[United States Government Manual] [May 31, 1996] [Pages 221-222] [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]United States Marine Corps Commandant of the Marine Corps, Headquarters, U.S. Marine Corps, Washington, DC 20380-0001 Phone, 703-614-2344 The United States Marine Corps was established on November 10, 1775, by resolution of the Continental Congress. Marine Corps composition and functions are detailed in 10 U.S.C. 5063, and its functions are performed as follows: --The Marine Corps, within the Department of the Navy, is organized to include not less than three combat divisions and three aircraft wings, and such other land combat, aviation, and other services as may be organic therein. --The Marine Corps is organized, trained, and equipped to provide Fleet Marine Forces of combined arms, together with supporting air components, for service with the fleet in the seizure or defense of advanced naval bases and for the conduct of such land operations as may be essential to the prosecution of a naval campaign. --In addition, the Marine Corps provides detachments and organizations for service on armed vessels of the Navy, provides security detachments for the protection of naval property at naval stations and bases, and performs such other duties as the President may direct. However, these additional duties may not detract from or interfere with the operations for which the Marine Corps is primarily organized. --The Marine Corps develops, in coordination with the Army and the Air Force, those phases of amphibious operations that pertain to the tactics, techniques, and equipment used by landing forces. --The Marine Corps is responsible, in accordance with integrated joint mobilization plans, for the expansion of peacetime components of the Marine Corps to meet the needs of war. Organization The Marine Corps is composed of Headquarters, U.S. Marine Corps; the Operating Forces; and the Supporting Establishment. The Operating Forces consist of Fleet Marine Force Atlantic, Fleet Marine Force Pacific, Marine Corps Reserve, Marine Security Forces, and Marine Detachments Afloat. The supporting establishment includes recruiting activities, training installations, reserve support activities, ground and aviation installations, and logistics bases. The Marine Corps deploys and employs for combat as Marine Air Ground Task Forces (MAGTF's). There are four types of MAGTF's: the Marine Expeditionary Force, the Marine Expeditionary Brigade, the Marine Expeditionary Unit, and the Special Purpose MAGTF. Each of these MAGTF's has a command element, a ground combat element, an aviation combat element, and a combat service support element. The size and specific organization of the MAGTF is determined by the task to be accomplished-- task organization. For instance, Marine Expeditionary Units are routinely deployed on amphibious ships to the Mediterranean Sea, Persian Gulf, [[Page 222]] and Pacific Ocean providing deterrence to aggressors and reassurance to our allies through their forward presence and unique crisis response capabilities. Larger MAGTF's can rapidly deploy by air, sea, or any combination of means from both coasts of the United States and forward bases in the Western Pacific to respond to contingencies worldwide. Marine Corps Districts ------------------------------------------------------------------------ District/Address Telephone ------------------------------------------------------------------------ 1. 605 Stewart Ave., Garden City, NY 11530-4761 516-228-5652 4. Bldg. 75, Naval Base, Philadelphia, PA 19112-5000 215-897-6301 6. 1655 Peachtree St. NE., Atlanta, GA 30309-3117 404-347-7561 8. Bldg. 10, Naval Support Activity, New Orleans, LA 504-361-2619 70142-5100 9. 10000 W. 75th St., Shawnee Mission, KS 66204-2265 913-236-3302 12. 3704 Hochmuth Ave., San Diego, CA 92140 619-542-5570 ------------------------------------------------------------------------