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| 1st Battalion, 1st Marines | |
|---|---|
| Unit name | 1st Battalion, 1st Marines |
| Country | United States |
| Branch | United States Marine Corps |
| Type | Light infantry |
| Role | Assault, security, reconnaissance |
| Size | Battalion |
| Command structure | 1st Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division |
| Garrison | Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton |
| Nickname | "First of the First" |
| Motto | "No Better Friend, No Worse Enemy" |
1st Battalion, 1st Marines 1st Battalion, 1st Marines is an infantry battalion of the United States Marine Corps assigned to the 1st Marine Regiment and the 1st Marine Division. The battalion has participated in major campaigns including World War II, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, the Gulf War, and operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. Headquartered at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, the unit has earned multiple unit citations and is noted for its roles in amphibious assault, urban combat, and counterinsurgency.
Activated in the interwar period as part of the Fleet Marine Force, the battalion saw early service during World War II in the Pacific Theater, including actions associated with the Guadalcanal Campaign, the Battle of Peleliu, and the Battle of Okinawa. During the Korean War, companies from the battalion fought in the Pusan Perimeter, the Inchon Landing, and the Chosin Reservoir campaign, linking its history with leaders such as Lewis B. "Chesty" Puller and units like the 7th Marines. In the Vietnam War, the battalion participated in operations near Da Nang, around the DMZ, and in operations connected to Operation Hastings and Operation Dewey Canyon. Post-Vietnam realignments placed the unit at Camp Pendleton, from where it deployed for Operation Desert Shield and Operation Desert Storm during the Gulf War. In the 21st century, the battalion deployed to Iraq for operations in Fallujah and Anbar Province, and to Helmand Province and Kandahar Province in Afghanistan, participating in counterinsurgency alongside coalition partners including NATO elements.
The battalion is organized under the 1st Marine Regiment with a headquarters element and several rifle companies, a weapons company, and support elements; its internal structure mirrors standard United States Marine Corps infantry battalion tables of organization and equipment. Companies are lettered in the tradition of Marine Corps rifle company designation and maintain platoons trained in assault, machine gun, mortar, and anti-armor roles, integrating platforms such as the M27 Infantry Automatic Rifle and the M252 mortar. The battalion coordinates with regimental assets like 1st Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion and aviation support from units operating CH-53E Super Stallion, AH-1Z Viper, and MV-22 Osprey aircraft based at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar. Logistics, intelligence, and communications support are provided via attachments from Combat Logistics Battalion 1 and Radio Battalions when deployed.
Historically, the battalion executed amphibious assaults with elements of the United States Navy during World War II island campaigns and later joint operations during the Korean War landings. In Vietnam War deployments the battalion conducted search-and-destroy, security, and pacification missions operating alongside units like the 3rd Marine Division and coordinating with the Army of the Republic of Vietnam. During Operation Desert Storm the battalion maneuvered in combined-arms operations with I Marine Expeditionary Force elements and coalition partners such as the British Army and Royal Air Force. In Iraq the battalion participated in urban combat in Fallujah during operations that involved coordination with Multi-National Force – Iraq and United States Army brigades. In Afghanistan the battalion executed counterinsurgency and partnered operations with Afghan National Army and International Security Assistance Force units, engaging in district security, route clearance, and village stability tasks.
The battalion and its subordinate companies have received unit citations and campaign streamers for actions in major conflicts including World War II, Korean War, Vietnam War, the Gulf War, and the Global War on Terrorism. Specific awards associated with the battalion include presidential unit citations tied to actions comparable to those recognized for units operating at Chosin Reservoir and in the Battle of Fallujah (2004), as well as Navy Unit Commendations for deployments in Iraq and Afghanistan. Campaign credits reflect participation in named campaigns such as Guadalcanal, Peleliu, Okinawa, Inchon, Hue–Da Nang, and Operation Enduring Freedom rotations.
The battalion's history includes Marines who later achieved prominence in Marine Corps leadership and national service, connecting to figures who served in larger formations like the 1st Marine Division and who interacted with leaders such as General James Mattis, General Alfred M. Gray Jr., and decorated figures akin to Lewis B. "Chesty" Puller. Alumni have included recipients of individual awards such as the Medal of Honor, Navy Cross, and Silver Star who served in battalion-affiliated companies during major conflicts. Veterans have gone on to roles in federal service, think tanks, and academia, linking to institutions such as Naval War College and Marine Corps University.
Training follows Marine Corps Combat Training and reflects doctrine codified in Marine Corps Doctrinal Publications and Marine Corps Warfighting Publications emphasizing maneuver warfare, amphibious operations, and counterinsurgency principles influenced by theorists and practitioners associated with the Marine Corps professional development system. The battalion conducts pre-deployment training at ranges and facilities like Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms and participates in exercises with joint and allied forces, including interoperability events with United States Navy, United States Army, Royal Australian Navy, and Japan Self-Defense Forces units. Live-fire integration, urban operations training at facilities comparable to Camp Pendleton Urban Training Center, and littoral assault rehearsals with Amphibious Ready Group assets form core elements of readiness.
Category:Battalions of the United States Marine Corps