboard amphibious assault ships

• constant state of readiness, able to plan and launch mission within six hours

Know the elements and organization of the SPMAGTF

Special Purpose MAGTF

• may be formed to conduct specific mission limited in scope and often in duration

• normally relatively small force (size of MEU or smaller)

Know the origin of the birth of the U.S. Marine Corps.

• direct descendent of British Royal Marines

• Established by Second Continental Congress in Continental Marine Act of 1775

Know the historical significance of the early traditions of the Marine Corps.

• Quatrefoil: allowed Marines to distinguish between friend and foe

• Leatherneck: leather collar worn to protect their necks from sword slashes

• SMAJ: First SMAJ of USMC was SMAJ Bestwick

• Marine Corps Band: est. 1798

• Mameluke Sword: Ruler of Tripoli gifted for Marines’ actions during Barbary Wars

• Blood Stripe: Commemorated Marine casualties in Mexican War

• Grand Old Man of USMC: Archibald Henderson Commandant of USMC for 38 years

• Father of Marine Aviation: 2Lt Cunningham

• Marine Corps Emblem: EGA (eagle globe anchor)

Understand core values of Commandant’s Planning Guidance

• force design

• warfighting

• education and training

• core values

• command and leadership

What aircraft? Features and Purpose?

AH-1Z Super Cobra/Viper

• Purpose: close air support, called when needed firepower

• Features: project multiple missiles, rockets, 20mm cannon fire, enhanced navigation

What aircraft? Features and Purpose?

UH-1Y Huey/Venom

• purpose: blend of six aviation functions, epitome of Marine Aviation

• features: .50 cal and 7.62 machine guns, teamed along AH-1s

What aircraft? Features and Purpose?

CH-53E Sea Stallion/Super Stallion Helicopter

• purpose: can carry a 26,000lb LAV, 16 tons of cargo 50 miles and back, powerful enough to lift every aircraft in Marine inventory except KC-130

• features: .50cal machine guns, flare dispensers, in-flight refueling probe, all-weather nav, assault transport of Marine ground forces

What aircraft? Features and Purpose?

MV-22 Osprey Tiltrotor

• purpose: ability to carry 24 Marine combat troops 2x fast and 5x further than previous helos

• features: expeditionary assault, raid operations, cargo lift, vertical takeoff, digital cockpits

What aircraft? Features and Purpose?

F/A-18 Hornet

• purpose: usability in multiple missions, fighter/attack missions, escort or close air support

• features: external and internal weapon stations, air-to-air and air-to-ground missiles, bombs, 20mm gun

What aircraft?

F-35B Lightning II

• replacement for F/A-18

What aircraft? Features and Purpose?

KC-130J Hercules

• purpose: achieve global reach and rapid deplorability, resupply, insert ground troops, medevac ops

• features: able to carry more than 12,000 gallons of fuel, refuel two aircraft at 300 gallons/min, ability to deliver missiles and bombs

What aircraft? Features and Purpose?

MQ-9A Reaper

• purpose: UAV, primary mission ISR, can provide close air support and combat search and rescue, assortment of weapon systems

• features: infrared sensor, hellfire missiles, multi-spectral targeting system

Understand the function and capabilities of the Marine Littoral Regiment (MLR).

- Self-deployable, multi-domain force optimized for the contact and blunt layers, support Joint Force’s role in assuring allies and partners, deterring adversaries, conducting and enabling Joint Force contact

- Naval formation, stand-in force

- Expeditionary Advanced Base Operations, Strike, Air and Missile Defense, Maritime Domain, Surface Warfare, Information Environment

- DETERRENCE BY SEA DENIAL

What is this? Features and Purpose?

M777 Howitzer

• Purpose: timely, accurate, and continues firepower

• Features: 7-ton trucks used to move, highly deployable, lifted by MV-22 and CH-53E

What is this? Features and Purpose?

High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle (HMMWV)

• Purpose: multipurpose, C2, troop transport, shelter carrier, towed weapons mover,

  armament carrier, TOW missile system carrier and ambulance

• Features: 6.2 liter, V8 diesel engine; 3 speed automatic transmission; four-wheel drive;

  mounted with M2 .50 cal, M240 or M249 machine gun

What is this? Features and Purpose?

Joint Light Tactical Vehicle (JLTV)

• Purpose: improve the mobility and payload of the light tactical vehicles, increased

  survivability, Army and Marines to replace HMMWV, lighter and faster

• Features: transportable by fixed and rotary, scalable crew system, automatic fire

  protection system, C4ISR capabilities, 3500-5100lbs payload

What is this? Features and Purpose?

M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS)

• Purpose: most advanced artillery system, engage targets under all weather conditions,

  precise strikes from over 40 miles away

• Features: accurate within 26 feet; six tubes hold 200-pound rockets; three marines;

  24,000lbs, fires M270 artillery rockets and anti-aircraft missiles, ready to fire within 15

  minutes

What is this? Features and Purpose?

Amphibious Combat Vehicle (ACV)’

• Purpose: replacement for the AAV, transport a squad-sized element from ship-to-shore

  and onto overland objectives across a contested landing zone, ground mobility and speed

• Features: 8x8 wheeled vehicle, 65 MPH land and 6-7 knots in water; armed with a M2

  .50 cal or Mk-19 40 mm, v-shaped hull and blast seats, 3 marines and 13 embarked

  troops

What weapon is this? Function and Range?

M4 Carbine

• Function: infantry weapon, shorter distances and confined spaces

• Range: Area: 600m, Point: 500m

What weapon is this? Function and Range?

M27 Infantry Automatic Rifle (IAR)

• Function: accurate suppressive fires in support of the Fire Team. Lightweight,

  magazine-fed 5.56mm weapon. Enhance an automatic rifleman’s maneuverability and

  displacement speed

• Range: Area: 800m, Point: 550m

What weapon is this? Function and Range?

M240B Medium Machine Gun

• Function: continues and high rate of fire to engage long-range targets, heavier but fire

  rate of fire and longer range than M249. Tripod employed when the weapon is to be used for defense, and bipod is for patrolling

• Range: Tripod range: 1800m, Max. Range: 3725m

What weapon is this? Function and Range?

M32A1 Multi Shot Grenade Launcher (MSGL)

• Function: lightweight 40mm six-shot revolver-type grenade launcher, 6 rounds in 3 seconds

• Range: Area: 400m, Point: 250m

What weapon is this? Function and Range?

MK-153 Shoulder Launched Multipurpose Assault Weapon (SMAW)

• Function: anti-armor rocket launcher, destroy bunkers and fortifications during assault, destroy main battle tanks with the HEAA rockets

• Range: 1 x 2 meter target: 250m, Tank-sized: 500m

What weapon is this? Function and Range?

MK19 Mod 3 Automatic Grenade Launcher

• Function: high-volume, suppressive fire support, destroy most light-armored vehicles, protecting supply convoys, and defend against hovering rotary aircraft, deliver massive direct fire or indirect fire from hidden positions

• Range: Max. range: 1500 yards

What weapon is this? Function and Range?

50 Caliber Machine gun

• Function: automatic weapon suppression fire for offensive and defensive purposes,

  against personnel, light armored vehicles, slow, low-flying aircraft

• Range: Max. range: 1829m with TRIPOD

What weapon is this? Function and Range?

FGM-148 Javelin

• Function: After firing, marines can begin moving to a dif erent area before the missile

  reaches target, preventing enemy from discovering their location, MANEUVERABILITY AND FIREPOWER

• Range: peak altitude of 500ft in top-attack mode and 190ft in direct mode

What weapon is this? Function and Range?

BGM71 TOW Missile

• Function: tube-launched, optically tracked wire-guided anti-tank missile, penetrate armor 30-inches thick at more than 3000m

• Range: found carried, on vehicles, or helos

What weapon is this? Function and Range?

60mm Mortar

• Function: effective, indirect fire on a target, constant and accurate high-angle

  suppressive fire on targets, locate targets by converting chart data to firing data

• Range: 3500m

Know and understand the role of the infantry and how non-combat arms MOS support the infantry.

• Combat Arms: direct confrontation with enemy to kill or capture them, break their will to continue to fight, and seize and hold terrain or to deny it to the enemy. Assert combat power and dominance on the battlefield

• Combat Support: direct support of the forces on the battlefield by providing intel., comms., engineering, and chemical warfare. Ensure combat arms are manned, armed, fed, fueled, maintained, and moved.

0102

Manpower Officer

02XX

Intelligence

• 0203: ground intel

• 0204: human source intel

• 0206: signals intel/grand electronic warfare

• 0207: air intel

0302

Infantry Officer

0402

Logistics Officer

0802

Field Artillery Officer

0602

Communications Officer

1302

Combat Engineer Officer

1702

Cyberspace Officer

1803

Amphibious Assault Officer

3002

Ground Supply Officer

3404

Financial Management Officer

4402

Judge Advocate

4502

Communication Strategy and Operations Officer

5803

Military Police Officer

6002

Aircraft Maintenance Officer

6602

Aviation Supply Officer

72XX

Aviation Command & Control

• 7204: low altitude air defense

• 7208: air support control officers

• 7210: air defense control officers

• 7220: air traffic control officers

7315

Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) MAGTF Electronic Warfare Officer (EWO)

7599

Flight Students