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MSOC Marines |
A MSOC Marine patrols a village in
Afghanistan. |
MSOC (Marine Special Operations Company)
MSOB (Marine Special Operations Battalion)
MARSOC (Marine Special Operations Command)
 MSOB
is organized, trained and equipped to deploy for worldwide
missions as directed by MARSOC. A MSOB consists four or five Marine Special
Operations Companies* (MSOCs) and is task-organized with
personnel uniquely skilled in special equipment support,
intelligence and fire-support.
Each MSOC is commanded by a Marine Major and capable of
deploying task-organized expeditionary Special Operations
Forces for conduct of special reconnaissance and direct action
missions in support of the geographic combatant commanders.
*
1st MSOB, headquartered at Camp Pendleton, California, has
four companies and 2nd MSOB, headquartered at Camp Lejeune,
North Carolina, has five companies. |
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LATEST NEWS |
Special
Ops Marines Deliver in Southern Afghanistan
3/14/2008
By Marine Staff Sgt. Luis P. Valdespino Jr.
Combined Security Transition Command - Afghanistan Public
Affairs
Editor's note: Staff Sgt. Valdespino is a Marine combat
correspondent assigned to Combined Security Transition Command
Afghanistan. He recently spent 16 days embedded with a Marine
Special Operations Company in Helmand province, Afghanistan,
to watch and learn about their role in Operation Enduring
Freedom. Because the military personnel mentioned in this
story are special operations personnel, their names and the
specific locations cannot be published.
HELMAND PROVINCE, Afghanistan - For most Marines, "special
forces" traditionally means Force Reconnaissance units.
Having served in the Corps for almost 20 years, I have heard
stories about Force "Recon," but until recently I was not
familiar with the role of a Marine special operations company.
A couple weeks with a Marine special operations company
deployed from the 1st Special Operations Battalion in Camp
Pendleton was an eye-opening and humbling experience.
Marine Special Operations, as an organization, has only
existed for about two years. The MSOC Marines come from former
Force Recon and other infantry units, said a former Force
Recon Marine. Their experiences vary, but most have had years
of combat experience.
The MSOC Marines, based out of a forward operating base in
central Helmand province, operated at a much faster pace than
I had previously seen.
Accompanied by a small group of Afghan national army soldiers,
the Marines were constantly on the go: visiting villages,
distributing humanitarian aid and always searching for
insurgents. Their breaks between operations varied from 12
hours to three days.
The MSOC Marines thrive on missions that have them patrolling
for enemy forces, an MSOC Marine said. "We don't like being on
the FOB."
Shortly after my arrival on their FOB, the unit departed on a
mission in northern Helmand province.
An MSOC leatherneck said his Marines were attacked four times
throughout the four-day mission. He described how they
overcame enemy machine gun positions, mortar attacks and
rocket-propelled-grenades.
"Needless to say, we silenced their weapons," said another
MSOC Marine.
I joined the MSOC Marines on their next mission, a three-day
assignment in north central Helmand province, visiting
villages throughout the districts. At night the Marines slept
on the desert ground - in sleeping bags, but not on cots.
While on foot patrol through the first village on day one, I
learned that these Marines were not on a time schedule, and
they took no shortcuts. In full combat gear they searched all
compounds, streets and paths in the village. When it was
secure, they set up distribution sites for the humanitarian
aid they brought with them.
On the second day the unit came under attack within five
minutes of arriving at a small village. Immediately the MSOC
Marines positioned themselves throughout the village and began
engaging the enemy insurgents.
Halfway into what turned out to be a nearly four-hour battle,
a Marine who seemed to never rest, looked at me and said with
a grin, "We're not done yet."
He seemed unfazed that earlier a rocket-propelled grenade
missed him by less than two feet.
Despite several other close calls, the Marines relentlessly
pursued the insurgents until they secured the village, and the
Taliban fighters were either killed or fled. Before they were
done, the MSOC hospital corpsmen cared for and treated
villagers injured by insurgents.
Afterward Marine leaders met with village elders and committed
to return with much needed aid and support, as long as the
Marines had the villagers' support.
As my time with the unit ended, the MSOC Marines prepared to
depart on another mission. After all, they weren't done yet. |
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1st MSOB |
2nd MSOB |
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