MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. -- Established as a two-year experiment and the Marine
Corps' first force contribution to U.S. Special
Operations Command, the 100-man Marine Corps Special
Operations Command Detachment One was deactivated in a
ceremony here March 10.
"This unit was an absolute success story," said Col.
Robert. J. Coates, commanding officer, Detachment One,
during his remarks at the ceremony.
"Whatever we wanted or needed to do, we did with
nothing less than noteworthy excellence and unmatched
dedication to the mission at hand."
During the ceremony, the detachment was honored for
its heroic actions in Iraq, its contribution to Marine
Corps history and most importantly, its work in paving
the way for the newly activated and 2,600-member
Marine Corps Forces Special Operations Command, or
MARSOC, based out of Camp Lejeune.
"All Marines with this unit can forever hold their
heads high for a job extremely well done," said Lt.
Gen. John F. Goodman, commanding general, Marine
Forces Pacific, who presided over the ceremony.
The dedication and experience of the Marines from this
unit is an invaluable asset to the Marine Corps.
"We went overseas to make America proud. To see the
detachment deactivate was a sad day," said Master Sgt.
Charles H. Padilla, a 42 year old Chula Vista Marine
who served as recon platoon sergeant for Detachment
One. "But, the Marines will be better for it. Many of
these Marines will take their experiences and benefit
others throughout the Marine Corps."
With a heritage tracing back to the Marine Raiders of
World War II, Detachment One formally activated on
June 20, 2003 aboard Camp Pendleton.
Touted as a 'proof of concept,' its mission was to
prove the Marine Corps' ability to create a unit
capable of operating at the level required of USSOCOM
forces, such as Navy SEALs and Army Special Forces.
Put into motion by then Commandant James L. Jones
following the Sept. 11 attacks, the decision to
establish Detachment One as the Marine Corps' first
contribution of forces to USSOCOM was historic.
In nine short months from its activation, Detachment
One overcame a lack of precedent and doctrine to
successfully transition from a paper concept to a
fully operational unit ready to deploy to Iraq for
special operations.
Built as a task-organized and integrated raid force,
the detachment was capable of independently
performing the full spectrum of battlefield functions
such as command and control, intelligence and fires
support, while also planning for and executing
missions such as direct action, special reconnaissance
and coalition support.
From March to September 2004, Detachment One conducted
a successful and historically significant combat
deployment to Iraq as an independent task unit under
Naval Special Warfare Task Group Arabian Peninsula.
During these six months, the detachment executed a
full range of special operations missions, exploiting
numerous insurgent and terrorist networks and
facilitating the transfer of authority to the Iraqi
Interim Government.
Approximately one year after the detachment's
homecoming, Secretary of Defense Donald H. Rumsfeld
approved a joint recommendation by U.S. Special
Operations Command and the Marine Corps to formally
establish a Marine special operations component to
USSOCOM; a testament to the detachment's
accomplishments and hard work.
Last month, MARSOC was officially activated during a
ceremony aboard Camp Lejeune. The new unit, commanded
by Brig. Gen. Dennis J. Hejlik, will be comprised of
approximately 2,600 Marines and will fall under
operational control of USSOCOM, headquartered in
Tampa, Fla.