Following ITC, all CSOs attend the Basic Language Course. BLC is composed of 750 hours of instruction conducted over 125 training days and is designed to, at minimum, create CSOs who can speak and listen in their target language at the USSOCOM-specified 1/1 level per the Defense Language Proficiency Test. The MSOS Language Branch has achieved or exceeded USSOCOM standards in 100 percent of classes thus far, with 15 percent achieving 2/2 proficiency and 52 percent of students achieving 1+/1+. While language proficiency is not the only determinant in assigning CSOs to Marine Raider Battalions, their scores on the Defense Language Aptitude Battery influence which language they are assigned to learn, thus influencing their ultimate assignment.

To qualify as a SOCS and be assigned to deploying units within the MRR and MRSG, students must complete the Special Operations Training Course, SERE School and MOS-specific advanced courses offered at MSOS. MSOS currently trains and qualifies SOCS in SIGINT, GEOINT, HUMINT, All-Source Analysis, EOD and Communications.

When at home base or stateside, in what kinds of training exercises/evolutions do you try to include your unit, to maintain proficiency and skills?

Our Marines constantly attend training to make them better instructors and Marines. We maintain a strong focus on the critical aspects beneficial to a Marine’s career, such as attendance to professional military education. In addition, professionalizing instructor certification is a fundamental aspect of developing our force. Marines assigned to MSOS attend a gamut of professional certification courses, some of which are part of our course list and some of which are conducted by both sister service and private venues.

Derna Bridge addresses the “Gray Zone” challenges SOF will contend with for the foreseeable future as described by the USSOCOM Commander in his 9 September 2015 White Paper. The exercise is fluid and takes students through the dynamics of peace- and war-time operations.

We are currently making significant strides in certifying our instructors to receive the 0914 USMC Combat Instructor military occupational specialty and to rename the MSOS as the Raider Training Center in honor and recognition of our lineage to the Raider Training Center established in February 1943 by Lt. Col. James Roosevelt at Camp Pendleton, California. In addition, our internal MSOS Master Instructor Program is a challenging goal for our instructors to attain. Qualification commences with completion of the MARSOC Instructor Qualification Course. Our Marines also support MRR and MRSG training by providing subject matter expertise within their training and exercise programs.

Are there any specific field training events embedded in the Raider training syllabus – perhaps a culmination exercise such as Robin Sage for the Army Special Forces?

ITC has a culminating field exercise at the end of each of the four phases.

Students are evaluated at the conclusion of Phase One during Raider Spirit, a nine-day training evolution that tests the students’ ability to conduct raid, ambush and patrolling operations in a small team. Because MARSOC practices open MOS recruiting, it is critical that students demonstrate mastery of basic field skills, navigation, communications, organic weapons systems, fire support, amphibious operations and tactical combat casualty care. In addition, since Marines are amphibious by nature, much of the curriculum has roots in the Basic Reconnaissance Course, which produces Reconnaissance Marines for USMC operating forces.

At the end of Phase Two, students undergo Guile Strike, a five-day event testing their ability to execute direct action missions in an urban environment. This exercise forces the students to demonstrate mastery of advanced marksmanship and close quarters battle tactics, mechanical and explosive breaching techniques, and ground and air insertion procedures while executing a series of precision raids.

Students complete Stingray Fury at the conclusion of Phase III. This five-day exercise focuses on urban and rural reconnaissance, information collection and reporting, hide site construction and photography.

Phase Four Irregular Warfare features the 19-day Derna Bridge exercise and is the capstone event for ITC. Derna Bridge addresses the “Gray Zone” challenges SOF will contend with for the foreseeable future as described by the USSOCOM Commander in his 9 September 2015 White Paper. The exercise is fluid and takes students through the dynamics of peace- and war-time operations.