August 20, 2025:
Over the past twenty years, the U.S. Marine Corps (USMC) has undergone significant reorganization. The most recent effort involves adopting drone warfare, which continues to evolve in the Ukraine War. The Marines expect thousands of drones to be in the hands of Marines by the end of the year. Marines have already been trained to maintain, operate, and optimize their new drone capabilities. Many young Marines, familiar with video games, are well-prepared to handle drones, a trend also observed among Ukrainian soldiers.
Drone adoption, however, encounters existing challenges. Over recent decades, Marine weapons and equipment have become heavier, as demonstrated during joint operations with Army units. This has made the average Marine combat unit less mobile for amphibious operations. In response, Marine commanders advocate for a smaller force focused on its core mission: amphibious and commando-type operations.
The reorganization process, underway for several years, has led to the disbandment or transfer to reserves of many tank, artillery, aviation, engineer, and military police support units. Three of the current 24 Marine infantry battalions and one regimental headquarters are also being deactivated. The Marine Corps is now prioritizing the Pacific and potential conflicts with China, aiming to return to World War II-style operations, when Marines excelled at capturing fortified islands from Japanese garrisons.
The pre-reorganization Marine Corps, which gained significant armor, engineer, and artillery units, evolved in 2001 to support major operations in Afghanistan, Iraq, and other regions, requiring forces similar to the Army’s. The last major reorganization occurred in the 1980s, when the Marines transformed their divisional and regimental headquarters into administrative units and created new fighting organizations. Marine Expeditionary Units (MEUs) became reinforced infantry battalions, while Marine Expeditionary Brigades (MEBs) were brigades with support units for independent operations. Marine Expeditionary Forces (MEFs) served as headquarters for controlling MEUs and MEBs. During large operations, traditional regimental and divisional designations were used, but units were essentially MEBs controlled by an MEF. This task-oriented structure persists, and the Army adopted a similar brigade-focused model nearly twenty years ago, with divisional headquarters serving as tactical command for brigades.
Many Marines have been dissatisfied with their role as an Army auxiliary since 2001. The Marines view themselves as specialists, while the Army is seen as generalists who, notably, conducted more amphibious operations than the Marines during World War II. By 2013, Marines comprised a quarter of America’s active-duty ground combat forces. When including the larger Army reserve force, Marines accounted for 18 percent of ground combat forces. The Marines never wanted to be just another component of American ground forces, leading to internal tensions. Some commanders sought to maintain a broad range of skills, sparking disputes over developing and procuring specialized equipment, particularly amphibious and armored vehicles. Ultimately, traditionalists prevailed, and the Marines are now returning to their World War II roots.
The Marines are also concerned about their relationship with the U.S. Navy, which has formed its own ground combat force. To understand this dynamic, it’s important to clarify the Navy-Marine relationship. The Marines are not part of the Navy, as often described, but both are components of the Department of the Navy. Unlike the Departments of the Army and Air Force, which each oversee one service, the Navy Department oversees two: the fleet and the Marines. These services are closely intertwined. For example, the Navy provides support functions for the Marines, such as medics, who serve in Marine units wearing Marine combat uniforms. This allows a higher proportion of Marines to be combat troops compared to the Navy, Army, or Air Force, fostering a distinct Marine ethos.
Over time, the Marines have gained increasing autonomy from the Navy. When the U.S. Marine Corps was established over two centuries ago, Marines were sailors trained as infantry, fully integrated into ship crews. This changed in the late 19th century with the advent of all-metal steamships, which reduced the need for Marines. Facing potential elimination, the Marines adapted, serving as State Department troops in Latin America from the late 19th century to just before World War II, addressing civil disorder and nation-building. During World War I (1914–1918), Marines provided a brigade for ground combat in Europe, showcasing exceptional combat skills.
In the 1930s, as World War II loomed, the Marines embraced amphibious warfare, preparing for assaults on fortified Japanese islands. During World War II, the Marines formed their first division-sized units, ending the war with six divisions organized into two corps. Only four divisions survived post-war demobilization, one of which is now a reserve division.
After World War II, the Marine Corps evolved from a minor Navy component into a de facto fourth service by the late 20th century. However, the Navy retained amphibious ships carrying Marine battalions. As the war on terror emphasized infantry-scale operations, Marines spent significant time on land alongside the Army.
In response, the Navy established the Navy Expeditionary Combat Command (NECC) in 2006, with 40,000 sailors trained for ground combat. NECC operates along coasts and rivers and can deploy inland. Its 1,200-sailor Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) teams are in high demand due to increased use of roadside bombs and booby traps. NECC’s three Riverine Squadrons served in Iraq. Comprising traditional naval combat support units and coastal/riverine patrol units, NECC was scaled back to 20,000 sailors after U.S. troop commitments in Iraq and Afghanistan declined post-2011. The Marines are content to let NECC handle coastal and riverine operations.
NECC’s creation surprised many, including Congress, which funded it, and NECC sailors themselves. The Navy even enlisted Marines to train sailors for riverine armed patrol boat units. The Navy already had infantry training for Seabees and EOD teams, now consolidated into the Expeditionary Combat Skills (ECS) course in Mississippi.
Initially, the Marine Corps had mixed feelings about NECC, as Marines have long been the Navy’s ground combat force. Some Marine leaders advocate shrinking the Corps to focus on Navy amphibious operations, avoiding large-scale Army support roles.
In effect, many Marine commanders aspire to emulate the British Royal Marines, known as Royal Marine Commandos. Britain pioneered the modern commando concept but disbanded its ten Army commando units after World War II. The Royal Marines adopted the commando role, retaining three of their nine commando battalions. Unlike the U.S. Marines, Royal Marines rely on Army artillery and engineer support. Like their American counterparts, Royal Marines view amphibious assaults as commando-like operations requiring specialized training and bold leadership. In 1956, a Royal Marine Commando launched the first helicopter assault from ships during the invasion of Egypt. Royal Marines served in Ireland during the 1970s and 1980s, recaptured the Falkland Islands in 1982 alongside an Army parachute battalion, and conducted peacekeeping in the Balkans and Africa.
While U.S. Marines gained fame for multi-division amphibious operations in the Pacific during World War II, Royal Marines focused on commando-style operations, typical of Marine missions between major wars. The last large-scale amphibious operation was at Inchon, Korea, in 1950. Since then, Marine missions have typically involved quick, battalion-sized assaults.
In 2006, the Marine Corps established the Marine Special Operations Command (MARSOC) to align with this focus. MARSOC’s 2,500 personnel have been active in South America, the Caribbean, Africa, the Middle East, Central Asia, and Southeast Asia. Organized into a headquarters, a two-battalion Special Operations Regiment, a Foreign Military Training Unit, and a Marine Special Operations Support Group, MARSOC includes 3–4 Special Operations companies per battalion.
To build MARSOC, the Marines repurposed two of their four Force Recon companies, including one reserve unit, while expanding division-level reconnaissance units. MARSOC’s Special Operations companies, with about 120 personnel each, provide Force Recon capabilities to attached Marine units, combining functions similar to Army Special Forces, Rangers, and Force Recon.
MARSOC’s creation addressed the Marines’ delayed integration into Special Operations Command (SOCOM), formed in the late 1980s by other services. The Marines resisted joining SOCOM, believing their warriors were inherently capable of specialized missions. This perspective shifted during Afghanistan operations, where Marines, supporting SOCOM troops, recognized the value of special operations integration. MARSOC was established in 2005 to align with SOCOM.
Most Marine commanders envision a smaller, elite force—potentially reduced by a third—focused on amphibious operations. Over the past two decades, the Marines have returned to their maritime roots, preserving valuable combat experience gained since September 11, 2001. Recruiting was reduced temporarily, and some Marines transferred to the Navy, particularly to NECC roles shared by both services. Others moved to the Army, which welcomes combat-experienced Marine NCOs and officers. The Marines also aim to expand their reserve force to retain personnel transitioning to civilian life.
The Marines are experimenting with new concepts, such as littoral regiments, to handle missions too challenging or distant for NECC. Within SOCOM, a multi-service organization, the Marines, alongside Army Special Forces, Navy SEALs, and special operations aviation units, remain tied to their parent service while dedicated to special operations, ensuring they are not diverted to routine tasks.