This list is incomplete; you can help by adding missing items. (August 2008)

This is a list of current United States Marine Corps battalions, sorted by the mission they perform.

Active units

Ground Combat Element battalions

See also: Ground combat element

The ground combat element (GCE) consists of those combat and combat support units whose primary mission is to, (1) engage with and destroy the enemy by fire and/or maneuver, and/or shock effect, performed by infantry, field artillery, and tank units, (2) provide close battlefield support to other GCE units by assault amphibian, combat assault, light armored reconnaissance, reconnaissance, and combat engineer units, or (3) provide immediate command and control, and limited logistical support including consolidated Navy personnel administration and motor transport (medium truck) support to subordinate GCE battalions and regiments (infantry and artillery only) by Marine division (MARDIV) headquarters battalions. Additionally, this battalion provides communications networking and law enforcement support across the GCE. The headquarters battalion also includes the division band, whose tactical mission is to serve as a provisional rifle platoon in providing division headquarters security.

Note: Some GCE battalions and regiments are provided air liaison officers/forward air controllers (i.e., Marine Corps naval aviators — aircraft pilots, and naval flight officers — airborne weapons and sensor systems officers) with specialized skills in coordinating air support of ground units) from the Marine Aircraft Wing (MAW) of the aviation combat element (ACE). These officers facilitate employment of Marine aviation in support of GCE units to perform offensive air support (e.g., close air support), assault support (e.g., troop, cargo, and casualty transport, aerial command and control, liaison, communications, and illumination, and close-in fire support by light/attack helicopters), and aerial reconnaissance (e.g., tactical reconnaissance and artillery spotting).

Infantry battalions

Infantry battalions are the heart and soul of the ground combat element. The mission of locating, closing with, and destroying the enemy with fire and maneuver and repelling the enemy's assault with fire and close combat lies with the "grunts". Marine infantry battalions often have limited organic equipment outside of small arms, infantry crew-served weapons (e.g., heavy machine guns, medium mortars, and anti-tank missiles), and a few light tactical trucks. Marine infantry primarily maneuvers by foot as light infantry, and must be supplemented with additional trucks to become motorized infantry or Amphibious Assault Vehicles to become mechanized infantry.

A Marine infantry battalion is usually organized into three rifle companies, a weapons company, and a headquarters and service company. The rifle company has a company headquarters, three rifle platoons, with three rifle squads each, and a weapons platoon with medium machineguns, mortars, and assault weapons sections. The weapons company includes a company headquarters, a heavy machinegun platoon, an 81mm mortar platoon, and an antiarmor platoon. Sometimes, the commander will mix these into Combined Anti-Armor Teams. The headquarters and service company includes all command, administration, intelligence, operations, logistics, and communication Marines and equipment, as well as the battalion's Scout Sniper platoon and Battalion Aid Station (BAS) staffed by U.S. Navy Hospital Corpsman. By 2030 three battalions will be disbanded, and some reflagged: 1/8th becoming 2/2nd, 2/8th becoming 4/6th, 8th Marine HQ and 3rd Btn disband.[1]

rifleman
Battalion Name Insignia Nickname Location
1st Battalion, 1st Marines First of the First Camp Pendleton, California[2]
2nd Battalion, 1st Marines The Professionals Camp Pendleton, California[3]
3rd Battalion, 1st Marines Thundering Third Camp Pendleton, California[4]
1st Battalion, 2nd Marines Typhoon Camp Lejeune, North Carolina[5]
2nd Battalion, 2nd Marines Warlords Camp Lejeune, North Carolina[6]
3rd Battalion, 2nd Marines Betio Bastards Camp Lejeune, North Carolina[7]
1st Battalion, 3rd Marines Lava Dogs MCB Hawaii, Hawaii[8]
1st Battalion, 4th Marines The China Marines Camp Pendleton, California[9]
2nd Battalion, 4th Marines Magnificent Bastards Camp Pendleton, California[10]
3rd Battalion, 4th Marines Darkside MCAGCC Twentynine Palms, California[11]
1st Battalion, 5th Marines Geronimo Camp Pendleton, California[12]
2nd Battalion, 5th Marines Raiders or Marauders Camp Pendleton, California[13]
3rd Battalion, 5th Marines Darkhorse Camp Pendleton, California[14]
1st Battalion, 6th Marines 1/6 HARD Camp Lejeune, North Carolina[15]
2nd Battalion, 6th Marines The Ready Battalion Camp Lejeune, North Carolina[16]
3rd Battalion, 6th Marines Teufelhunden Camp Lejeune, North Carolina[17]
1st Battalion, 7th Marines First Team MCAGCC Twentynine Palms, California[18]
2nd Battalion, 7th Marines War Dogs MCAGCC Twentynine Palms, California[19]
3rd Battalion, 7th Marines The Cutting Edge MCAGCC Twentynine Palms, California[20]
1st Battalion, 8th Marines The Beirut Battalion Camp Lejeune, North Carolina[21]
2nd Battalion, 8th Marines America's Battalion Camp Lejeune, North Carolina[22]
1st Battalion, 23rd Marines Lone Star Houston, Texas[23]
2nd Battalion, 23rd Marines Prepared and Professional Pasadena, California[24]
3rd Battalion, 23rd Marines Lone Wolves Belle Chase, Louisiana[25]
1st Battalion, 24th Marines The Terror from the North Detroit, Michigan[26]
2nd Battalion, 24th Marines The Mad Ghosts Chicago, Illinois[27]
1st Battalion, 25th Marines New England's Own Ayer, Massachusetts
2nd Battalion, 25th Marines Empire Battalion Garden City, New York[28]
3rd Battalion, 25th Marines Cold Steel Warriors Brook Park, Ohio[29]

Artillery battalions

Field artillery units provide indirect, long-range cannon and rocket fire support for the Marine Air-Ground Task Force. Currently, artillery regiments contain two or three (11th Marines only) cannon battalions and are equipped with the M777 lightweight, towed, 155 mm, medium howitzer and the Expeditionary Fire Support System (EFSS) 120 mm, heavy mortar. Two regiments (11th Marines and 14th Marines) also have one rocket battalion equipped with the M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) equipped with the MGM-140 ATACMS surface-to-surface, guided missile. Marine artillery battalions contain a Headquarters Battery and three or four firing batteries. Firing batteries contain a headquarters platoon (including a liaison section with three forward observer teams) and one or two firing platoons (depending upon weapons systems). The firing platoon(s) contain a battery operations center, a fire direction center, and four or six artillery sections (depending upon weapon system). Counter-battery radar is usually a regimental asset, but can be detached to augment battalions or batteries. By 2030 all but five artillery batteries will be disbanded.[30]

M777 howitzer firing
Battalion Name Insignia Nickname Location
1st Battalion, 10th Marines Nightmare Camp Lejeune, North Carolina[31]
2nd Battalion, 10th Marines Gunslinger Camp Lejeune, North Carolina[32]
1st Battalion, 11th Marines Cobra Camp Pendleton, California[33]
2nd Battalion, 11th Marines Patriot Camp Pendleton, California[34]
3rd Battalion, 11th Marines Thunder MCAGCC Twentynine Palms, California[35]
5th Battalion, 11th Marines Steel Rain Camp Pendleton, California[36]
3rd Battalion, 12th Marines Warriors of the Pacific Camp Hansen, Okinawa, Japan[37]
2nd Battalion, 14th Marines Peacemaker Grand Prairie, Texas[38]
3rd Battalion, 14th Marines Liberty Philadelphia, Pennsylvania[39]
5th Battalion, 14th Marines Sharphunter Seal Beach, California[40]

Armor battalions

The mission of an armor unit is to conduct and support amphibious operations and other operations as required by landing and transporting to inland objectives the surface assault elements and their equipment, and by conducting light armored reconnaissance and limited offensive and defensive operations. When task-organized with infantry, tanks, and other forces, the battalion conducts combined arms operations as a separate maneuver element in support of the Marine Division.

Currently, Assault Amphibian (AA) battalions utilize the Amphibious Assault Vehicle (AAVP-7A1) and consist of a headquarters and service company and two to six AA companies. Each AA company is equipped with 42 AAVs (including personnel, command, and recovery variants) organized into three platoons of 12 AAVs each and an additional six AAVs in the company headquarters. Each AA platoon is capable of transporting an entire Marine rifle company plus any dismounted attachments (e.g., mortar forward observer teams, anti-tank missile crews, scout/sniper or reconnaissance squads) thus transforming into amphibious/mechanized infantry. (One AA company is capable of transporting the assault echelon of a Marine infantry battalion.) Although plans were in place to replace it with the Expeditionary Fighting Vehicle, the cancellation of the program is going to prolong use of the AAV.

Light Armored Reconnaissance (LAR) battalions use the LAV 25 series of vehicles and consist of a headquarters and service company and four LAR companies. Each LAR company is equipped with 25 LAVs (including 14 LAV-25, two mortar, four anti-tank, one command & control, three logistics, and one recovery variant).

LAV 25
Battalion Name Insignia Nickname Location
2nd Assault Amphibian Battalion The First Wave Camp Lejeune, North Carolina
3rd Assault Amphibian Battalion 3rd Tracks Camp Pendleton, California
4th Assault Amphibian Battalion 4th Tracks Tampa Bay, Florida
1st Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion Highlanders Camp Pendleton, California
2nd Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion Destroyers Camp Lejeune, North Carolina
3rd Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion Wolfpack MCAGCC Twentynine Palms, California
4th Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion Iron Horse Marines Camp Pendleton, California

Combat Engineer battalions

The mission of combat engineers is to provide mobility, counter mobility, survivability, and limited general engineering support. Mobility includes the assessment and fortification of roadways and bridges, the clearing of enemy obstacles and landmines, and assault breaching. Counter mobility includes creating obstacles and barriers for the enemy, which could include the destruction of structures and/or bridges. Survivability includes the fortification of positions and the construction of new outposts. Other jobs can include Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD), construction, and utilities (such as generators and refrigeration). Currently, combat engineers use a variety of tools for their trade. Some vehicles include the M9 Armored Combat Earthmover, D7 Bulldozer, M60A1 Armored Vehicle Launched Bridge, and various cranes and forklifts. Each combat engineer battalion consists of a headquarters and service company, three combat engineer companies, one mobility assault company, and an engineer support company.

D7 Bulldozer
Battalion Name Insignia Nickname Location
1st Combat Engineer Battalion The Super Breed Camp Pendleton, California
2nd Combat Engineer Battalion That Other Battalion Camp Lejeune, North Carolina
4th Combat Engineer Battalion One Team, One Fight Baltimore, Maryland

Reconnaissance battalions

The mission of the reconnaissance battalions is to obtain information by visual observation about the activities and resources of an enemy or potential enemy, or about the meteorologic, hydrographic, or geographic characteristics of a particular area. They specialize in amphibious recon, including hydrography; as well as airborne recon, infiltration via surface, subsurface and airborne operations, and conducting limited scale raids and ambushes. The battalions consist of a headquarters and service company and one to four reconnaissance companies (divisional assets, individual companies usually attached to an RCT). All battalions (except 4th Recon) also have a force reconnaissance company dedicated to provide deep reconnaissance and direct action capability to a MEF HQ. (Two additional separate force reconnaissance companies exist in the Marine Forces Reserve.)

Recon marines
Battalion Name Insignia Nickname Location
1st Reconnaissance Battalion Swift, Silent, Deadly Camp Pendleton, California
2nd Reconnaissance Battalion Chimera Camp Lejeune, North Carolina
3rd Reconnaissance Battalion Mortalis Camp Schwab, Okinawa, Japan
4th Reconnaissance Battalion Swift, Silent, Deadly San Antonio, Texas

Headquarters battalions

Headquarters battalions provide the command and control, administration and logistics for a Marine division. Each MARDIV HQBN is uniquely organized to support its division. However, typically the battalion is commanded by a colonel, and consists of headquarters company (including the division band), communications company, truck company (2 in HQBN FIRSTMARDIV), and may include a military police company.

Battalion Name Insignia Nickname Location
Headquarters Battalion 1st Marine Division Standard Bearers Camp Pendleton, California
Headquarters Battalion 2nd Marine Division The Silent Second Camp Lejeune, North Carolina
Headquarters Battalion 3rd Marine Division Samurai Camp Courtney, Okinawa, Japan
Headquarters Battalion 4th Marine Division Fighting Fourth New Orleans, Louisiana

Logistics Combat Element battalions

See also: Logistics Combat Element

The logistics combat element (LCE) consists of those combat service support units whose primary mission is to, (1) provide direct combat logistics (i.e., motor transport and landing support, and limited engineer support, equipment maintenance, and ground supply services) to specified GCE units or certain aviation combat element (ACE) units as provided by combat logistics battalions and separate combat logistics companies, (2) provide general combat service support across the Marine Air Ground Task Force (MAGTF) by specialized service support battalions, including: dental, engineer support, maintenance, medical, supply and transportation support battalions, or (3) provide immediate command and control, and consolidated Navy personnel administration to subordinate LCE battalions and regiments by the Marine Logistics Group (MLG) headquarters and service battalion. Additionally, this battalion provides communications networking and law enforcement support across the LCE. The headquarters and service battalion also provides specialized services, including: military postal service, Marine Corps Exchange (MCX), and other personal services, to units of all four MAGTF elements (i.e., GCE, ACE, LCE, and CE).

Combat Logistics battalions

Combat logistics battalions (CLB) provide combat service support for the GCE and ACE beyond their organic capabilities. The battalions primarily provide motor transport and logistics control and materiel handling (i.e., landing support) services, and limited engineer, maintenance, and supply services, to dedicated Regimental Combat Teams (RCT) or Marine Expeditionary Units (MEU). CLBs that support RCTs typically consist of a headquarters and service company, and three support companies (engineer, maintenance, and transportation); those CLBs that support MEUs typically consist of several functional units (individual units may be styled as either a section, platoon, detachment, or company depending upon the size of unit, function, and the unit's parent battalion/regiment/group). In addition to a headquarters and service unit, these CLBs contain units dedicated to providing: air delivery, communications, engineer, explosive ordnance disposal, health services (medical and dental), landing support, law enforcement (military police), maintenance, motor transport, and supply support to the MEU.

Battalion Name Insignia Nickname Location
Combat Logistics Battalion 1 Camp Pendleton, California
Combat Logistics Battalion 2 Keep Them Moving Camp Lejeune, North Carolina
Combat Logistics Battalion 3 Longboard MCB Hawaii, Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii
Combat Logistics Battalion 4 The Supporting Edge Camp Butler, Okinawa, Japan
Combat Logistics Battalion 5 Traveller Camp Pendleton, California
Combat Logistics Battalion 6 Red Cloud Battalion Camp Lejeune, North Carolina
Combat Logistics Battalion 7 MCAGCC Twentynine Palms, California
Combat Logistics Battalion 8 Camp Lejeune, North Carolina
Combat Logistics Battalion 11 Camp Pendleton, California
Combat Logistics Battalion 13 Lucky Camp Pendleton, California
Combat Logistics Battalion 15 Blackout Camp Pendleton, California
Combat Logistics Battalion 22 Ironman Camp Lejeune, North Carolina
Combat Logistics Battalion 23 Trucking Reservists Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington
Combat Logistics Battalion 24 ""Blackbeard" Camp Lejeune, North Carolina
Combat Logistics Battalion 25 Red Bank, New Jersey
Combat Logistics Battalion 26 Camp Lejeune, North Carolina
Combat Logistics Battalion 31 Atlas Battalion Camp Butler, Okinawa, Japan
Combat Logistics Battalion 451 Charlotte Naval and Marine Corps Reserve Center, North Carolina
Combat Logistics Battalion 453 Buckley Space Force Base Naval and Marine Corps Reserve Center, Colorado

Maintenance battalions

Maintenance battalions provide intermediate level (3d and 4th echelon) maintenance support for Marine Corps furnished (vice Navy, other service, or contractor provided) tactical ordnance (i.e., weapons and weapons systems), engineer, motor transport, communication-electronics, and general support (e.g., generators, refrigeration systems, water purification) equipment of the Marine Expeditionary Force (MEF). Maintenance battalions are usually organized with a headquarters and service company and five maintenance companies (electronic, engineer, general support, ordnance, and motor transport).

Battalion Name Insignia Nickname Location
1st Maintenance Battalion Midas Camp Pendleton, California
2nd Maintenance Battalion Sustinare Bellatore Camp Lejeune, North Carolina
3rd Maintenance Battalion Camp Butler, Okinawa, Japan
4th Maintenance Battalion Charlotte, North Carolina

Engineer Support battalions

Engineer support battalions provide engineer support past the level available from organic engineers, such as combat bridging. ESBs also provide the storage and distribution of water and bulk fuels. Engineer support battalions usually consist of a headquarters and service company, three engineer companies, an engineer support company, a bridge company, a bulk fuel company, and an explosive ordnance disposal company.

Battalion Name Insignia Nickname Location
6th Engineer Support Battalion Portland, Oregon
7th Engineer Support Battalion Pioneer Camp Pendleton, California
8th Engineer Support Battalion Camp Lejeune, North Carolina
9th Engineer Support Battalion Team 9 Camp Hansen, Okinawa, Japan

Landing Support battalions

Landing support battalions support distributed maritime operations and expeditionary advanced base operations.[41]

Battalion Name Insignia Nickname Location
1st Landing Support Battalion The Cutting Edge Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California
2d Landing Support Battalion Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, North Carolina
3d Landing Support Battalion Landers Camp Foster, Okinawa

Supply battalions

Supply battalions provide supply support past that of organic unit supply. They provide all assets that a Marine unit might need, excepting fuels, water, and aviation repair parts provided from the Navy. Rations, repair parts, ammunition, personal equipment, and even entire end items are all provided by or through the supply battalions. Supply battalions usually consist of a headquarters and service company, an ammunition company, a medical logistics company, and a supply company.

Marines provide logistical support
Battalion Name Insignia Nickname Location
1st Supply Battalion Dragon Warriors Camp Pendleton, California
2nd Supply Battalion Camp Lejeune, North Carolina
3rd Supply Battalion Camp Butler, Okinawa, Japan
4th Supply Battalion Newport News, Virginia

Transportation Support battalions

Transportation Support battalions provide the MEF with motor vehicle (truck) transportation and throughput support for the distribution of supplies, personnel, and equipment. The battalions consist of a headquarters and service company and three truck companies.

Battalion Name Insignia Nickname Location
1st Transportation Support Battalion Camp Pendleton, California
2d Transportation Support Battalion Camp Lejeune, North Carolina
3rd Transportation Support Battalion The Roughriders Camp Foster, Okinawa, Japan

Medical battalions

Medical battalions provide medical care beyond the immediate care of unit corpsmen. Often, these units act as field hospitals when on deployment. In garrison, they supplement naval hospitals at various Marine Corps installations. Medical battalions are manned by primarily by Navy Medical Corps personnel and typically consist of a headquarters and service company and three surgical companies.

Battalion Name Insignia Nickname Location
1st Medical Battalion Cheaters of Death Camp Pendleton, California
2nd Medical Battalion Camp Lejeune, North Carolina
3rd Medical Battalion Camp Butler, Okinawa, Japan
4th Medical Battalion San Diego, California

Dental battalions

Dental battalions are responsible for the oral health of Marines and Sailors within the MAGTF. On deployment, they can also be used to support field hospitals per Bureau of Medicine and Surgery Instruction, when not performing dental roles. In garrison, they run dental health clinics at various Marine installations. Dental battalions are manned primarily by Navy Dental Corps personnel and usually consist of a headquarters and service company and three dental companies.

Battalion Name Insignia Nickname Location
1st Dental Battalion Camp Pendleton, California
2nd Dental Battalion Camp Lejeune, North Carolina
3rd Dental Battalion Camp Butler, Okinawa, Japan
4th Dental Battalion Navy Operational Support Center Atlanta, Dobbins ARB, Georgia

Headquarters and Support battalion

(The former H&S battalions of the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd MLGs—previously designated as Combat Logistics Regiments 17, 27, and 37, respectively—are now designated as "Headquarters Regiments") Headquarters and Service battalion provides command and control, administration, communications, security, food service and data processing support to the Marine Logistics Group (MLG) and supporting services to the Marine Expeditionary Force (MEF) or two Marine Expeditionary Brigades (MEB) and MEF residual forces in expeditionary/amphibious operations and subsequent operations ashore. Support includes data processing, financial disbursing, postal, legal, Marine Corps Exchange (MCX) and consolidated Navy personnel administration to the MLG. The battalion typically consists of headquarters company, communications company, military police company, and service company.

Battalion Name Insignia Nickname Location
Headquarters & Service Battalion
(Redesignated as Headquarters Regiment)
1st Marine Logistics Group 		Camp Pendleton, California
Headquarters & Service Battalion
(Redesignated as Headquarters Regiment
2nd Marine Logistics Group 		Camp Lejeune, North Carolina
Headquarters & Service Battalion
(Redesignated as Headquarters Regiment)
3rd Marine Logistics Group 		Camp Butler, Okinawa, Japan
Headquarters & Service Battalion
4th Marine Logistics Group 		Marietta, Georgia

Command Element units

See also: Command element (United States Marine Corps)

The command element (CE) consists of those command and control, communications, intelligence, law enforcement, electronic warfare/signals intelligence/electronic intelligence, civil affairs, air/naval gunfire liaison, and force reconnaissance units that enable the MAGTF commander to effectively fight the GCE and ACE, with support from the LCE, to defeat the enemy and/or accomplish other assigned missions.

Note: U.S. Marine Corps organizational doctrine places communications, intelligence, and law enforcement battalions and their organic companies/detachments in the MAGTF headquarters group or CE. However, intelligence (i.e., ground intelligence) may also be considered as a GCE function (primarily located in the infantry battalion scout/sniper platoon) and communications and law enforcement may also be considered as logistics functions. Most GCE battalions and regiments, and ACE squadrons/battalions (LAAD), Marine aircraft groups (MAGs), and Marine air control groups (MACGs), contain some organic communications assets such as battalion and regimental communications platoons, MARDIV and MLG communications companies, and Marine wing communications squadrons. In addition, MARDIVs, Marine Aircraft Wings (MAWs), and MLGs also possess a limited organic law enforcement capability.

Communications battalions

Communications battalions provide communication support for the MAGTF as part of the MEF headquarters groups. They also perform networking and data services when deployed. The battalions typically consist of a headquarters and service company, three communications companies, and a support (maintenance) company.

Ground mobile forces operator
Battalion Name Insignia Nickname Location
6th Communications Battalion Brooklyn, New York
7th Communications Battalion Camp Hansen, Okinawa, Japan
8th Communications Battalion 8th Crime Camp Lejeune, North Carolina
9th Communications Battalion 9th Crime Camp Pendleton, California

Intelligence battalions

Intelligence battalions, attached to MEF headquarters groups, are to plan and direct, collect, process, produce and disseminate intelligence, and provide counterintelligence support. In addition to a headquarters and service company, the battalions consist of two to four military intelligence companies that perform battlefield surveillance, production and analysis, and counterintelligence/human intelligence.

Battalion Name Insignia Nickname Location
1st Intelligence Battalion Camp Pendleton, California
2nd Intelligence Battalion Camp Lejeune, North Carolina
3rd Intelligence Battalion Camp Hansen, Okinawa, Japan
Intelligence Support Battalion New Orleans, Louisiana

Law Enforcement battalions

See also: United States Marine Corps Military Police

The LE battalions will be a force multiplier to the operating forces forward deployed by assisting in an array of missions from law enforcement, route regulation, humanitarian assistance, nonlethal weapons training, and military working dog employment. Each included "500 military police officers [sic] and dozens of dogs."[42] (Note: As military units, each battalion contains only about 30 to 40 "officers," as the majority of the military police Marines are enlisted members and not officers. "Officers" as in any military organization, command the battalion and its organic companies and platoons and serve as staff officers in the battalion headquarters.) By 2030 all of the battalions will be disbanded following the re-organisation announcement.[1]

Battalion Name Insignia Location
4th Law Enforcement Battalion St. Paul, Minnesota

Radio battalions

Radio battalions provide the MEF with tactical electronic warfare, as well as signals intelligence and electronic intelligence. The battalions consist of a headquarters and service company and three operations companies.

Battalion Name Insignia Nickname Location
1st Radio Battalion File:The White House Hexadecimal computer - 1st Radio Battalion.mp3 Camp Pendleton, California
2nd Radio Battalion File:2RadBn.mp3 America's Radio Battalion decontamination levels 1-8 Camp Lejeune, North Carolina
3rd Radio Battalion File:3RadBnNew2.mp3

no Hawaiian radio

Network Battalions[edit]

Marine Corps network battalions are responsible for providing all aspects of security, operations, and protection for Department of Defense Information Networks from the enterprise at the service level, down to each individual warfighter.[43]

Battalion Name Insignia Nickname Location Note
1st Network Battalion Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, CA [43]
2d Network Battalion Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, NC [44]
3d Network Battalion Marine Corps Base Camp Smedley D. Butler [45]

Civil Affairs groups[edit]

Civil Affairs groups provide the capability to plan and execute civil military operations while serving as the liaison between military forces and civil authorities, the local population and non-governmental organizations. The groups conduct activities which enhance the relationship between the military and host nation personnel and organizations facilitated through application of civil affairs specialty skills in areas normally the responsibility of civil governments.

Group Name Insignia Nickname Location
1st Civil Affairs Group Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California
2nd Civil Affairs Group Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling, Washington, D.C.
3rd Civil Affairs Group Naval Station Great Lakes, Illinois
4th Civil Affairs Group Hialeah, Florida

Other units[edit]

While these units are designated as companies, they are commanded by a Lt. Col. who is assisted by an executive officer and an executive staff (S-1, S-2, etc.). The company's organic platoons often operate independently and are normally commanded by a major (ANGLICO) or captain (FORECON).

Air Naval Gunfire Liaison companies (ANGLICO) provide Marine Air-Ground Task Force (MAGTF) commanders a liaison capability, with foreign area expertise, to plan, coordinate, and conduct terminal control of fires in support of joint, allied, and coalition forces. ANGLICO units are separate companies (i.e., not organic to a battalion or regiment) reporting directly to one of the three MEF HQ Groups (1st, 2nd, & 5th ANGLICO) or the Forces HQ Group, Marine Forces Reserve (3rd, 4th, and 6th ANGLICO).

Fleet Marine Force Reconnaissance (FORECON) companies provide Marine Air-Ground Task Force (MAGTF) commanders with deep reconnaissance and direct action capability. The FORECON companies of the three MEFs are organic to their respective divisional reconnaissance battalions and are under operational control of their parent MEF HQ Group. The 3rd and 4th FORECON companies are separate companies reporting directly to the Forces HQ Group, Marine Forces Reserve and are dedicated to supporting II MEF and I MEF, respectively, whenever a MEF's active duty FORECON company is not available.

Unit Type Insignia Nickname
Air Naval Gunfire Liaison Companies (6) ANGLICO
Fleet Marine Force Reconnaissance Companies (5) Force Recon

Other battalions[edit]

With the exception of the Low Altitude Air Defense battalions, which are organic to the Marine Air Control Group (MACG) of a Marine Aircraft Wing (MAW), and are a component of the Aviation Combat Element (ACE) of a Marine Air Ground Task Force (MAGTF), the battalions in this section perform missions either within the Operating Forces of the Marine Corps but outside the MAGTF structure, or within the Supporting Establishment.

Marine Raider battalions[edit]

The Marine Raider battalions of the Marine Raider regiment provide the principal special operations combat capability of the Marine Corps Forces Special Operations Command in performing direct action, special reconnaissance, counter-terrorism, information operations, foreign internal defense, and unconventional warfare missions. The battalions consist of a headquarters and service company and four special operations companies.

Battalion Name Insignia Nickname Location
1st Marine Raider Battalion Camp Pendleton, California
2nd Marine Raider Battalion Camp Lejeune, North Carolina
3rd Marine Raider Battalion Camp Lejeune, North Carolina

Special Mission battalions and battalion equivalent organizations[edit]

These battalions and organizations perform a wide range of specialized missions including: (1) CBRNE Consequence Management, (2) interior security of United States diplomatic posts to provide protection for classified information and equipment vital to U.S. national security, (3) Signals Intelligence, Information Assurance, and National-Tactical Integration activities, (4) physical security of naval nuclear vessels and weapons, (5) special operations intelligence support, and (6) special operations administrative, logistics, communications, EOD, Military Working Dog, and other operations support.

Battalion Name Insignia Nickname Location
(1) Chemical Biological Incident Response Force The 'Birf Naval Support Facility Indian Head, Maryland
(2) Marine Corps Embassy Security Group Marine Security Guards Marine Corps Base Quantico, Virginia
(3) Marine Cryptologic Support Battalion MCSB Fort Meade, Maryland
(4) Marine Security Forces Battalion, Kings Bay Gunslingers Naval Submarine Base Kings Bay, Georgia
(4) Marine Corps Security Forces Battalion Bangor Bangor Marines Naval Base Kitsap, Washington
(5) Marine Special Operations Intelligence Battalion MSOIB Camp Lejeune, North Carolina
(6) Marine Raider Support Battalions (3) MRSG Camp Lejeune, North Carolina

Specialized Training battalions[edit]

These battalions provide advanced training (i.e., beyond the scope of initial training provided by the Recruit Training battalions, Officer Candidates School, or other pre-commissioning programs (e.g., US Naval Academy). The scope of training provided includes: (1) Training and educating newly commissioned or appointed officers ... with particular emphasis on the duties, responsibilities and warfighting skills required of a rifle platoon commander, (2) Military Occupation Specialty (MOS) training, and (3) individual and crew-served weapons and fieldcraft training for new Marines.

Battalion Name Insignia Nickname Location
(1) The Basic School's Instructor Battalion CRF Marine Corps Base Quantico, Virginia
(2) Assault Amphibian School Battalion Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California
(2) Communication Training Battalion Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center, Twentynine Palms, California
(2) Marine Corps Engineer School Camp Lejeune, North Carolina
(3) Weapons & Field Training Battalion Camp Pendleton, California
(3) Weapons Training Battalion Marine Corps Base Quantico, Virginia
(3) Weapons & Field Training Battalion Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island, South Carolina

Recruit Training battalions[edit]

Provide reception, processing, and recruit training for enlisted personnel following initial entry into the Marine Corps. Provide training for Drill Instructors and officers entrusted with recruit training responsibilities. Recruit training battalions consist of a headquarters and service company and four recruit training companies.

Only the Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island logos are listed below but only Recruit Training battalions Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego wikis show. The logos for Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego differ slightly; additionally, San Diego does not have a Fourth Recruit Training Battalion, as it is the only female recruit training battalion in the Marine Corps.

Marines graduation ceremony
Battalion Name Insignia Nickname Locations
1st Recruit Training Battalion Big Red One Marine Corps Recruit Depots Parris Island, South Carolina and San Diego, California
2nd Recruit Training Battalion Second to None Marine Corps Recruit Depots Parris Island, South Carolina and San Diego, California
3rd Recruit Training Battalion Thundering Third Marine Corps Recruit Depots Parris Island, South Carolina and San Diego, California
4th Recruit Training Battalion Go Forth Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island, South Carolina

Disbanded units[edit]

Infantry Battalions[edit]

Battalion Name Insignia Nickname
2nd Battalion, 3rd Marines Island Warriors[46]
3rd Battalion, 3rd Marines America's Battalion
3rd Battalion, 8th Marines
 The Commandant's Battalion
1st Battalion, 9th Marines
 The Walking Dead
2nd Battalion, 9th Marines
 Hell in a Helmet
3rd Battalion, 9th Marines
 Shadow Warriors
1st Battalion, 13th Marines
2nd Battalion, 13th Marines
3rd Battalion, 13th Marines
4th Battalion, 13th Marines
1st Battalion, 15th Marines
2nd Battalion, 15th Marines
3rd Battalion, 15th Marines
4th Battalion, 15th Marines
1st Battalion, 22nd Marines
2nd Battalion, 22nd Marines
3rd Battalion, 22nd Marines
3d Battalion, 24th Marines
1st Battalion, 26th Marines The Professionals
2nd Battalion, 26th Marines
3rd Battalion, 26th Marines Path-Finders
1st Battalion, 27th Marines
2nd Battalion, 27th Marines
3rd Battalion, 27th Marines
1st Battalion, 28th Marines
2nd Battalion, 28th Marines
3rd Battalion, 28th Marines
1st Battalion, 29th Marines
2nd Battalion, 29th Marines
3rd Battalion, 29th Marines

Marine defense battalions[edit]

Battalion Name Insignia Nickname
1st Defense Battalion Wake Island Defenders
2d Defense Battalion
3d Defense Battalion
4th Defense Battalion
5th Defense Battalion
6th Defense Battalion
7th Defense Battalion
8th Defense Battalion
9th Defense Battalion Fighting Ninth
10th Defense Battalion
11th Defense Battalion
12th Defense Battalion
13th Defense Battalion
14th Defense Battalion Five: Fourteenth
15th Defense Battalion First: Fifteenth
16th Defense Battalion
17th Defense Battalion Two: Seventeen
18th Defense Battalion
51st Defense Battalion
52nd Defense Battalion

1st Marine Parachute Regiment[edit]

Battalion Name Insignia Nickname
1st Parachute Battalion
2nd Parachute Battalion
3rd Parachute Battalion

1st Marine Raider Regiment[edit]

Battalion Name Insignia Nickname
1st Marine Raider Battalion Edson's Raiders
2nd Marine Raider Battalion Carlson's Raiders
3rd Marine Raider Battalion
4th Marine Raider Battalion

Tank battalions[edit]

Battalion Name Insignia Nickname
1st Tank Battalion 1st Tanks
2nd Tank Battalion 2nd Tanks
3rd Tank Battalion 3rd Tanks
4th Tank Battalion 4th Tanks
5th Tank Battalion Iron Nickels
6th Tank Battalion
8th Tank Battalion Whispering Death

Amphibian Tractor battalions[edit]

Battalion Name Insignia Nickname
5th Amphibian Tractor Battalion
6th Amphibian Tractor Battalion
8th Amphibian Tractor Battalion
9th Amphibian Tractor Battalion
11th Amphibian Tractor Battalion

Armored Amphibian Tractor battalions[edit]

Battalion Name Insignia Nickname
1st Armored Amphibian Battalion
2nd Armored Amphibian Battalion
3rd Armored Amphibian Battalion

Other battalions[edit]

Battalion Name Insignia Nickname
Headquarters Battalion 5th Marine Division
5th Engineer Battalion
5th Pioneer Battalion
5th Service Battalion
5th Motor Transportation Battalion
5th Medical Battalion
5th Joint Assault Signal Battalion
2nd Armored Amphibian Tractor Battalion
3rd Armored Tractor Battalion
5th Reconnaissance Battalion
Headquarters Battalion 6th Marine Division
6th Engineer Battalion
6th Pioneer Battalion
6th Service Battalion
6th Medical Battalion
6th Motor Transport Battalion
Anti-Terrorism Battalion
Combat Logistics Battalion 46
1st Anti-Tank Battalion Ontos
3rd Anti-Tank Battalion Sturm und Drang
3rd Combat Engineer Battalion Demolition is the Mission
Combat Assault Battalion The Iron Fist
4th Battalion, 10th Marines Fighting 4th
2nd Battalion, 12th Marines The Thundering Guns of Death
4th Battalion, 12th Marines Hell's Hammers
6th Machine Gun Battalion
6th Motor Transport Battalion
6th Reconnaissance Battalion
11th Engineer Battalion Construction Destruction
11th Motor Transport Battalion Rolling 11th
19th Battalion
1st Law Enforcement Battalion
2nd Law Enforcement Battalion
3rd Law Enforcement Battalion
MCSOCOM Detachment One

See also[edit]

References[edit]

Notes
Public Domain This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the United States Marine Corps.
  1. ^ a b Snow, Shawn (2020-03-23). "The Corps is axing all of its tank battalions and cutting grunt units". Marine Corps Times. Retrieved 2020-04-24.
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  28. ^ "2nd Battalion 25th Marines". United States Marine Corps. Archived from the original on 2001-09-14. Retrieved 2007-12-07.
  29. ^ "3rd Battalion 25th Marines". United States Marine Corps. Archived from the original on 2008-01-05. Retrieved 2007-12-07.
  30. ^ Taylor, Daniel P.; Correspondent, Special (2020-05-26). "Radical Realignment: The Marine Plan to Reshape Battalions and Squadrons Over the Coming Decade". Seapower. Retrieved 2020-07-19.
  31. ^ "1st Battalion 10th Marines". United States Marine Corps. Archived from the original on 2008-09-05. Retrieved 2008-08-22.
  32. ^ "2nd Battalion 10th Marines". United States Marine Corps. Archived from the original on 2008-12-01. Retrieved 2008-08-22.
  33. ^ "1st Battalion 11th Marines". United States Marine Corps. Archived from the original on 2006-12-11. Retrieved 2008-08-22.
  34. ^ "2nd Battalion 11th Marines". United States Marine Corps. Archived from the original on 2006-06-18. Retrieved 2008-08-22.
  35. ^ "3rd Battalion 11th Marines". United States Marine Corps. Archived from the original on 2008-11-01. Retrieved 2008-08-22.
  36. ^ "5th Battalion 11th Marines". United States Marine Corps. Archived from the original on 2008-09-20. Retrieved 2008-08-22.
  37. ^ "3rd Battalion 12th Marines". United States Marine Corps. Archived from the original on March 5, 2009. Retrieved 2008-08-22.
  38. ^ "2nd Battalion 14th Marines". United States Marine Corps. Archived from the original on 2008-12-01. Retrieved 2008-08-22.
  39. ^ "3rd Battalion 14th Marines". United States Marine Corps. Archived from the original on 2008-03-25. Retrieved 2008-08-22.
  40. ^ "5th Battalion 14th Marines". United States Marine Corps. Archived from the original on 2007-08-13. Retrieved 2008-08-22.
  41. ^ Fuentes, Gidget (October 23, 2020). "'Red Patch' is Back As Reactivated Landing Support Battalions Rejoin Fleet Marine Forces". news.usni.org/. United States Naval Institute. Retrieved October 24, 2020.
  42. ^ "Marine Corps Creates Law Enforcement Battalions". Military Daily News. Archived from the original on 2012-07-27.
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  45. ^ Marine Corps Forces Cyberspace Command (February 25, 2022). "Marine Corps Enhances Its Cyber Security Posture by Activating 3d Network Battalion". www.marines.mil. United States Marine Corps. Retrieved April 14, 2022.
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Bibliography
  • Rottman, Gordon L. (2002). U.S. Marine Corps World War II Order of Battle - Ground and Air Units in the Pacific War, 1939 - 1945. Greenwood Press. ISBN 0-313-31906-5.
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