United States Marine Corps Forces Special Operations Command (MARSOC) is a component command of the United States Special Operations Command that comprises the Marine Corps' contribution to SOCOM. Its core capabilities are direct action, special reconnaissance and foreign internal defense. MARSOC has also been directed to conduct counter-terrorism, and information operations.
The first Marine Special Operations Company was stood up in June 2006, shortly after the creation of MARSOC. It was deployed supporting the Global War on Terrorism in December 2013 alongside the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable) where they conducted various special operations missions, ranging from Direct action (military), reconnaissance and other mission sets. The first Marine Special Operations Individual Training Course began at Camp Lejeune on 6 October 2008.[4] MARSOC's stated end-goal is 850 CSOs.
On August 6 of 2014, MARSOC was renamed the Marine Raiders after the fabled and elite World War II unit.
The legendary Raiders existed for a short, kinetic period between 1942 and 1944. During those years, the four Raider battalions conducted amphibious raids in the Asia-Pacific region as one of the first U.S. special operations contingents to fight in the war. They were later disbanded, and the battalions were re-purposed under 4th Marine Regiment. Those units remain active across the Marine Corps. The Marines' reconnaissance battalions can also lay claim to the Raiders bloodline. Prior to MARSOC's activation, the elite recon units were the Marines' closest connection to the special operations world. When MARSOC was created in 2006, its first personnel came from 1st and 2nd Force Reconnaissance Companies, which were briefly deactivated due to a lack of manpower. The Raiders influence can be seen in the insignias used by all these units. The 1st Battalion, 4th Marines emblem uses a version of the Raiders' Southern Cross, while the Marines' four reconnaissance battalions — three active and one Reserve — all feature an adaptation of the iconic skull.
MoD analysts in this report further note that although the “official” Marine Raider designation patch does not contain the “death’s head skull”, substituting it for a dagger, it is allowed to be worn unofficially, and as reported by the US Marine Corp News Service: “Regardless of philosophy and lineage, however, MARSOC’s Raiders will continue to sport the vintage skull patch, albeit in an unauthorized capacity. Though not formally approved for uniform use, MARSOC troops have made a habit of donning the patch during deployments. “That insignia is a source of pride and has been a source of pride,” said Maj. Ed Norris, the commanding officers of 3rd Marine Raider Support Battalion. “It is something that Marines have identified with T-shirts, with hats, really just to honor the Marines that have gone before us. And now to officially have that is an honor.”
