Marine Raider Battalions: 70 Years Ahead of Their Time

By Mike Markowitz and John D. Gresham - August 7, 2012

U.S. Marine Raiders gathered in front of a Japanese dugout in January 1944 on Cape Torokina, Bougainville, Solomon Islands, when they helped take. National Archives photo

Then, in 1985, following Marine operations in Grenada and Lebanon, the 28th USMC commandant, Gen. Paul X. Kelley, authorized the creation of Marine Amphibious Units (Special Operations Capable) from the existing afloat battalions. Built around a reinforced rifle battalion, this force included a variety of helicopters, heavy weapons, and even a tank platoon. In 1988, Gen. Alfred F. Gray (the 29th commandant) changed the name to “Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable)” or MEU (SOC), a term with deep resonance in Marine history and tradition. Seven of these units were formed, each with a strength of about 2,200 personnel, usually commanded by a colonel. The MEUs (SOC) deploy anywhere in the world aboard Navy amphibious assault ships, and are trained for a variety of unconventional missions including:

mechanized and motorized raids;
non-combatant evacuation operations (NEOs);
humanitarian assistance;
mass casualty evacuation;
reconnaissance/scout/sniper missions;
jungle and/or mountain warfare;
riot control; and
nuclear power plant takeover and shutdown.

Over the decades, these have proven to be some of the most useful units in the U.S. military, conducting hundreds of missions. The 24th MEU (SOC) rescued Air Force Capt. Scott O’Grady in Bosnia in 1994, and the 15th and 24th deployed to Somalia. However, the MEUs (SOC) never belonged to the U.S. Special Operations Command (SOCOM).

Marines of the 2nd Raider Battalion fight from a muddy hole on Bougainville. The 2nd Raiders invaded Bougainville on Nov. 1, 1943, landing on the beaches of Cape Torokina. Photo from the collection of Frank A. Cannistraci, 2nd Raider Bn. combat photographer

When the Department of Defense established the joint SOCOM on April 16, 1987, the Marine Corps opted out of having a Marine component as part of the new command. Kelley felt that the Corps should not fund special warfare capabilities outside the Fleet Marine Force. The Corps rejected the idea of any “elite” within the Marines, who already considered themselves elite within the armed forces. But after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks in 2001, the demand for increased irregular warfare and unconventional capabilities became irresistible. So, on June 20, 2003, Marine Corps Special Operations Command Detachment One activated at Camp Pendleton, Calif. This company-sized unit, with about a hundred Marines, revived the lineage and legacy of the Raiders. Detachment One’s insignia included the Raider’s blue patch with a skull and stars.

Following a successful deployment to Iraq, the detachment was disbanded on March 10, 2006. But shortly before this, on Feb. 24, 2006, the Marine Corps Forces Special Operations Command (MARSOC) activated at Camp Lejeune, N.C., as the Marine component of SOCOM. With core capabilities in direct action, special reconnaissance, and foreign internal defense, MARSOC can also conduct counter-terrorism, information operations, and unconventional warfare. It includes a special operations regiment with three battalions of SOF Marines, an intelligence battalion, a logistic support group, and the Marine Special Operations School. These units proudly wear distinctive blue patches with the five stars of the Southern Cross, recalling the emblem devised for the Marine Raiders back in 1942. So while the Marine Raider Battalions existed for only two years 70 years ago, today they have been reborn with what looks like a great future.

This article was first published in The Year in Special Operations: 2012-2013 Edition.