Maritime Special Purpose Force
A Maritime Special Purpose Force (MSPF) is a United States Marine Corps specialized sub-unit of a Marine expeditionary unit. A MSPF is deployed to give the commanders low profile, two-platoon surgical emplacement in the accessible littoral regions. The MSPF provides the enhanced operational capability and precision skills to complement, enable, and execute selected conventional, maritime special operations. They can also perform operations not resident in traditional amphibious raid companies.
Maritime Raid Force and Naval Special Warfare Task Units conduct a boarding exercise
Maritime Raid Force (26th MEU), conducts a High-altitude military parachuting low-opening (HALO) jump
Maritime Raid Force conduct CQB exercises at a U.S. Coast Guard PATFORSWA compound with Deployable Specialized Forces Middle East Training Team
A Special Amphibious Reconnaissance Corpsman with the Maritime Raid Force detachment, provides medical aid to a simulated injured Marine during a visit, board, search, and seizure exercise
Marine expeditionary unit (special operations capable)
Marine expeditionary unit (special operations capable) (MEU(SOC)) is a program created by the United States Marine Corps (USMC) and the United States Navy (USN) in 1985 for Marine expeditionary units (MEU). The program enhances MEUs providing them with additional training and equipment to become certified as special operations capable with a Maritime Special Purpose Force (MSPF). The designation special operations capable is unique to the Marine Corps and means in relation to special operations. The role of a MEU(SOC) however is not equivalent to the special operations role of special operations forces. Although considered special operations capable a MEU(SOC) does not form part of the United States Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) established in 1987 or the United States Marine Forces Special Operations Command (MARSOC) later established in 2006.
A four-man team of Force Reconnaissance Marines simulate infiltrating a beachhead. Force Reconnaissance Marines were part of the Maritime Special Purpose Force in a MEU(SOC).