This is a list of current United States Marine Corps battalions, sorted by the mission they perform. __TOC__
Active units
Ground Combat Element battalions
The ground combat element (GCE) consists of those combat and combat support units whose primary mission is to, (1) engage with and destroy the enemy by fire and/or maneuver, and/or shock effect, performed by infantry, field artillery, and tank units, (2) provide close battlefield support to other GCE units by assault amphibian, combat assault, light armored reconnaissance, reconnaissance, and combat engineer units, or (3) provide immediate command and control, and limited logistical support including consolidated Navy personnel administration and motor transport (medium truck) support to subordinate GCE battalions and regiments (infantry and artillery only) by Marine division (MARDIV) headquarters battalions. Additionally, this battalion provides communications networking and law enforcement support across the GCE. The headquarters battalion also includes the division band, whose tactical mission is to serve as a provisional rifle platoon in providing division headquarters security.
Note: Some GCE battalions and regiments are provided air liaison officers/forward air controllers (i.e., Marine Corps naval aviators — aircraft pilots, and naval flight officers — airborne weapons and sensor systems officers) with specialized skills in coordinating air support of ground units) from the Marine Aircraft Wing (MAW) of the aviation combat element (ACE). These officers facilitate employment of Marine aviation in support of GCE units to perform offensive air support (e.g., close air support), assault support (e.g., troop, cargo, and casualty transport, aerial command and control, liaison, communications, and illumination, and close-in fire support by light/attack helicopters), and aerial reconnaissance (e.g., tactical reconnaissance and artillery spotting).
Infantry battalions Infantry battalions are the heart and soul of the ground combat element. The mission of locating, closing with, and destroying the enemy with fire and maneuver and repelling the enemy's assault with fire and close combat lies with the "grunts". Marine infantry battalions often have limited organic equipment outside of small arms, infantry crew-served weapons (e.g., heavy machine guns, medium mortars, and anti-tank missiles), and a few light tactical trucks. Marine infantry primarily maneuvers by foot as light infantry, and must be supplemented with additional trucks to become motorized infantry or Amphibious Assault Vehicles to become mechanized infantry.
A Marine infantry battalion is usually organized into three rifle companies, a weapons company, and a headquarters and service company. The rifle company has a company headquarters, three rifle platoons, with three rifle squads each, and a weapons platoon with medium machineguns, mortars, and assault weapons sections. The weapons company includes a company headquarters, a heavy machinegun platoon, an 81mm mortar platoon, and an antiarmor platoon. Sometimes, the commander will mix these into Combined Anti-Armor Teams. The headquarters and service company includes all command, administration, intelligence, operations, logistics, and communication Marines and equipment, as well as the battalion's Scout Sniper platoon and Battalion Aid Station (BAS) staffed by U.S. Navy Hospital Corpsman. By 2030 three battalions will be disbanded, and some reflagged: 1/8th becoming 2/2nd, 2/8th becoming 4/6th, 8th Marine HQ and 3rd Btn disband.
Battalion Name Insignia Nickname Location1st Battalion, 1st MarinesFirst of the FirstCamp Pendleton, California2nd Battalion, 1st MarinesThe ProfessionalsCamp Pendleton, California3rd Battalion, 1st MarinesThundering ThirdCamp Pendleton, California1st Battalion, 2nd MarinesTyphoonCamp Lejeune, North Carolina2nd Battalion, 2nd MarinesWarlordsCamp Lejeune, North Carolina3rd Battalion, 2nd MarinesBetio BastardsCamp Lejeune, North Carolina2nd Battalion, 4th MarinesMagnificent BastardsCamp Pendleton, California3rd Battalion, 4th MarinesDarksideMCAGCC Twentynine Palms, California1st Battalion, 5th MarinesGeronimoCamp Pendleton, California2nd Battalion, 5th MarinesRaiders or MaraudersCamp Pendleton, California3rd Battalion, 5th MarinesDarkhorseCamp Pendleton, California1st Battalion, 6th Marines1/6 HARDCamp Lejeune, North Carolina2nd Battalion, 6th MarinesThe Ready BattalionCamp Lejeune, North Carolina3rd Battalion, 6th MarinesTeufelhundenCamp Lejeune, North Carolina1st Battalion, 7th MarinesFirst TeamMCAGCC Twentynine Palms, California2nd Battalion, 7th MarinesWar DogsMCAGCC Twentynine Palms, California3rd Battalion, 7th MarinesThe Cutting EdgeMCAGCC Twentynine Palms, California1st Battalion, 8th MarinesThe Beirut BattalionCamp Lejeune, North Carolina2nd Battalion, 8th MarinesAmerica's BattalionCamp Lejeune, North Carolina1st Battalion, 23rd MarinesLone StarHouston, Texas2nd Battalion, 23rd MarinesPrepared and ProfessionalPasadena, California3rd Battalion, 23rd MarinesLone WolvesBelle Chase, Louisiana1st Battalion, 24th MarinesThe Terror from the NorthDetroit, Michigan2nd Battalion, 24th MarinesThe Mad GhostsChicago, Illinois1st Battalion, 25th MarinesNew England's OwnAyer, Massachusetts2nd Battalion, 25th MarinesEmpire BattalionGarden City, New York3rd Battalion, 25th MarinesCold Steel WarriorsBrook Park, Ohio
Littoral combat teams Littoral combat teams contain the close combat and long-range surface to surface fires elements of the Marine littoral regiments. Battalion Name Insignia Nickname Location3d Littoral Combat TeamLava DogsMCB Hawaii, Hawaii12th Littoral Combat TeamThe China MarinesCamp Hansen, Okinawa
Artillery battalions Field artillery units provide indirect, long-range cannon and rocket fire support for the Marine Air-Ground Task Force. Currently, artillery regiments contain two or three (11th Marines only) cannon battalions and are equipped with the M777 lightweight, towed, 155 mm, medium howitzer and the Expeditionary Fire Support System (EFSS) 120 mm, heavy mortar. Two regiments (11th Marines and 14th Marines) also have one rocket battalion equipped with the M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) equipped with the MGM-140 ATACMS surface-to-surface, guided missile. Marine artillery battalions contain a Headquarters Battery and three or four firing batteries. Firing batteries contain a headquarters platoon (including a liaison section with three forward observer teams) and one or two firing platoons (depending upon weapons systems). The firing platoon(s) contain a battery operations center, a fire direction center, and four or six artillery sections (depending upon weapon system). Counter-battery radar is usually a regimental asset, but can be detached to augment battalions or batteries. By 2030 all but five artillery batteries will be disbanded.
Battalion Name Insignia Nickname Location1st Battalion, 10th MarinesNightmareCamp Lejeune, North Carolina2nd Battalion, 10th MarinesGunslingerCamp Lejeune, North CarolinaFire Support Battalion, 10th MarinesCamp Lejeune, North Carolina1st Battalion, 11th MarinesCobraCamp Pendleton, California2nd Battalion, 11th MarinesPatriotCamp Pendleton, California3rd Battalion, 11th MarinesThunderMCAGCC Twentynine Palms, CaliforniaFire Support Battalion, 11th MarinesCamp Pendleton, California3rd Battalion, 12th MarinesWarriors of the PacificCamp Hansen, Okinawa, Japan2nd Battalion, 14th MarinesPeacemakerGrand Prairie, Texas3rd Battalion, 14th MarinesLibertyPhiladelphia, Pennsylvania5th Battalion, 14th MarinesSharphunterSeal Beach, California
Armor battalions The mission of an armor unit is to conduct and support amphibious operations and other operations as required by landing and transporting to inland objectives the surface assault elements and their equipment, and by conducting light armored reconnaissance and limited offensive and defensive operations. When task-organized with infantry, tanks, and other forces, the battalion conducts combined arms operations as a separate maneuver element in support of the Marine Division.
Currently, Assault Amphibian (AA) battalions utilize the Amphibious Assault Vehicle (AAVP-7A1) and consist of a headquarters and service company and two to six AA companies. Each AA company is equipped with 48 AAVs (including personnel, command, and recovery variants) organized into three platoons of 12 AAVs each and an additional six AAVs in the company headquarters. Each AA platoon is capable of transporting an entire Marine rifle company plus any dismounted attachments (e.g., mortar forward observer teams, anti-tank missile crews, scout/sniper or reconnaissance squads) thus transforming into amphibious/mechanized infantry. (One AA company is capable of transporting the assault echelon of a Marine infantry battalion.) Although plans were in place to replace it with the Expeditionary Fighting Vehicle, the cancellation of the program is going to prolong use of the AAV.
Light Armored Reconnaissance (LAR) battalions use the LAV 25 series of vehicles and consist of a headquarters and service company and four LAR companies. Each LAR company is equipped with 27 LAVs (including 14 LAV-25, two mortar, four anti-tank, one command & control, three logistics, and one recovery variant).
Battalion Name Insignia Nickname Location2nd Assault Amphibian BattalionThe First WaveCamp Lejeune, North Carolina3rd Assault Amphibian Battalion3rd TracksCamp Pendleton, California4th Assault Amphibian Battalion4th TracksTampa Bay, Florida1st Light Armored Reconnaissance BattalionHighlandersCamp Pendleton, California2nd Light Armored Reconnaissance BattalionDestroyersCamp Lejeune, North Carolina3rd Light Armored Reconnaissance BattalionWolfpackMCAGCC Twentynine Palms, California4th Light Armored Reconnaissance BattalionIron Horse MarinesCamp Pendleton, California
Combat Engineer battalions The mission of combat engineers is to provide mobility, counter mobility, survivability, and limited general engineering support. Mobility includes the assessment and fortification of roadways and bridges, the clearing of enemy obstacles and landmines, and assault breaching. Counter mobility includes creating obstacles and barriers for the enemy, which could include the destruction of structures and/or bridges. Survivability includes the fortification of positions and the construction of new outposts. Other jobs can include Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD), construction, and utilities (such as generators and refrigeration). Currently, combat engineers use a variety of tools for their trade. Some vehicles include the M9 Armored Combat Earthmover, D7 Bulldozer, M60A1 Armored Vehicle Launched Bridge, and various cranes and forklifts. Each combat engineer battalion consists of a headquarters and service company, three combat engineer companies, one mobility assault company, and an engineer support company.
Battalion Name Insignia Nickname Location1st Combat Engineer BattalionThe Super BreedCamp Pendleton, California2nd Combat Engineer BattalionThat Other BattalionCamp Lejeune, North Carolina4th Combat Engineer BattalionIn my day job...Baltimore, Maryland
Reconnaissance battalions