MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. -- Brig. Gen. Dennis J. Hejlik, Commander, United States Marine Corps Forces Special Operations Command (MARSOC), spoke about the new unit to members of the Marine Corps Association during a luncheon at Paradise Point Officer’s Club here March 22.
Hejlik took this opportunity to answer questions and clear up some common misconceptions about MARSOC.
MARSOC remains under administrative control of the Marine Corps, but U.S. Special Operations Command (SOCOM) will maintain operational control of the organization. According to Hejlik, this means Marines with MARSOC will be required to maintain Marine Corps training standards and attend required schools in order to remain competitive for promotion, but MARSOC’s missions will be assigned by SOCOM.
One member of the audience expressed concern regarding how Marine Force Reconnaissance battalions will be leveraged by MARSOC.
“The assets of their skills and experience will be used to help form the bodies of the Marine Special Operation Companies (MSOC) for the two MSOBs (Marine Special Operation Battalion),” Hejlik said.
MARSOC will also draw on Marines and sailors throughout the Corps to help fill its ranks to 2,600, and meet our goal of full operational capability by October 2007.
Questions were also raised about tour dates posted and deployments for Marines assigned to MARSOC.
Hejlik explained that while the MARSOC headquarters is non-deployable, it will remain battle ready and Marines from the headquarters are eligible for deployment in support of SOCOM missions.
Marines in operating units will serve three to five years and then return to the Fleet Marine Forces, Hejlik added. As for unit deployments, two Foreign Military Training Unit teams will deploy this spring for 30 to 90 days and the first MSOC will deploy with the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit later this year.
The big question on the minds of those at the Marine Corps Association luncheon seemed to be ‘Why MARSOC?’
The Marine Corps and SOCOM have worked successfully together for the past 20 years to complete various missions. Now, as the Global War on Terror continues, the creation of MARSOC and formal integration of Marines into the Special Operations Forces will strengthen our military, increase our capabilities, and help assure our victory.
“The other commands have greeted us and welcomed us into their family just as the Marine Corps supported us for becoming part of SOCOM,” Hejlik concluded. “This command will be a great thing for all of our families, our country and the Corps.”
People with more questions about MARSOC are invited to contact the MARSOC Public Affairs by phone at (910) 451-2871 or by e-mail at MARSOCPAO@usmc.mil