This is a shame. I get the reason why the USMC believes that "every Marine is special" (don't agree with it, but I understand why they do it), but this is a real disappointment as the Marines could continue the legacy of the Marine Raiders. From the next issue of the Marine Corps Times: No Return Of The Raiders Amos nixes request to rename MARSOC By Gidget Fuentes and Gina Cavallaro The commandant has denied a proposal from Marine Corps Forces Special Operations Command to rename its personnel “Marine Raiders,” Marine Corps Times has learned. Legendary for their exploits during World War II, the original Raiders composed four battalions of highly trained amphibious forces that helped seize key islands during pivotal campaigns in the South Pacific. The proposal was presented to Commandant Gen. Jim Amos and the service’s senior general officers during a late-January gathering in New Orleans, said Brig. Gen. David Berger, director of operations at Marine Corps headquarters. Marine Corps Times obtained briefing slides shown during that meeting. Amos thumbed down the plan, Berger said Feb. 18, because “your allegiance, your loyalty… is to the Marine Corps, based on the title you have on your uniform.” “He supports them,” Berger said of MARSOC. “He made it clear that the tie, the connection to our past is absolutely important to him, but we’re not going to name a unit by some naming convention — any unit in the Marine Corps — because we’re Marines first.” Efforts to speak with Amos were unsuccessful. His spokesman was unfamiliar with the proposal and referred questions about it to MARSOC. Officials with MARSOC declined to comment. [...] Second attempt at revival MARSOC’s plan called for sweeping name changes, according to the briefing slides. While the command would’ve remained “MARSOC,” its regiment, battalions, support group, school house and personnel all would’ve carried the Raider name. The Raiders’ original colors — a celebrated image featuring a stark white skull and the Southern Cross constellation of stars set against a deep blue background — would’ve been transferred to MARSOC also, along with the Raiders’ honors and battle lineage. MARSOC officials wanted to have a transfer ceremony a year from now, on Feb. 16, 2012. The Raiders’ storied battlefield ferocity matches perfectly with the warrior ethos and values embraced by today’s Marines and the growing MARSOC force, officials pointed out in the briefing slides, which is punctuated with terms such as “teamwork,” “loyalty” and “unselfishness.” A similar idea was proposed five years ago, just as MARSOC stood up. [...] After some contentious debate among senior officers in 2006, the Corps nixed the idea of bringing back the Raider name. MARSOC would be known as MARSOC, period. At the time, some senior officers surmised that the new generation should craft their own legacy and legends, and let the World War II veterans maintain their own. The original Raiders In all, 8,078 men — 7,710 Marines and 368 sailors — became Marine Raiders. The first two battalions were formed in February 1942 and deployed into the Pacific theater by spring. Two more commando-type Raider units skilled in amphibious raids and diversionary operations were created later, forming what is credited as the Corps’ first foray into specialized unconventional operations as they paved the way for U.S. military successes against a formi dable adversary in the region. The Raiders were disbanded in 1944. Their final major combat mission occurred on the South Pacific island of Bougainville. All told, they were awarded seven Medals of Honor and 136 Navy Crosses, according to the Raider Association... The convential Marine Corps ended the Raiders. They needed the bodies for the half million slots in the USMC. The conventional Marine leaders also didn't want to have an elite unit within the regular Marine Corps (which Marines consider already elite). FWIW, the Army goes through the same stuff - do we really need Ranger Battalions? Do we need an entire Divison of paras? Etc. Etc. Etc. The conventional leaders usually say no...until there's a mission that conventional forces cannot do. There's also something to be said for History. Being a part of a unit that did some amazing things in the past helps current warriors focus and gives them that extra bit of motivation and pride to ensure that legacy is continued. Bring back the RAIDERS!
Read the complete post at http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Blackfive/~3/s2QP-Eyzj8g/general-amos-denies-marsoc-the-title-raiders.html
Posted
Feb 21 2011, 11:55 PM
by
BLACKFIVE