Marine Forces Reserve

Marine Forces Reserve
Unit name	Marine Forces Reserve
Caption	Seal of the United States Marine Corps Forces Reserve
Dates	29 August 1916 – present
Country	United States
Branch	United States Marine Corps
Type	Reserve force
Role	Reinforce and augment the active duty United States Marine Corps
Size	Approximately 38,500 personnel
Command structure	United States Marine Corps, United States Department of the Navy, United States Department of Defense
Garrison	New Orleans, Louisiana
Current commander	Major General Matthew G. Trollinger
Notable commanders	General James L. Jones Jr.

Marine Forces Reserve. It is the command responsible for the training, administration, and operational readiness of the United States Marine Corps Reserve. Headquartered in New Orleans, the force provides trained units and qualified individuals to augment and reinforce the active duty United States Marine Corps in times of war, national emergency, or contingency operations. As an integral component of the Total Force policy, its members serve in both Selected Marine Corps Reserve and Individual Ready Reserve statuses.

History

The lineage of the modern reserve component traces its origins to the National Defense Act of 1916, which formally established federal reserves for the United States Armed Forces. Following World War I, the Marine Corps Reserve was reorganized, with significant expansion occurring during the interwar period under leaders like Commandant of the Marine Corps John A. Lejeune. Mobilization for World War II saw the entire reserve integrated into the Fleet Marine Force, with its members serving with distinction in pivotal campaigns such as the Battle of Iwo Jima and the Battle of Okinawa. The Cold War era, including the Korean War and the Vietnam War, solidified the reserve's role within the Total Force concept, a framework fully embraced after the end of the Vietnam War. The command was officially designated as Marine Forces Reserve in 2005, consolidating oversight under a single Marine Air-Ground Task Force headquarters.

Organization

The command is led by a major general who also serves as the Commander, Marine Forces Reserve and reports directly to the Commandant of the Marine Corps. Its structure mirrors the active component, organized into a headquarters element and four major subordinate commands: the 4th Marine Division, the 4th Marine Aircraft Wing, the 4th Marine Logistics Group, and the Marine Forces Reserve Support Command. This Marine Air-Ground Task Force construct ensures the reserve can provide fully integrated combat power. Geographically, its units are dispersed across the United States in over 150 training centers, with significant concentrations in areas like Alameda, Fort Worth, and Nashville.

Mission and responsibilities

The primary mission is to provide trained units and qualified individuals to augment and reinforce the active duty United States Marine Corps for combat, national emergencies, and contingency operations. This includes maintaining a force capable of rapid mobilization to support major combat operations as outlined in the National Military Strategy. Key responsibilities also encompass supporting Marine Corps Security Cooperation activities, participating in Joint Task Force operations, and providing community outreach through programs like the Marine Corps' Toys for Tots program. The force plays a critical role in fulfilling the Department of Defense's Total Force policy, ensuring seamless integration with United States Navy and United States Army elements.

Training and readiness

Reservists conduct mandatory training one weekend per month and two weeks of annual training, often alongside active duty units at major installations like Camp Lejeune, Camp Pendleton, and Miramar. Readiness is measured against the same Marine Corps Combat Readiness Evaluation standards as the active component. Training exercises include large-scale events such as Integrated Training Exercise at Twentynine Palms and participation in multinational exercises like Exercise Cobra Gold in Thailand. The Reserve Component Automation System is used to manage personnel and readiness data, ensuring compliance with requirements set by United States Northern Command and United States Indo-Pacific Command.

Major units and installations

Major subordinate units include the 4th Marine Division, headquartered in New Orleans, which commands ground combat units like the 23rd Marine Regiment and the 24th Marine Regiment. The 4th Marine Aircraft Wing, based at Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base New Orleans, operates aircraft such as the F/A-18 Hornet and KC-130 Hercules. The 4th Marine Logistics Group, also in New Orleans, provides combat logistics support. Key installations supporting the reserve include Alameda, Nashville, and the Marine Corps Mobilization Command site at Camp Lejeune.

Relationship to active component

The relationship is governed by the Total Force policy, mandating complete interoperability. Reserve units are routinely assigned to support and augment active component formations under the Forces for Unified Commands manning document. This integration is evident in deployments where reserve infantry battalions, aviation squadrons, and logistics units have served alongside I Marine Expeditionary Force and II Marine Expeditionary Force in operations like Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom. Policy and manning guidance from Headquarters Marine Corps ensure that reserve personnel train on identical equipment, such as the M27 Infantry Automatic Rifle and Light Armored Vehicle, and adhere to the same Marine Corps doctrine as their active duty counterparts.

Category:United States Marine Corps Category:Military units and formations established in 1916 Category:Military in New Orleans