GROUND COMBAT ELEMENT (GCE)

The mission of the Marine division is to execute amphibious assault operations and such other operations as may be directed. The Marine division must be able to provide the ground amphibious forcible-entry capability to an amphibious task force (ATF) and conduct subsequent land operations in any operational environment. The division commander fights by using combined-arms tactics and tailors the force to the demands of each mission.

The primary mission of the Headquarters Battalion is to exercise command, control, and administration of the Marine division. It contains an H&S company, a division headquarters with an H&S company, a reconnaissance company, a special security communications team, a communications company, a military police (MP) company, the division band, and a truck company.

The primary mission of the infantry regiment is to locate, close with, and destroy the enemy by fire and maneuver or to repel his assault by fire and close combat.

The headquarters company of the infantry regiment contains a regimental headquarters and a reconnaissance platoon. Command and staff functions for the regiment are exercised through a compact operational command group that consists of the commander and an executive staff. The staff is capable of integrating the efforts of attached units with those of supporting units. The staff can support a tactical, main, and rear command echelon during displacement.

The primary mission of the infantry battalion is to locate, close with, and destroy the enemy by fire and maneuver or to repel his assault by fire and close combat.

The infantry battalion consists of an H&S company, a weapons company, and three rifle companies. The rifle companies are the basic tactical units with which the battalion accomplishes its mission. When the battalion is combined with combat support and CSS units, it forms a battalion landing team (BLT).

The H&S Company of an Infantry Battalion consists of a Company Headquarters, a BLT Headquarters, a Communications Platoon, a Service Platoon, a Medical Platoon, and a Chaplain Section. The Medical Platoon consists of 2 Medical Officers and 65 Corpsman. The Chaplain Section consists of 1 Chaplain and 1 Religious Programming Specialist.

A Weapons Company consists of a Company Headquarters, a Mortar Platoon, an Anti-Armor Platoon, and a Heavy Machine Gun Platoon.

A Rifle Company consists of a Company Headquarters, a Weapons Platoon, and 3 Rifle Platoons. The Weapons Platoon consists of a mortar section, an assault section, and a machine gun section. Each Rifle Platoon consists of 3 squads composed of 3 four-man fire teams.

Within the rifle company, the fire team leader carries an M16A2 rifle and an M203 grenade launcher. The squad automatic rifleman carries the M249 squad automatic weapon (SAW); all other riflemen, including the assistant automatic rifleman, carry an M16A2. Squad leaders and the officers and enlisted personnel of the platoon headquarters carry M16A2 rifles. The weapons platoon machine gun section has six M240G machine guns, the mortar section has three M224 60-mm mortars, and the assault section has six MK153 83-mm shoulder-launched multipurpose assault weapons (SMAWs).

The mission of the rifle squad is to locate, close with, and destroy the enemy by fore and maneuver, or repel the enemy’s assault by fire and close combat.

The rifle squad consists of three fire teams, each of which is built around an automatic weapon and controlled by a fire team leader

• Squad leader carries out the orders issued to him by the platoon commander. He is responsible for the discipline, appearance, training, control, conduct, and welfare of his squad at all times, as well as the condition, care, and economical use of its weapons and equipment. In combat, he is also responsible for the tactical employment, fore discipline, fire control, and maneuver of his squad. He takes position where he can best carry out his orders of the platoon commander and observe and control the squad.
• Fire team leader/grenadier carries out the orders of the squad leader. He is responsible for the fire discipline and control of his fire team and economical use of its weapons and equipment. In carrying out the orders of the squad leader, he takes a position to best observe and control the fire team. Normally, he is close enough to the automatic rifleman to exercise effective control of his fires. In addition to his primary duties as a leader, but not to the detriment of them, he serves as a grenadier and is responsible for the effective employment of the grenade launcher, his rifle, and for the condition and care of his weapon and equipment. The senior fire team leader in the squad serves as assistant squad leader
• Automatic rifleman carries out the orders of the fire team leader. He is responsible for the effective employment of the automatic rifle and for the condition and care of his weapon and equipment
• Assistant automatic rifleman assists in the employment of the automatic rifle. He carries additional magazines and/or ammunition boxes for his automatic rifle and is prepared to assume the duties of the automatic rifleman. He is responsible for the effective employment of the automatic rifle and for the condition and care of his weapon and equipment

Rifleman in the fire team carries out the orders of the fire team leader. He is responsible for the effective employment of his rifle and for the condition and care of his weapon and equipment. The rifleman is trained as a scout

• Primary Fighting Position – is the best available position from which the assigned sector of fire can be covered. Individuals, fire teams, squads, and crew-served weapons are assigned primary fighting positions.
• Alternate Fighting Positions – are not normally assigned to individuals or units within the platoon. They are used primarily by crew-served weapons. An alternate fighting position is located so that a crew-served weapon can continue to accomplish its original mission when the primary position becomes untenable or unsuited for carrying out that mission.

Supplementary Fighting Position – Supplementary positions are prepared to guard against attack from directions other than those from which the main attack is expected. A supplementary position is a secondary position and does not cover the same sector of fire as the primary position. Supplementary positions actually provide security. When occupied, they insure protection against attack from directions other than those covered by primary positions.

In clearing fields of fire forward of each fighting position, the following guidelines should be observed:


- Do not disclose the squad’s fighting position by excessive or careless clearing.


- Starts clearing near the fighting position and work forward to the limits of effective small arms fire.


- In all cases, leave a thin natural screen of foliage to hide fighting positions.

• - In sparsely wooded areas, remove the lower branches of scattered large trees. It may be desirable to remove entire trees which might be used as reference points for enemy fire.
• -In heavy woods, complete clearing of the field of fire is neither possible nor desirable. Restrict work to thinning undergrowth and removing lower branches of large trees. In addition, clear narrow lane of fire for automatic weapons.
• - If practical, demolish buildings and walls forward of the fighting position which may obstruct fields of fire or provide cover and concealment to the enemy.
• - Move cut brush to locations where it will not furnish concealment to the enemy or disclose the squad’s fighting position.

- Extreme care must be taken by the fire team leader to insure that fields of fire are cleared of obstructions which might cause premature detonation of M203 projectiles

Final Protective Fires are the final attempt to stop the enemy attack before he reaches the platoon’s battle position. When final protective fires are called for, all squad members fire in their assigned sectors. Rifles and M203’s continue to fire at an average rate; the automatic rifleman will increase their volume of fire to the rapid rate, if they have not yet reached this rate prior to the calling for final protective fires. Riflemen engage enemy personnel within the fire team sector; fire team leaders fire the M-203 at the largest concentration of enemy personnel within the fire team sector.

A checkpoint is a predetermined point on the ground used as a means of controlling movement. During his map study or physical reconnaissance, the patrol leader decides the number and locations of checkpoints plotted along the patrol route. These are coordinated with his parent unit before the patrol leaves. Checkpoints are assigned numbers, not in sequential order. Normally, the patrol leader will call upon reaching checkpoints so that the parent unit will be able to follow the progress of the patrol toward the objective and on its return to friendly lines/area

A rally point is an easily identifiable point on the ground, designated by the patrol leader, where the patrol can reassemble/reorganize if it becomes dispersed. It should provide cover and concealment and be defensible for a short time.

• Initial - This is a point within the friendly area where the patrol can reassemble if it becomes dispersed before departing the friendly area of before reaching the first rally point designated en route. It may be the patrol assembly area. The initial rally point location must be coordinated with the commander in whose area it lies.
• En route - These are points selected along the patrol’s route to the objective and from the objective back to friendly lines/area. The patrol leader selects them as the patrol passes through likely areas for which rally points are needed.

Objective - This is the rally point nearest the objective at which the patrol reassembles after the mission is accomplished. It may be located short of, to a flank, or beyond the objective. This may also be used as the final preparation point.

• COUNTERAMBUSH DRILLS - When a patrol is ambushed, the Immediate Action drill used is determined by whether the ambush is near (enemy within fifty meters of the patrol) or far (enemy beyond fifty meters of patrol). Fifty meters is considered the limit from which the ambush can launch an assault against the enemy.
• In a NEAR ambush, the killing zone is under very heavy, highly concentrated, close range fires. There is little time or space for men to maneuver or seek cover. The
• longer they remain in the killing zone, the more certain of their deaths. If attacked from a near ambush:
• - Men in the killing zone immediately assault the enemy’s position without waiting for any order or signal. The assault should be swift, violent and destructive. The men fire their weapons at the maximum rate, throw hand grenades, and yell as loudly as possible - anything to kill as many enemy as they can, and confuse the enemy survivors. Once they reach the ambush position, they continue with their assault, or break contact, as directed.
• - Men not in the killing zone maneuver against the ambush force, firing in support of those assaulting.
• - If the ambush force is small enough to be routed or destroyed, the patrol members should continue with their assault and supporting fire. If the force is well-disciplined and holds its ground, then the patrol members should make every effort to break contact as quickly as possible, and move to the last en route rally point to reorganize.
• In a FAR ambush, the killing zone is also under very heavy, highly concentrated fires, but from greater range. The greater range precludes those caught in the killing zone from conducting an assault. The greater range does, however, permit some opportunity for the men to maneuver and seek cover. If attacked from a FAR ambush:
• - Men in the killing zone immediately return fire, take the best available cover, and continue firing until directed otherwise. - Men not in the killing zone maneuver against the ambush force, as directed. - The patrol leader either directs his unit and team leaders to fire and maneuver against the ambush force, or to break contact, depending on his rapid assessment of the situation.

Raid patrols – destroy or capture enemy personnel or equipment, destroy installations, or free friendly personnel who have been captured by the enemy.

Contact Patrols – establish and/or maintain contact with friendly or enemy forces.

• Economy of Force Patrols – perform limited objective missions such as seizing and holding key terrain to allow maximum forces to be used elsewhere.
• Ambush patrols – conduct ambushes of enemy patrols, carrying parties, foot columns, and convoys.
• Security patrols – detect infiltration by the enemy, kill or capture infiltrators, and protect against surprise or ambush.

• The mission of artillery in the Marine division is to furnish close and continuous fire support by neutralizing, destroying, or suppressing targets that threaten the success of the supported unit.
• All artillery regiments have a headquarters battery. There are four artillery battalions in the 10th and 11th Marine Regiments and two in the 12th Marine Regiment. Each of these battalions is capable of performing the responsibilities associated with any of the four standard artillery tactical missions. Artillery regimental functions are discharged through a command group, which consists of the commander and executive staff, augmented by sufficient technical personnel. Medical personnel provide emergency treatment and preparation for evacuation of all casualties, treat minor illnesses and injuries, and supervise disease prevention and control measures.

The artillery regiment is the primary source of fire support for the Marine division. Its operations and actions are closely integrated with those of the infantry to be responsive to rapidly changing tactical situations. The basic means of ground mobility is organic vehicular transportation.

The mission of artillery in the Marine division is to furnish close and continuous fire support by neutralizing, destroying, or suppressing targets that threaten the success of the supported unit.

The mission of the artillery battalion in the Marine division is to furnish close and continuous fire support by neutralizing, destroying, or suppressing targets that threaten the success of the supported unit.

Provides field artillery fire support for all Marine Corps Air Ground Task Force (MAGTF) organizations.

• Bore diameter - 155mm
• Rate of fire - Maximum: 4 rounds per minute
• Sustained: 2 rounds per minute

Tube Launched, Optically Tracked, Wire Guided (TOW) missile weapons system. To engage and destroy enemy armored vehicles, primarily tanks. Secondary mission is to destroy other point targets such as non-armored vehicles, crew-served weapons and launchers.

Maximum effective range of the TOW missile weapons system. 2.33 miles (3.75 kilometers)

The basic TOW Weapon System was fielded in 1970. This system is designed to attack and defeat tanks and other armored vehicles. It is primarily used in antitank warfare, and is a command to line of sight, wire-guided weapon. The system will operate in all weather conditions and on the "dirty" battlefield. The TOW 2 launcher is the most recent launcher upgrade. It is compatible with all TOW missiles. The TOW 2 Weapon System is composed of a reusable launcher, missile guidance set, and sight system. The missile has a 20-year maintenance-free storage life.

The mission of the Assault Amphibian Battalion is to transport troops and supplies from assault shipping to shore via amphibious forcible entry and conduct subsequent mechanized operations ashore.                     Assault Amphibian Battalion

The 1st AABN and 3DAABN: is organized with an H&S Company and 4 Assault Amphibian Companies. 2DAABN: is organized with an H&S Company and 3 Assault Amphibian Companies.

The mission of the Assault Amphibian Headquarters and Service Company is to provide command and control and logistics.The mission of the Assault Amphibian Company is to provide the Ground Combat Element with the general support lift, staff expertise, and command and control assets to plan and execute amphibious forcible entry and subsequent mechanized operations ashore.

The mission of the AAVP7A1 is to land the surface assault elements of the landing force and their equipment in a single lift from assault shipping during amphibious operations to in land objectives and to conduct subsequent mechanized operations ashore.

Cruising ranges: (land/water) - Land at 25 MPH for 200 Miles - Water at 2600 RPM for 7 Hours

Cruising speeds (land/water) - Land: 20 to 30 MPH - Water: 6 MPH

Maximum Speed Forward - Land: 45 MPH - Water: 8.2 MPH

Maximum Speed Reverse - Land: 12 MPH - Water: 4.5 MPH

Crew – 3

Armaments - HBM2 .50 Caliber Machine Gun and MK 19 MOD3 40 MM Machine GunTroop Capacity - 21 Combat Equipped Troops (285 Pounds per troop) or 10,000 Pounds of cargo

The mission of the AAVR7A1 is to recover similar or smaller sized vehicles. It also carries basic maintenance equipment to provide field support maintenance to vehicles in the field.

Cruising ranges (land/water) - Land at 25 MPH for 200 Miles - Water at 2600 RPM for 7 Hours

Cruising speeds (land/water)- Land: 20 to 30 MPH - Water: 6 MPH

Maximum Speed Forward - Land: 45 MPH - Water: 8.2 MPH

Maximum Speed Reverse - Land: 12 MPH - Water: 4.5 MPH

Crew - 4Armaments – 7.62mm M240B/G machine gun

The mission of the Combat Engineer Battalion is to enhance the mobility, counter-mobility, and survivability of the Marine Division and to provide the limited general engineering support.  The Combat Engineer Battalion consists of : 1 H&S company, 1 engineer support company, 1 route clearance company and 3 combat engineer companies.

Six mobility tasks.

1. Conduct engineer reconnaissance and support intelligence collection within the division zone or sector. In areas not under division control, support will be required when conducting this reconnaissance.

2. Plan, organize, and coordinate the assault breaching of explosive and nonexplosive obstacles.

3. Employ assault bridge systems. When augmented, employ other standard bridge systems.

4. Provide expedient repair and reinforcement of existing bridges.

5. Construct expedient, short-span bridges from local materials in support of ground combat operations. 

6. Provide temporary repair maintenance of existing roads and limited new construction of combat roads and trails.

THE 3 COUNTER-MOBILITY TASK

Plan, organize, and coordinate the construction of simple and compound explosive and nonexplosive obstacle systems.

Plan and construct obstacles that require special engineering equipment and technical skills.  Perform specialized demolition missions that are beyond the capability of other Division units

3 GENERAL ENGINEERING TASKS OF COMBAT ENGINEER BAATTALION.

1 Provide essential construction support that is temporary and designed to meet minimum combat requirements.

2 Provide utility support, including mobile electric power equipment and potable water for essential troop consumption, bath services, and equipment operational and maintenance requirements. 3 Construct and improve expedient VTOL sites in support of division operations.

The mission of the H&S Company is to provide command, control, and administrative elements to supervise the operations of the Battalion, including the provision of supply, food services, communications, chaplain services, administration, and medical support.

The mission of the engineer support company is to provide personnel, equipment, and appropriate task units to other elements of the battalion in support of operational requirements and to provide minimum potable water for the Marine Division and electrical power for designated elements of the Marine Division. The engineer support company consists of: a Company Headquarters, an Equipment Platoon, Motor transport Platoon, and a Utilities Platoon.

4 TASKS OF THE ENGINEER SUPPORT COMPANY

Provide construction, materials handling and lifting equipment, and operators in support of other Battalion elements or to perform separate mission assignments within the Battalion.

Provide potable water and hygienic services to the Marine Division.

Provide electrical power to Division organizations that are not authorized generators and provide backup power to the Division, as required.  Provide motor transport equipment and operations, as required, to support all Battalion elements.

The mission of the route clearance company is to detect road-emplaced explosive hazards, verify their presence and neutralize them using the proper assets.  The route clearance company consists of a company headquarters, an ABV Platoon and three Combat Engineer Platoons. The company provides route clearance support to supported units during mounted operations.

The mission of the combat engineer company is to provide close combat support of an engineering nature as necessary. The combat engineer company consists of a Company Headquarters and three combat Engineer Platoons.

The FPI CAT III MRAP Buffalo provides route clearance capability and personnel protection against anti-personnel (AP) and anti-tank (AT) mines.It is fitted with a large articulated arm, used for ordnance disposal. It also incorporates a "V" shaped mono hull chassis, to direct the force of the blast away from the occupants.

Cruising ranges - 330 Miles

Cruising speeds – 20 to 30 MPH

Maximum Speed Forward – 55 MPH

Crew – Driver, Vehicle Commander

Armaments – None Troop Capacity – 4

The mission of the LAR Battalion is to conduct reconnaissance, security, and economy-of force operations and, within capabilities, conduct limited offensive or delaying operations that exploit the unit‘s mobility and fire power.  The Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion consists of: an H&S Company and four LAR Companies.

The primary mission of the Reconnaissance Battalion is to conduct ground reconnaissance and observation in support of the Marine

The force reconnaissance unit performs its mission farther behind enemy lines and is employed by the Marine Expeditionary Force. Battalion Reconnaissance performs its mission closer to friendly lines and is employed by the Division.

Conducts amphibious reconnaissance and advanced nautical navigation.

Conducts pre & post-assault ground reconnaissance.

Conducts surveillance to observe, identify, and report enemy activity, or other information

Conducts specialized reconnaissance.

Conducts long-range communications and digital imagery.

Assists in the emplacing and recovery of ground sensors. 

Possesses specialized insert capability to include parachuting, combatant diving, and HRST.

Provides initial and terminal guidance for helicopters, landing craft, and parachute operations.

Conducts battlefield-shaping operations to include limited sniping and engagement of target.

Conducts post-strike reconnaissance to determine battle damage assessment.

The reconnaissance battalion is an organic unit of the Marine Division and is composed of 1 Headquarters and Service Company and 4 Reconnaissance Companies. Each Reconnaissance Company includes a Headquarters section and three Platoons consisting of surface swimmers and as many inflatable boat handlers as necessary.

The sole objective of reconnaissance training is successful execution of the reconnaissance combat mission.

Entry Level Training (Core Skills – Level 1000 events) This is the basic train Reconnaissance Marine receives at the Formal School in which the 0321 MOS.

Advanced Individual Training (Core-Plus Skills – Level 2000 events) This is training that occurs at follow-on schools. Collective Training (Unit Training – Level 4000 to 7000 events) A collective event is an event that an established unit would perform in combat.

Entry Level Training: Execute duties within a reconnaissance patrols, basic weapons handling (M16/M4, SAW, M203), land navigation, basic communications, calling for fire (indirect), CBRNE.

Advanced Individual Training: Write a patrol order, issue a warning order and operation order, lead a patrol, coordinate the resupply of a unit, operation of advanced weapon systems (240G, .50cal, MK-19, SASR, M40), demolitions, advanced nautical skills (over-the-horizon ops, cache a small craft), duties and operations in a Reconnaissance Operations Center (ROC), operating from a hide, leading ambushes and raids, calling Close Air Support (CAS) missions, ITG, jump and dive operations, etc.

Collective Training: Execute a deliberate ambush, engage a target with CAS (rotary or fixed-wing), conduct submarine operations, conduct sub-surface infill/exfiltration, etcReconnaissance Team The Recon Team is the Basic Reconnaissance Unit that will conduct ground and amphibious reconnaissance operations.