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Fred J. Pushies
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MARSOC: U.S. Marine Corps Special Operations Command Kindle Edition

by Fred Pushies (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.3 out of 5 stars 110 ratings
An illustrated profile of the Marine Corps component of USSOCOM, its origins & history, training & missions, and special equipment & weapons.

The United States Marine Corps has a rich tradition of special operations, from World War II’s famed Marine Raiders and Para Marines to Korea and Vietnam’s legendary Marine Force Recon companies. Indeed, when Navy underwater demolition teams, the direct predecessors to the SEALs, performed the preinvasion reconnaissance of Iwo Jima, recon Marines were part of the mission. But when US Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) was created in 1987 in the wake of the abortive Desert One hostage rescue mission, the Marines did not join in. Spec ops on land, sea, and air were covered by the Army, Navy, and Air Force; the Corps felt it needed to keep its top warriors with its conventional forces.

In the post-9/11 world, however, the need for special operations forces dramatically increased. With the creation of the Marine Special Operations Command (MARSOC) in 2006, Marines officially become part of USSCOM. Initially drawn from the ranks of Force Recon companies, these highly skilled and combat-proven Leathernecks joined their spec ops brethren in taking the war to al-Qaeda and the Taliban in America’s global war on terrorism.

MARSOC’s mission is to win wars before they begin, taking combat beyond the frontlines. When America needs to respond to aggression in distant lands, the call comes to send in the Marines. With the creation of MARSOC, chances are special operations Marines are already there.
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  1. Print length
    162 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Zenith Press
  4. Publication date
    November 15, 2011
  5. File size
    56.0 MB
  6. Page Flip
    Enabled
  7. Word Wise
    Enabled
  8. Enhanced typesetting
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Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

The United States Marine Corps has a rich tradition of special operations, from World War IIs famed Marine Raiders and Para Marines to Korea and Vietnams legendary Marine Force Recon companies. Indeed, when Navy underwater demolition teams, the direct predecessors to the SEALs, performed the preinvasion reconnaissance of Iwo Jima, recon Marines were part of the mission. But when U.S. Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) was created in 1987 in the wake of the abortive Desert One hostage rescue mission, the Marines did not join in. Spec ops on land, sea, and air were covered by the Army, Navy, and Air Force; the Corps felt it needed to keep its top warriors with its conventional forces. In the post-9/11 world, however, the need for special operations forces dramatically increased. With the creation of the Marine Special Operations Command (MARSOC) in 2006, Marines officially became part of USSOCOM. Initially drawn from the ranks of Force Recon companies, these highly skilled and combat-proven Leathernecks joined their spec ops brethren in taking the war to al-Qaeda and the Taliban in Americas global war on terrorism. MARSOCs mission is to win wars before they begin, taking combat beyond the frontlines. When America needs to respond to aggression in distant lands, the call comes to send in the Marines. With the creation of MARSOC, chances are special operations Marines are already there.

About the Author

Fred Pushies has skimmed across the waves with SEALs in an eighty-two-foot-long Mark V Special Operations craft, flown at treetop level with the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment, and crunched through the brush with Force Recon Marines. He's the author of more than a dozen books about US special ops and several Zenith Press titles, including MARSOC: US Marine Corps Special Operations Command and Night Stalkers: 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment. Pushies lives in Westland, Michigan.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0074IDF7Q
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Zenith Press; First edition (November 15, 2011)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ November 15, 2011
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 56.0 MB
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 162 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.3 out of 5 stars 110 ratings

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Fred J. Pushies

Fred J. Pushies

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Customer reviews

4.3 out of 5 stars
110 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the book provides good information about MARSOC, with one review highlighting its detailed history of the unit's predecessors. The book receives positive feedback for its readability, with customers describing it as a great read.

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12 customers mention "Information quality"12 positive0 negative

Customers find the book provides good information about MARSOC, with one customer highlighting its detailed history of the unit's predecessors.

"...Overall this is a pretty interesting book for the uninitiated to the SOF community and is really one of the only books currently available on MARSOC..." Read more

"...going back to this one and every time he looks at it he gets more and more information which helps him deal with the after effects of that war...." Read more

"...It details everything about MARSOC from the history of the Raiders and Force Recon, to the structure of MARSOC, details every small arms weapon used..." Read more

"...wanted to find out what I could about MARSOC, and this book was very instructional. I didn't score it a 5 star because it was a hard read...." Read more

11 customers mention "Readability"9 positive2 negative

Customers find the book to be a great read.

"Love the book. Could use a more recent and updated version as this one was published in 2011." Read more

"...to read how their training pipeline has evolved to create these formidable operators...." Read more

"Received as advertised & on time. Great book. Being a former Force Recon Marine I am amazed at the equipment they have today." Read more

"Interesting book, very good information, not for casual reading but for anyone who is interested in the MARINE CORPS as it..." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • Kyle Roberts
    5.0 out of 5 stars Outstanding up-to-date scoop on MARSOC equipment with good history of MARSOC predecessors
    Reviewed in the United States on December 21, 2012
    Verified Purchase
    As a former Marine and current US History teacher (both High School and College) this is a good "nuts-and-bolts" book to get an overview of the equipment and some of the selection and training of our newest generation of supreme warriors. There is a very good "30,000 foot level" synopsis of how MARSOC came about as new SPECOP units were formed and strategically where the USMC now fits in the SPECOP community. The history section on previous generations of Marines like Lieutenant Presley O'Bannon and USMC special forces types as seen in Colonel "Red Mike" Edson give a superior picture of the pride generated by United States Marines. Respectfully submitted, K L Roberts
    2 people found this helpful
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  • Tyler
    5.0 out of 5 stars Great information about MARSOC
    Reviewed in the United States on March 22, 2018
    Verified Purchase
    Love the book. Could use a more recent and updated version as this one was published in 2011.
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  • T.A.L. Dozer
    4.0 out of 5 stars ELITE of the ELITE --- The Newest SOF Brothers!
    Reviewed in the United States on December 26, 2011
    Verified Purchase
    Marine Corps Special Operations Command (MARSOC) is the newest component of the United States Special Operations Command (USSOCOM), home of the Green Berets, SEALs, Rangers, Combat Controllers, Para Rescue, Night Stalkers (TF160) and other elites. This unit comprises the Marine Corps' contribution to USSOCOM. Like other Special Operations Forces, Its core capabilities are direct action, special reconnaissance, foreign internal defense and irregular warfare among other mission sets.

    This book covers the history of special operation capable units in USMC from the WW II Raiders and Amphibious Reconnaissance to the post-Korean war formation of Force Recon onto the coverage of potential participation of the USMC in USSOCOM, which was a very controversial topic in USMC since USSOCOM was formed in February 1986. For various reason the USMC was against integration until a re-evaluation following 9/11 and the on-going Global War on Terror. This book covers this turbulent time in a concise manner up to the point of the 2003 pilot program that established DET ONE that evolved into the current MARSOC element, this is probably the best part of the book.

    The remainder of the book covers men, weapons, equipment and tactics of MARSOC. Basically anyone who has read other similar titles and formatted books will see it is redundant information as all Special Operations Forces (SOF) generally have similar training requirements, weapons and equipment.

    However it is interesting to read how their training pipeline has evolved to create these formidable operators. The pipeline somewhat mirrors the Special Forces Qualification Course (SFQC) maintaining a lot of the Green Berets salient training requirements and adding their Marine flavor. The MARSOC qualification Pipeline is broken into various evolutions starting with Assessment & Selection, then onto the Individual Training Course (ITC) which is four phases covering patrolling, scouting, raids, ambush, full mission profiles, communications, demolitions, marksmanship, irregular warfare, evasion and escape. The Advance Linguist Course (ALC) is the next major evolution; this is also when they receive advanced cultural training. Once all the rudimentary operational skills are complete the operators move into Advance Skill Courses which include Free-fall, Dive, Close Quarter Battle, Breaching, ropecraft, Sniping, and a host of other skill-sets.

    Additionally the book covers current operations and employment in Iraq and Afghanistan.

    Overall this is a pretty interesting book for the uninitiated to the SOF community and is really one of the only books currently available on MARSOC, so for this alone I recommend this book, but do not expect an academic assessment or treatment of this subject from this book. If you want to read a book on this subject with a little more academic and historical in nature, check out "DET ONE: U.S. Marine Corps U.S. Special Operations Command Detachment, 2003 - 2006: U.S. Marines in the Global War on Terrorism" which is a very good book. Although a brief read I found this book still to be interesting.

    De Oppresso Liber
    6 people found this helpful
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  • Carolyn Meerzo
    5.0 out of 5 stars Highly recommended.
    Reviewed in the United States on March 3, 2015
    Verified Purchase
    My husband is a retired Marine.. He has read other books on the war but keeps going back to this one and every time he looks at it he gets more and more information which helps him deal with the after effects of that war. Highly recommended.
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  • Alexander Infante
    5.0 out of 5 stars Great Information
    Reviewed in the United States on December 7, 2013
    Verified Purchase
    This is a great book full of information that is not available elsewhere. It details everything about MARSOC from the history of the Raiders and Force Recon, to the structure of MARSOC, details every small arms weapon used by MARSOC, and much more. This is a great, highly informative book.
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  • J. L. Hurd
    2.0 out of 5 stars If you are interested in it's development
    Reviewed in the United States on January 11, 2013
    Verified Purchase
    If you are interested in it;s development and setting up the command system, then this is the book for you. If you are interested in their accomplishments and actions in the battle space, look for a different book. There is very little in this book as far as actual operations that have been declassified. It is basically designed around the development and structure of the command system of the Marine Spec Ops group.
    3 people found this helpful
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  • G Man
    3.0 out of 5 stars A 5 minute read.
    Reviewed in the United States on January 24, 2012
    Verified Purchase
    This book was dissapointing. As I former member of Marine Force Recon I was expecting a detailed accounting of our standards, history, training, and past missions. Instead this book covers all those areas in about three pages. It is heavy into pictures and command structure and comparisons in structure with other special forces type groups. The crux of really interesting information could have been released as a pamphlet. If you don't like to read and just like to look at some cool pictures, this book is for you. If you know anything at all about Marine Recon you will not learn anything new here. This is one of those books you eventually find in a big pile for 75 cents along with other "picture books" with no real substance.
    44 people found this helpful
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  • Joe T. Getherall
    5.0 out of 5 stars MARSOC
    Reviewed in the United States on March 14, 2013
    Verified Purchase
    Received as advertised & on time. Great book. Being a former Force Recon Marine I am amazed at the equipment they have today.
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Top reviews from other countries

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  • R. Matula
    5.0 out of 5 stars Interessantes Buch zu der Spezialeinheit der US Marines
    Reviewed in Germany on December 17, 2021
    Verified Purchase
    Informativ und leicht zu lesen, man kriegt einiges an Informationen über die Ausrüstung, hauptsächlich durch die zahlreichen Bilder.
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  • Hereford Brian
    5.0 out of 5 stars Stunning Photographs
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on December 3, 2012
    Verified Purchase
    This book is a little light on some details but the photographs are a reference to behold. The US Marines newest offspring is MARSOC (MARine Special Operations Command). They have taken over the role previoulsy held by the US Marine Force Reconnaissance, currently the unit is around 2500 strong and serves in all major theatres. The book is a softback printed on high quality paper. Some of the information is a little brief but in other areas there is enough information remember that some information is restricted. The photographs are stunning and if you are a modeller then this book will certainly fill the in gaps.

    Highly recommended to those interested in Special Forces, modellers and airsofters.
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  • Mark Butler
    5.0 out of 5 stars A great read
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on June 1, 2013
    Verified Purchase
    A great read for those who are interested in special forces MARSOC being a smaller part, but no less effective, of the USSOCOM community. I found the history of the unit most helpful telling of the evolution from Force RECON
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