[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                         
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                       District/Address                      Telephone  
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 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  
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