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| Marines Surrender to SOCOM |
| 2005-06-14 |
| June 14, 2005: The U.S. Marine Corps has agreed to turn over a force of 2,500 specially trained marines to SOCOM (Special Operations Command.) Bowing to pressure from the Department of Defense, and SOCOM, the marines are the last of the services to make such a contribution to SOCOM. Created in 1987, SOCOM gained control over army Special Forces (including Civil Affairs, Psychological Warfare and special helicopter units), navy SEALs and air force commandoes and special aviation units. But the marines said they had nothing to offer. The marine SOCOM force will consist of 400 marines trained to provide military instruction for foreign armed forces. This has long been a Special Forces chore, and will still be. But the addition of marine training troops will take some of the pressure off Special Forces to provide this service. The marines will also provide over a thousand marines trained as "special operations-capable." The marines have been training some of their troops to be "special operations-capable" for over a decade. But SOCOM has different standards, and skill requirements. Once the "special operations-capable" marines are turned over to SOCOM control, SOCOM will provide additional training. As part of this deal, the SOCOM marines will be available for Marine Corps operations when SOCOM doesn't need them. It's likely that once SOCOM gets control of these marines, they will keep them busy indefinitely. Finally, the marines will provide some support units. These will include stuff like dog handlers (and dogs trained for military tasks), some logistical units and an Air Naval Gunfire Liaison Company. SOCOM will also keep control over Special Operations Detachment 1, a force of 86 marines trained as commandoes. SOCOM originally wanted as many as 4,000 marines, and the final deal may result in the marines giving up more than 2,500 troops. |
| Posted by:Steve |
| #7 I expect you're right Chuck, perhaps it'll be like the old Seagoing Marines (not Marine force) the ones that enforced the Captains will on a sometimes hardheaded crew. |
| Posted by: Shipman 2005-06-14 16:33 |
| #6 The Marines are doing fine. A Marine now leads our NATO forces, Strategic Command and, shortly, the Joint Staff. The cost is that they've gotta play with the others. ;-) |
| Posted by: too true 2005-06-14 14:44 |
| #5 SOCOM better watch it's back or the Marines will take over. |
| Posted by: Steve 2005-06-14 11:34 |
| #4 Well, look at the experiences of "China" Marines, or embassey Marines, or Roosevelt's Commandos. I don't know the answer but I would suspect it's in that bunch. |
| Posted by: Chuck Simmins 2005-06-14 10:46 |
| #3 Important thing for you non-military types (and military types who have nto worked closely with Marines): One of the most important distinctions about the Marines is: Every Marine is a Marine. They try to make sure there are no distinctions, no special treatment, no divisions, no differences in the way any Marine is treated by other Marines, nor by the outside world. Doesnt matter if you are a pilot, a cannon cocker, or a cook: the important thing is that you are a Marine. This will be a severe test of that "way of life". SOCOM (and its predecessors) has its own way of doing things. As an example: From the Army side of things there was the way things happened there, and then there was "Back in Army" (and sometimes the Big Army if you were a ranger) -- SOCOM is definitely NOT the Army. And its Definitely NOT the Marine Corps. This will be interesting to see if they SOCOM assigned Marines get passed over for promotions or have difficulties when they return to the "regular" Marines. The Marines can be such a clannish bunch. |
| Posted by: OldSpook 2005-06-14 10:17 |
| #2 just in time for SOCOM III |
| Posted by: Frank G 2005-06-14 10:13 |
| #1 This is just my $.02. While I have to admire the Corps for trying to maintain an element of independence given some of their mission requirements such as MAUs they also have to remember who they work for. Its not the Commandant, the Chief of Navy Operations or even the Sectratary of the Navy. They work for the Secratary of Defense who in turn works for the President. Some time I wonder just how much money we waste on duplication of capabilities or equipment (the fiasco IMO with the Air Force camo work uniforms as an example) simply in the name of tradition |
| Posted by: Cheaderhead 2005-06-14 09:51 |