Editing United States Armed Forces (section)

===U.S. Marine Corps===
{{main|United States Marine Corps}}
[[File:US Marines, Gulf, international partners simulate amphib landing during Eagle Resolve 150324-M-AR522-437.jpg|thumb|[[24th Marine Expeditionary Unit]] Marines during a simulated amphibious assault operation]]

The [[United States Marine Corps]] (USMC) serves as the U.S. Armed Forces' naval land force, responsible for executing [[amphibious warfare]] and operating in the maritime littorals in support of the U.S. Navy. Originally established in 1775 as the [[Continental Marines]], the Marine Corps consists of the Regular Marine Corps and the [[United States Marine Corps Reserve|Marine Corps Reserve]].<ref name="auto3">{{Cite web|url=https://www.marines.mil/The-Corps/|title=The Corps|website=www.marines.mil}}</ref> The Marine Corps maintains a very close relationship with the U.S. Navy, its sister service in the Department of the Navy. Although the Marine Corps has previously operated as an independent land force alongside the Army, its primary purpose is to serve as part of a unified naval service alongside the Navy in the maritime domain.<ref name="auto4">{{Cite web|url=https://www.military.com/daily-news/2020/01/08/fleet-marine-force-back-commandant-pushes-return-naval-roots.html|title='Fleet Marine Force' Is Back as Commandant Pushes Return to Naval Roots|first=Gina|last=Harkins|date=9 January 2020|website=Military.com}}</ref>

The U.S. Marine Corps is organized under the [[United States Department of the Navy|Department of the Navy]], which is a military department under the leadership of the [[United States Secretary of the Navy|secretary of the Navy]] and the [[United States Under Secretary of the Navy|under secretary of the Navy]]. The U.S. Marine Corps itself is led by the [[Commandant of the United States Marine Corps|commandant of the Marine Corps]] and the [[Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps|assistant commandant of the Marine Corps]], both [[general (United States)|generals]] who are advised by the [[Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps|sergeant major of the Marine Corps]].<ref name="auto3"/>

The Marine Corps statutory mission is outlined in {{USC|10|5063}} and as originally introduced under the [[National Security Act of 1947]], with its three primary areas of responsibility including:
* Seizure or defense of advanced naval bases and other land operations to support [[naval warfare|naval campaigns]];
* Development of tactics, technique, and equipment used by amphibious landing forces in coordination with the [[United States Army|Army]] and [[United States Air Force|Air Force]]; and
* Such other duties as the [[President of the United States|president]] or [[United States Department of Defense|Department of Defense]] may direct.

[[File:15th MEU takes to the skies 151130-M-GC438-274.jpg|thumb|A [[15th Marine Expeditionary Unit]] [[AH-1Z Viper]] flying over the {{USS|Anchorage|LPD-23}}]]

The seven specified functions of the Marine Corps are:
#Seize and defend advanced [[naval base]]s or lodgments to facilitate subsequent joint operations.<ref name="DoDI 5100.01"/>
#Provide [[close air support]] for ground forces.<ref name="DoDI 5100.01"/>
#Conduct [[land warfare|land]] and [[aerial warfare|air operations]] essential to the prosecution of a [[naval warfare|naval campaign]] or as directed.<ref name="DoDI 5100.01"/>
#Conduct complex [[Expeditionary warfare|expeditionary operations]] in the urban littorals and other challenging environments.<ref name="DoDI 5100.01"/>
#Conduct [[amphibious warfare|amphibious operations]], including engagement, [[crisis response]], and [[power projection]] operations to assure access. The Marine Corps has primary responsibility for the development of amphibious doctrine, tactics, techniques, and equipment.<ref name="DoDI 5100.01"/>
#Conduct [[Stability and support operations|security and stability operation]]s and assist with the initial establishment of a [[military government]] pending transfer of responsibility to other authorities.<ref name="DoDI 5100.01"/>
#Provide security detachments and units for service on armed vessels of the Navy, provide protection of naval property at naval stations and bases, provide security at designated U.S. [[embassy|embassies and consulates]], and perform other such duties as the president or secretary of defense may direct. These additional duties may not detract from or interfere with the operations for which the Marine Corps is primarily organized.

[[Marine Corps Security Force Regiment]] is responsible for supporting the Navy with Marine security operations, while the [[Marine Security Guard]] protects embassies and consulates of the [[United States Department of State]].<ref name="DoDI 5100.01"/>

====Fleet Marine Force====
{{main|Fleet Marine Force}}
[[File:Four F-35B Lightning II aircraft perform a flyover above the amphibious assault ship USS America (LHA 6) during the Lightning Carrier Proof of Concept Demonstration (30357956614).jpg|thumb|Four Marine Corps [[F-35B Lightning II]] stealth fighters flying over the {{USS|America|LHA-6}}]]

The combat power of the Marine Corps is centralized in the [[Fleet Marine Force]] (FMF), which itself is organized into [[Fleet Marine Force Atlantic]], to support the U.S. Navy's [[United States Fleet Forces Command|Fleet Forces Command]], and [[Fleet Marine Force Pacific]], which supports the [[U.S. Navy]]'s [[United States Pacific Fleet|U.S. Pacific Fleet]].<ref name="auto4"/>

The basic Marine Corps unit for conducting operations is the [[Marine Air-Ground Task Force]] (MAGTF), which combines Marine Corps and Navy land, air, sea, and cyberspace capabilities into a single command. There are three size variants of a Marine Air-Ground Task Force, but each consists of a [[command element (United States Marine Corps)|command element]], [[ground combat element]], [[aviation combat element]], and [[logistics combat element]].<ref name="auto7">{{Cite web|url=https://www.marines.com/about-the-marine-corps/marine-corps-structure/air-ground-task-force.html|title=Marine Air-Ground Task Force &#124; MAGTF &#124; Marines}}</ref>

A Marine [[ground combat element]] (GCE) is centered around Marine infantry, typically armed with a [[M27 Infantry Automatic Rifle]].<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.marinecorpstimes.com/news/your-marine-corps/2019/04/19/all-of-the-marine-m27-rifles-are-in-if-youre-not-a-grunt-or-working-with-them-youre-not-getting-one/ | title=All of the Marine M27 rifles are in ― if you're not a grunt or working with them, you're not getting one | date=21 April 2019 }}</ref> Unlike the Army, the Marine Corps does not train its own [[combat medic]]s, relying on the Navy to provide [[hospital corpsman|hospital corpsmen]].<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.marines.mil/News/News-Display/Article/3107280/marines-navy-corpsmen-train-in-casualty-care-field-exercise-at-fort-mccoy/ | title=Marines, Navy Corpsmen train in casualty care field exercise at Fort McCoy }}</ref> These infantry units are supported by Marine Corps [[combat engineer]]s, who conduct engineer reconnaissance, obstacle system emplacement, and breaching operations; and [[United States Marine Corps Force Reconnaissance|Marine Corps Force Reconnaissance]] teams. While the Marine Corps no longer operates its own tanks, opting to request support from the Army if needed, it maintains Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalions which operate the [[LAV-25]] amphibious armored reconnaissance vehicle. Assault Amphibian Battalions operate the [[Assault Amphibious Vehicle]] and [[Amphibious Combat Vehicle]], which enable the ground combat element to conduct amphibious landing operations.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.marinecorpstimes.com/news/your-marine-corps/2019/01/07/the-aging-marine-lav-is-still-active-across-the-corps-and-now-is-also-a-museum-piece/ | title=The aging Marine LAV is still active across the Corps ... And, now, also is a museum piece | date=7 January 2019 }}</ref> Marine Corps artillery operates the [[M777 howitzer]] and the [[M142 HIMARS]], both supporting the ground combat element and the Navy at sea by striking enemy ships.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.usna.edu/MarineCorps/roles/index.php | title=Ground Combat Roles }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.marinecorpstimes.com/news/your-marine-corps/2021/04/09/how-a-marine-corps-shift-to-long-ranges-may-change-its-strong-cannoneer-tradition/ | title=How a Marine Corps shift to long ranges may change its strong cannoneer tradition | date=9 April 2021 }}</ref>

[[File:Defense.gov News Photo 051115-N-3527B-068.jpg|thumb|[[MV-22 Osprey]] tiltrotor aircraft from [[VMX-22]] taking off from the {{USS|Wasp|LHD-1}}]]

The Marine [[aviation combat element]] (ACE) is the operational arm of [[United States Marine Corps Aviation|Marine Corps Aviation]], working to support the ground combat element. The [[F-35B Lightning II]] and [[AV-8B Harrier II]] are flown off Navy amphibious assault ships, while the [[F-35C Lightning II]] and [[F/A-18 Hornet]] are flown off Navy carriers by Marine Corps pilots. The Marine Corps also operates the [[KC-130J]] to serve as a tanker and tactical airlift platform. The [[UH-1Y Venom]] helicopter provides the Marine Corps with light transport and attack, while the [[AH-1Z Viper]] is a dedicated attack helicopter. Medium-lift squadrons fly the [[MV-22 Osprey]], while heavy-lift squadrons use the [[CH-53K King Stallion]]. The Marine Corps has also begun flying unmanned aerial vehicles, such as the [[MQ-9 Reaper]] and [[MQ-8 Fire Scout]].<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.marinecorpstimes.com/news/your-marine-corps/2022/05/10/heres-how-marine-air-power-will-shift-with-the-corps-2022-aviation-plan/ | title=Here's how Marine air power will shift with the Corps' 2022 aviation plan | date=11 May 2022 }}</ref> Notably, the aviation combat element also includes Low-Altitude Air Defense Battalions, which employ the [[FIM-92 Stinger]] surface-to-air missile.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://coffeeordie.com/marine-corps-low-altitude-air-defense | title=Marine Corps Ready to Bring the Sting to Enemy Aircraft, Drones | date=3 February 1984 }}</ref>

The smallest MAGTF is the [[Marine Expeditionary Unit]] (MEU), which is typically forward deployed on a Navy ship. Commanded by a [[colonel (United States)|colonel]], a Marine Expeditionary Unit consist of 2,200 marines split across a battalion landing team (ground combat element), a composite helicopter squadron (aviation combat element), and a combat logistics element (logistics element). Marine Expeditionary Units are supplied for 15 days.<ref name="auto7"/> Forward deployed Marine Expeditionary Units are often embarked on Navy amphibious assault ships as part of an [[amphibious ready group]].<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.26thmeu.marines.mil/About/Who-We-Are/#:~:text=What%20is%20a%20MAGTF%3F,the%20range%20of%20military%20operations | title=Who We Are | access-date=26 February 2023 | archive-date=26 February 2023 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230226184737/https://www.26thmeu.marines.mil/About/Who-We-Are/#:~:text=What%20is%20a%20MAGTF%3F,the%20range%20of%20military%20operations | url-status=dead }}</ref>

The mid-sized MAGTF is the [[Marine Expeditionary Brigade]] (MEB), which is organized for specific missions. Commanded by a [[brigadier general (United States)|brigadier general]], Marine Expeditionary Brigades consist of 4,000 to 16,000 marines across a Regimental-sized ground combat element, a Marine Aircraft Group, and a Combat Logistics Regiment. Marine Expeditionary Brigades are supplied for 30 days and offer increased firepower and airpower over the Marine Expeditionary Unit.<ref name="auto7"/>

The largest MAGTF is the [[Marine Expeditionary Force]] (MEF), which is the primary warfighting force for larger operations. A Marine Expeditionary Force is commanded by a [[lieutenant general (United States)|lieutenant general]] and consists of 46,000 to 90,000 marines. Currently there are only three Marine Expeditionary Forces, each with its own Marine Division, Marine Aircraft Wing, Marine Logistics Group, and Marine Expeditionary Force Information Group. Marine Expeditionary Forces are supplied for 60 days.<ref name="auto7"/> Certain elements are held at the Marine Expeditionary Force level, such as [[United States Marine Corps Force Reconnaissance|Force Reconnaissance]]. The MEF Information Group (MIG) also provides a number of functions such as the intelligence battalion; [[Radio Battalion|radio battalion]] which conducts signals intelligence, electronic warfare, and cyberspace operations; communications battalion; the MEF support battalion; and the [[Air Naval Gunfire Liaison Company]].<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.imef.marines.mil/Units/I-MIG/ | title=I MEF Information Group }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.imef.marines.mil/Units/I-MIG/1ST-RADIO-BN/ | title=I Marine Expeditionary Force > Units > I MIG > 1ST RADIO BN }}</ref>

[[File:Marsoc vbss.jpg|thumb|[[Marine Raiders|Marine raiders]] with the [[1st Marine Raider Battalion (MARSOC)|1st Marine Raider Battalion]] conducting a [[visit, board, search, and seizure]] operation]]

While not a MAGTF, the Marine Corps has begun to reorganize some of its regiments into Marine Littoral Regiments (MRL), which are similar in size to a Marine Expeditionary Unit. A Marine Littoral Regiment is a self-deployable force, designed to be naval in nature and operate in the littoral region. A Marine Littoral Regiment consists of a littoral combat team, a littoral anti-air battalion, and a combat logistics battalion. Notably, the Marine Littoral Regiment has no aviation combat element, unlike a Marine Expeditionary Unit.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.marines.mil/News/News-Display/Article/2708146/marine-littoral-regiment-mlr/https://www.marines.mil/News/News-Display/Article/2708146/marine-littoral-regiment-mlr/|title=Marine Littoral Regiment (MLR)|website=United States Marine Corps Flagship}}{{Dead link|date=May 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>

Another Marine Corps element that does not function as part of the MAGTF is the [[Marine Raider Regiment]], functioning under [[United States Marine Forces Special Operations Command]]. [[Marine Raiders]] specialize in direct action, unconventional warfare, maritime interdiction, special reconnaissance, foreign internal defense, counterterrorism, and counterinsurgency missions.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://coffeeordie.com/marine-raiders/ | title=Marine Raiders: The Corps' Only Special Operations Unit | date=30 November 2022 }}</ref>

====Marine Corps commands====
Under Headquarters Marine Corps, the Marine Corps is organized into the [[Fleet Marine Force]], multiple commands, and Marine Corps service components to the [[unified combatant commands]].

{|class="wikitable"
|-
!colspan=2|Name
!Mission
!Headquarters
|-
|[[File:Seal of the United States Marine Corps.svg|75px]]
|[[Headquarters Marine Corps]] (HQMC) 
| Marine Corps service headquarters led by the [[Commandant of the United States Marine Corps|commandant of the Marine Corps]]. 
|[[The Pentagon]], Virginia
|-
!colspan=5| Fleet Marine Force
|-
|[[File:FMFLANT (official).jpg|75px]]
|[[Fleet Marine Force, Atlantic]] (FMFLANT) / [[United States Marine Corps Forces Command|U.S. Marine Corps Forces Command]] (MARFORCOM)
|Provides Marine Corps forces in support of the U.S. Navy's [[United States Fleet Forces Command]]. Also serves as [[United States Marine Corps Forces Command]], commanding Marine Corps retained service forces and providing forces for joint, naval, and service requirements.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.marforcom.marines.mil/About/|title=About|website=www.marforcom.marines.mil}}</ref>
|[[Naval Support Activity Hampton Roads]], Virginia
|-
|[[File:Seal of U.S. Marine Corps Forces, Pacific.png|75px]]
|[[Fleet Marine Force, Pacific]] (FMFPAC)
|Provides Marine Corps forces in support of the U.S. Navy's [[United States Pacific Fleet]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.marforpac.marines.mil/|title=U.S. Marine Corps Forces, Pacific – Ensuring a Free and Open Indo-Pacific|website=www.marforpac.marines.mil}}</ref>
|[[Camp H. M. Smith]], Hawaii
|-
|[[File:MCSCLOGO VECTOR.png|75px]]
|[[Marine Corps Systems Command]] (MARCORSYSCOM)
|Acquisition command for all Marine Corps ground and information technology programs.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.marcorsyscom.marines.mil/About-Us/OverviewandHistory/|title=Marine Corps Systems Command: Equipping Our Marines|website=www.marcorsyscom.marines.mil}}</ref>
|[[Marine Corps Base Quantico]], Virginia 
|-
|[[File:Marine Forces Reserve insignia (transparent background).png|75px]]
|[[United States Marine Corps Reserve|U.S. Marine Corps Forces Reserve]] (MARFORRES)
|Oversees and maintains the U.S. Marine Corps reserve forces.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.marforres.marines.mil/About/Mission-Statement/|title=Mission|website=www.marforres.marines.mil}}</ref>
|[[Marine Corps Support Facility New Orleans]], Louisiana
|-
|}