Word Celebrity Blog

Chain of Command

Like all US military chains of command, the USMC starts with the president and works its way down to the lowest private.

    * President of the United States - acting as Commander in Chief
    * Secretary of Defense
    * National Security Council
    * Secretary of the Navy
    * Commandant of the Marine Corps - member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff
    * Unit level chain of command is defined in the organizational structure below.





















The Marine Corps uses the Rule of Three: 3 men to a team, 3 rifle teams to squad, 3 squads to a platoon, etc.

Marine or Soldier
    Strength - one man or woman

Team
    Strength: 3 Marines
    Leadership: Team Leader - usually a Corporal

Squad
    Strength: 3 Teams
    Leadership: Squad Leader - usually a Sergeant or Staff Sergeant

Platoon
    Strength: 3 Squads
    Commissioned Leadership: Platoon Leader - usually a Second Lieutenant
    Non-Commissioned Leadership: Platoon Sergeant - usually a Gunnery Sergeant

Company or Battery
    Strength: 3 Platoons (plus a support platoon)
    Commissioned Leadership: Company Commander or Battery Commander - usually a Captain
    Non-Commissioned Leadership: First Sergeant

Battalion
    Strength: 3 Companies (plus a support company)
    Commissioned Leadership: Battalion Commander - usually a Lieutenant Colonel
    Non-Commissioned Leadership: Sergeant Major or Master Gunnery Sergeant

Regiment or Brigade
    Strength: 3 Battalions (plus support)
    Commissioned Leadership: Regiment Commander or Brigade Commander - usually a Colonel
    Non-Commissioned Leadership: Sergeant Major or Master Gunnery Sergeant

Division
    Strength: 3 Regiments (plus support)
    Commissioned Leadership: Division Commander - usually a Brigadier General (one star) or Major
General (two star)
    Non-Commissioned Leadership: Sergeant Major or Master Gunnery Sergeant

Marine Corps or Corps
    Strength: 3 Divisions (plus support)
    Commissioned Leadership: Corp Commander - usually a Major General (two star) or Lieutenant General (three star)
    Non-Commissioned Leadership: Sergeant Major or Master Gunnery Sergeant





















Squadron
    Strength: flying squadrons, the number of aircraft varies from 4 - 24; non-flying squadrons include Marine Aviation Logistics Sqns (supply), Marine Wing Support Sqns (construction), Marine Air Control Sqns (air defense), Marine Air Support Sqns (Airfield control), Marine Tactical Air Command Sqns, Marine Wing Communications Sqns, Marine Wing Headquarters Sqns (Admin)
Group or Marine Aircraft Group (MAG)

    Strength: 3+ Squadrons - similar in size to an Air Force Wing
    Leadership: usually a Colonel

Wing or Marine Air Wing (MAW)

    Strength: 3+ Groups - largest aviation unit, each unique
    Leadership: usually a Brigadier General




















Task Force Organizational Structure

A Task Force is an ad-hoc unit created and deployed for a specific purpose. For this reason, Task Forces don't always follow the regular structure listed above.


Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU)
    Strength: 2200 marines - smallest task force unit made up of a reinforced infantry battalion, a composite aircraft squadron and a support group
    Leadership: usually a Colonel

Marine Expeditionary Brigade (MEB)
    Strength: built around a reinforced infantry regiment, an aircraft group and a Service Support Group
    Leadership: usually a Brigadier General

Marine Expeditionary Force (MEF)
    Strength: multiple MEBs - principal war fighting element in the active force structure of the Marine Corps
    Leadership: usually a Lieutenant General