MARINE CORPS FORCES SPECIAL OPERATIONS COMMAND (MARSOC) SUBORDINATE UNIT REDESIGNATION AS MARINE RAIDERS
Date Signed: 10/16/2014 | ALMARS Number: 039/14
ALMARS : 039/14
R 170030Z OCT 14
ALMAR 039/14
MSGID/GENADMIN/CMC WASHINGTON DC DMCS P PO-SOD//
SUBJ/MARINE CORPS FORCES SPECIAL OPERATIONS COMMAND (MARSOC) SUBORDINATE UNIT REDESIGNATION AS MARINE RAIDERS//
GENTEXT/REMARKS/1.  IT IS MY DISTINCT PLEASURE, ON BEHALF OF THE ENTIRE MARINE CORPS AND WORLD WAR II ERA MARINE RAIDERS, TO OFFICIALLY REDESIGNATE MARSOC SUBORDINATE UNITS AS "MARINE RAIDERS."
2.  THE UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS TAKES GREAT PRIDE IN OUR SPECIAL OPERATIONS AND IRREGULAR WARFARE HERITAGE, AN ASPECT OF OUR CORPS THAT HAS BEEN RECAST OVER TIME TO MEET THE EVER-CHANGING NEEDS OF OUR NATION.  FROM 1ST LIEUTENANT PRESLEY O'BANNON'S CHARGE AGAINST THE BARBARY PIRATES IN DERNA, TRIPOLI AND THE COMBINED ACTION PROGRAM OF THE VIETNAM WAR, TO THE CENTRAL AMERICAN AND CARIBBEAN INCURSIONS OF THE BANANA WARS, AND THE MARINES OF THE OSS AND MARINE PARACHUTE BATTALIONS IN WORLD WAR II, OUR CORPS HAS UNFAILINGLY ANSWERED THE CALL FOR SPECIALIZED ACTION IN ANY CLIME AND PLACE.
3.  LACED IN THE ILLUSTRIOUS NARRATIVE OF MARINE CORPS SPECIAL OPERATIONS LIES THE CREATION OF THE 1ST AND 2ND MARINE RAIDER BATTALIONS, ACTIVATED IN 1942 FOR MISSIONS IN THE PACIFIC.  COMMANDED BY LIEUTENANT COLONEL MERRITT EDSON AND LIEUTENANT COLONEL EVANS CARLSON RESPECTIVELY, THE RAIDER BATTALIONS WERE CHARGED WITH CONDUCTING RAIDS THAT REQUIRED SPEED AND SURPRISE, SPEARHEADING LARGE AMPHIBIOUS LANDINGS ON BEACHES CONSIDERED INACCESSIBLE, AND CONDUCTING SPECIAL OPERATIONS BEHIND ENEMY LINES FOR PROTRACTED PERIODS.  FROM INCEPTION TO DEACTIVATION IN FEBRUARY 1944, THE RAIDERS FOUGHT WITH COURAGE AND DISTINCTION, PARTICIPATING IN CAMPAIGNS ACROSS THE PACIFIC, INCLUDING OPERATIONS ON TULAGI, NEW GEORGIA, BOUGAINVILLE, AND GUADALCANAL.
4.  SINCE THE COMMAND'S FORMATION IN 2006, MARSOC MARINES HAVE ADAPTED AND FORGED AHEAD TO MEET EMERGING INTERNATIONAL THREATS ACROSS THE GLOBE IN SUPPORT OF OUR NATION'S DEFENSE.  WITH THIS DESIGNATION, I MAKE OFFICIAL THE CONTINUATION OF OUR CORPS' SPECIAL OPERATIONS HERITAGE FROM THE RAIDERS OF WORLD WAR II TO OUR MODERN DAY MARINES.  THE MARINES SERVING IN THE NEWLY DESIGNATED MARINE RAIDER UNITS ARE CHARGED WITH MAINTAINING THE HIGH STANDARDS AND TRADITIONS THAT ACCOMPANY SUCH DISTINCTION.  KNOW THAT YOU HAVE EARNED THE ADMIRATION OF YOUR FELLOW MARINES AND THE MARINE RAIDER COMMUNITY.
5.  DETAILED ADMINISTRATIVE GUIDANCE IS FORTHCOMING WITH THE RELEASE OF MCBUL 5400.
6.  CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR UNIT REDESIGNATION AS "MARINE RAIDERS."  SEMPER FIDELIS.  JAMES F. AMOS, GENERAL, U.S. MARINE CORPS, COMMANDANT OF THE MARINE CORPS.//