The goal of the Marine Special Operations School is to evaluate and choose candidates for Marine Corps Forces Special Operations Command (MARSOC) assignments. In order to fulfill MARSOC’s mandate to provide qualified personnel to conduct special operations, the school also trains and educates designated personnel in individual, basic, and advanced special operations.
A MARSOC Raider candidate must be a Marine for three years and complete the Marine Special Operations Individual Course (ITC) at the Marine Special Operations School in Camp Lejeune, N.C. C. Direct action, close quarters combat, special reconnaissance, foreign internal defense, fire support, tactical casualty care, irregular warfare, survival evasion resistance and escape, as well as infantry weapons and tactics are the main topics of the nine-month course. Officers who successfully complete the ITC will also enroll in a four-week Team Commanders Course (TCC).
The primary selection phase is followed by a three-week Assessment and Selection Preparatory and Orientation Course (ASPOC). In this stage, the Marine Raiders candidates will face both mental and physical challenges. You will become familiar with the requirements for becoming a MARSOC Raider and determine for yourself whether you want to continue. Due to the fact that experienced Marines enroll in the course, the attrition rate is relatively low. Surviving ASPOC does not guarantee your selection to participate in the following phases, though.
Students will learn about irregular warfare (asymmetric warfare) operations in the final phase. The course requires the student to put all of the skills they’ve learned to use while working with a partner country’s irregular force to train, advise, and conduct operations. The three Marine Raider Battalions will receive newly minted MARSOC CSOs as part of their assignments.
The ITC motto, “Vis gregis est lupus,” translates to “The wolf is the pack’s strength.” Graduates of the ITC will have proven the leadership, physical, and mental toughness required to support their Marine Special Operations Team (MSOT), where they will discover that, as Rudyard Kipling once said, “The strength of the wolf is the pack. “.
How long does MARSOC training last?
The MARSOC training course lasts for approximately 11 months and is divided into different stages.
Assessment and selection
The initial phase of MARSOC training consists of a preparatory six-week program that includes:
The Marine candidates must first undergo a three-week assessment as the first stage of the program. During this phase, the Marines are put to their physical and mental limits while learning what it takes to be a MARSOC Raider.
In this phase, the Marines experience a further testing three weeks while being watched and evaluated. The assessment enables MARSOC trainers to recognize Marines who possess particular personalities and qualities that would be suitable for special operations missions.
Individual Training Course (ITC)
Over the course of nine months, the ITC is completed in four stages.
ITC starts with a 10-week course that instructs the Marines in the fundamentals of Special Operations. These abilities include fire support training, communications, TCCC (Tactical Combat Casualty Care), SERE (Survival, Evasion, Resistance and Escape), and
Phase 2 is comprised of eight weeks of learning about small boat operations and data gathering. Additionally, the Marines will receive training in crew-served weapons, demolitions, scout swimmer operations, and reconnaissance photography. The Marine students will be evaluated in two Full Mission Profiles, with a focus on urban and rural reconnaissance and patrolling and combat operations, before Phase 2 is over.
Phase 3 lasts for five weeks and concentrates on the self-defense abilities that all MARSOC operators must learn in order to survive while on missions. The Marines will receive combat marksmanship instruction with rifles and pistols during this phase, as well as instruction on how to effectively conduct raids on urban, rural, and maritime targets.
Phase 4 is the final section of the course, lasting seven weeks, and it is where Marines conduct irregular warfare operations. Marines must put all of their previously learned skills to use in this final phase as they train, advise, and work alongside an irregular force and a Partner Nation.
What is MARSOC training?
The Marine Corps’ contribution to the United States Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) is known as MARSOC, or Marine Corps Forces Special Operations Command. Candidates learn vital abilities such as survival, swimming techniques, and combat marksmanship during training. A soldier must successfully pass all examinations and complete MARSOC training to become a Marine Raider.
Following training, the Marines will be eligible for the jobs listed below.
Critical Skills Operator (CSO) or Special Operations Officer (SOO)
The team, company, and battalion levels are where the CSOs and SOOs are assigned to billets. Marine enlisted personnel are given the CSO designation and the 0372 MOS, while Marine officers are given the 0370 MOS. The CSOs and SOOs will retain this MOS throughout their time in the Marine Corps.
Special Operations Capabilities Specialist (SOCS)
As part of a Marine Special Operations Team, these Marines will offer their expertise in intelligence, fire support, communications, and canine operations.
Combat Service Support
In their primary MOS, such as motor transport or logistics, the Combat Service Support Marines will serve one standard tour with MARSOC.
The goal of MARSOC is to successfully carry out special operations missions while expertly preparing Marines to do so. They will execute complex operations and achieve silent success.
What to expect at MARSOC training
At Camp Lejeune in Jacksonville, North Carolina, the training is conducted. You must first enlist in the United States Marine Corps and serve as a Marine in good standing for at least three years in order to be eligible for MARSOC training. You will need to meet the following requirements in order to be accepted into MARSOC training:
1. Passing the ASVAB
Before joining the military, the ASVAB test is taken, but those who want to join the Raiders can request a retake. Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB) tests need a minimum GT score of 105 to be passed in order to qualify as an enlisted Marine. Marine officers must receive a GT/GCT score of at least 110.
2. Completing Physical Fitness Test (PFT)
A minimum PFT score of 235 is required for all Marines. Pull-ups or push-ups, crunches, and a timed three-mile run make up the Marine Corps PFT. The test is administered before enlistment and then once a year after that. The Marines are evaluated using a points system.
3. Mastering advanced swimming skills
Marines must pass the MARSOC swim assessment, which consists of:
4. Meeting physical health requirements
A physical exam and a Report of Medical Examination, along with all other MARSOC medical requirements, must be completed. A urinalysis, dental exam, audiogram, and vision test are a few medical tests completed and listed on the Report of Medical Examination.
5. Earning security clearance
To join MARSOC, Marines must receive a secret security clearance. Additional background checks into their time spent in the civilian world and as Marines might be conducted.
6. Learning advanced combat strategies
Marines will be expected to learn MARSOC’s primary duties throughout the training, which include:
Frequently asked questions about MARSOC training
To assist you in learning more about MARSOC, the following questions and responses may be of interest to Marines and/or their families:
What is the difference between the Marine Raiders and the Force RECON units?
The Marine Raiders and the Force RECON units are the Marine Corps’ two main special operations forces. The Special Operations Command, a different branch of the military, includes the Raiders. They run small teams to eliminate targets. The Marine Expeditionary Force Commander commands Force RECON units, and their main objective is to gather information in hostile environments.
Is there a way to prepare for MARSOCs Assessment and Selection?
Before attending Assessment and Selection, there is a suggested 10-week training program to follow. The manual focuses on the PERRES methodology’s physical fitness component, which involves enhancing physical performance through exercise and diet. The instruction manual includes images and descriptions of the exercises that MARSOC uses to help candidates get ready for the physical part of Assessment and Selection. The 10-week training manual is accessible as a PDF or as a smartphone app.
What it takes to be a MARSOC Marine Raider
FAQ
How do you become a MARSOC Marine Raider?
- Have a minimum ASVAB General Technical score of 105.
- Excellent physical fitness scores and pass a MARSOC swim test.
- Be able to get a secret clearance.
- Able to transfer to a required skills MOS.
How long does it take to become a Marsoc Raider?
The MARSOC training course lasts for approximately 11 months and is divided into different stages.
How long do you have to be in the Marines to join MARSOC?
To attend A, a candidate must be under contract for at least 90 days. Reenlistment is not necessary because, upon selection, the MARSOC monitor will work to accrue a 60-month obligatory time-in-service.
How much does a Marsoc Raider make a year?
As of June 26, 2022, the average yearly salary for a Marsoc in the United States was $53,275. In the event you require a straightforward salary calculator, that equals roughly $25. 61 an hour.
