Marine Forces Special Operations Command (MARSOC)

National Radio Day celebrates the invention of the radio. On this day the U.S. acknowledges the news, information, music, and stories broadcast across our airwaves since the 1920’s. Here at MARSOC we take this opportunity to honor our uniform and civilian communications personnel. Communications is integral and necessary to this organization and its mission. Whether serving at the elbow of a Critical Skills Operator as a Special Operations Capabilities Specialist or gathering satellite intelligence from inside a SCIF, our communications staff are intertwined in almost every aspect of our force. We thank every one of these dedicated individuals and acknowledge their unheralded service.

The original Purple Heart, designated as the Badge of Military Merit, was established by George Washington during the waning months of the Revolutionary War. In the years between The Great War and WWII, General Douglas MacArthur led a campaign to redesign and repurpose the Badge of merit into a medal that honored its recipients as well as our original Commander in Chief. General MacArthur was ceremoniously presented the first Purple Heart medal, for wounds received in combat during The Great War, on February 22, 1932. During the early days of WWII, the Purple Heart medal was separated from meritorious service, and from then on presented only for wounds received in action against the enemy. But by 1945, with war in Europe won, allied forces were faced with the task of winning the war with Japan. It seemed inevitable that Japan's home islands must be invaded and conquered before that nation would succumb to the demand of unconditional surrender. The U.S. Navy, Marine Corps, and Army had already suffered high casualties invading dozens of Pacific islands then held by the armed forces of Japan. During the allied invasion of the island of Iwo Jima 6,836 US Sailors and Marines were killed and an additional 19,361 were wounded. Higher casualties of approximately 84,000 were also suffered in the subsequent invasion of the Japanese island territory of Okinawa. Allied operational planners began to form estimates of the potential losses of three to six time that of all previous island invasions. In anticipation of these potential casualties, the Department of Defense ordered the manufacture of 1.5 million Purple Heart medals. Since the final invasion of Japan was avoided by the dropping of two atomic weapons, several hundred thousand remained in DoD inventory at the end of conflict. These stocks have been drawn from throughout all US conflicts since WWII and only in recent years have new medals been manufactured. The new medals are identical to the original specifications and randomly dispersed amongst the older medals. The original Marine Raiders of WWII were formed when our nation was facing its gravest hour in the struggle for the Pacific theater of operations. The commando nature of that unit's actions earned them the nickname of the "Do or Die Men". Our current estimates show that almost half of the WWII Raiders were awarded the Purple Heart or would so be qualified to receive the citation. We honor these men every day by embodying their ethos and identity. In the modern era three Purple Heart medals were awarded to U.S. Marines serving in Marine Corps Special Operations Command Detachment One (DET ONE 2003-2006) and MARSOC Marine Raiders have been presented with 395 Purple Heart medals. We deeply honor, respect and offer our gratitude to the millions of service members who have sacrificed their well-being in defense of our nation.

Recently, retired Marine Raiders and their guests visited MARSOC Headquarters as part of their 2024 reunion hosted by the Marine Raider Association. Among the members was Leonard B. Turner, a 100-year-old Marine Raider who served in WWII. Turner and the other past Raiders got the opportunity to meet with current Raiders and the MARSOC Commander, Maj. Gen. Peter Huntley. The current MARSOC command was given the title of Marine Raiders by the 35th Commandant of the Marine Corps, Gen. James Amos, in 2014 to honor the legacy of the Marine Raiders of WWII and to link the past, present, and future of Marine Corps special operations.

Setting Your Sights USNA midshipmen visited MARSOC to learn about the organization and conduct training alongside special operations personnel. They were selected to train at MARSOC based on their interest and potential to become special operations officers. (Photos by Sgt. Evan Jones)

ICYMI: Col. Ronald E. Norris relinquished command of Marine Raider Regiment to Col. James T. Rose during a change of command ceremony at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. The ceremony was presided over by MARSOC Commander, Major General Peter D. Huntley. Rose has served several tours under the regiment and has returned to lead it as its commanding officer. “I’ve observed you as a team leader, I’ve observed you as a battalion commander, I know what you did on the Joint Staff, you’re an outstanding warfighter and you are going to kill it here as regimental commander,” said Huntley. 

Recently, MARSOC hosted it's annual Cognitive Raider Symposium. Featuring guest speakers Samuel Bendett, Peter Singer, and August Cole, CRS 24 was the latest annual event designed to spur the creative and intellectual thought of the MARSOC team when looking at the current and future operating environment.

Today MARSOC remembers the seven Marine Raiders from 2nd Marine Raider Battalion and nine Marines from Marine Aerial Refueler Squadron 452 who lost their lives when a KC-130T crashed in Mississippi on July 10, 2017. Our thoughts, today and always, are with their loved ones. Their legacy will remain, now and forever. Semper Fidelis and Spiritus Invictus brothers.

Today, Master Gunnery Sgt. Randall Small turned over the responsibilities of the special operations senior enlisted advisor for MARSOC to Master Gunnery Sgt. Andrew McCurry in a ceremony at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. The ceremony was presided over by MARSOC Commander, Major General Peter D. Huntley. McCurry, who returns to MARSOC having served throughout the command in previous tours, most recently served as the senior enlisted advisor of US Special Operations Command Central 📸 Cpl. Henry Rodriguez

MARSOC wishes you all a happy and safe Fourth of July! We hope everyone has a great time with their friends and family today! #MARSOC #semperfidelis #spiritusinvictus #IndependenceDay