Emblems of the 1st, 2nd and 3rd Marine Special Operations Battalions

Interestingly enough, there is a story behind my latest USMC designs. So it happened, that I was contacted via this blog by a representative of “Hearts for Heroes”, requesting permission to use a couple of my USMC designs for a non-profit charity flyer. It turns out they are organizing a drive to collect donations and purchase TRX devices, special cold weather gear, and protective/specialized equipment for a Marine Special Operations unit, the 2^nd Marine Special Operations Battalion (2^nd MSOB),  currently deployed in the mountains of Afghanistan.  Keep an eye on their progress (“HeartsforHeroes” is coming soon to Facebook )

They requested my USMC Emblem, MARSOC Emblem, as well as the emblem of the 2^nd MSOB, which I did not yet have in my collection. I have seen this as a perfect opportunity for creating insignia of the three Marine Special Operations Battalions, which constitute The Marine Special Operations Regiment (MSOR).

Here you can see freshly-minted emblems of the  1st MSOB ,2nd MSOB  

and 3rd MSOB

1st Marine Special Operations Battalion

The 1st Marine Special Operations Battalion was activated on October 26, 2006, and is headquartered at Camp Pendleton, California.

1st Marine Special Operations Battalion (1st MSOB) is organized, trained and equipped to deploy for worldwide missions as directed by MARSOC. It will consist of four Marine Special Operations Companies (MSOCs) and be task-organized with personnel uniquely skilled in reconnaissance, communications, special equipment support, intelligence, and fire-support.

2^nd  Marine Special Operations Battalion

The 2d Marine Special Operations Battalion activated May 15, 2006, and is headquartered at Camp Lejeune, N.C.

2d MSOB is organized, trained and equipped to deploy for worldwide missions as directed by MARSOC. It will consist of five Marine Special Operations Companies (MSOCs) and be task-organized with personnel uniquely skilled in special equipment support, intelligence and fire-support.

Each MSOC is commanded by a Marine Major and capable of deploying task-organized expeditionary Special Operations Forces for conduct of special reconnaissance and direct action missions in support of the geographic combatant commanders.

3d Marine Special Operations Battalion

The 3d Marine Special Operations Battalion (3d MSOB) trains, equips and deploys Marine Special Operations Forces for worldwide special operations missions as directed by the Marine Special Operations Regiment.  The unit is base at Camp Lejeune, N.C.

To active duty or reserve military personnel, veterans and their family members: I grant an explicit permission to download the above images to be used for non-profit/non-commercial and charitable causes, benefiting troops and their families, as well as for non-commercial internal duty-specific purposes, such as unit website design, training materials and presentations. 

Seal of The United States Marine Corps (USMC)

This was one of my favorite projects to work on. I have recreated the USMC Emblem, using my unique multi-layer method and style. 

History: The history of the Marine Corps emblem is a story related to the history of the Corps itself. The emblem of today traces its roots to the designs and ornaments of early Continental Marines as well as British Royal Marines. The emblem took its present form in 1868. Before that time many devices, ornaments, and distinguishing marks followed one another as official marks of the Corps.

In 1776, the device consisted of a "foul anchor" of silver or pewter. The foul anchor still forms a part of the emblem today. (A foul anchor is an anchor which has one or more turns of the chain around it). Changes were made in 1798, 1821, and 1824. In 1834 it was prescribed that a brass eagle be worn on the hat, the eagle to measure 3 = inches from wingtip to wingtip.

During the early years numerous distinguishing marks were prescribed, including "black cockades", "scarlet plumes," and "yellow bands and tassels." In 1859 the origin of the present color scheme for the officer's dress uniform ornaments appeared on an elaborate device of solid white metal and yellow metal. The design included a United States shield, half wreath, a bugle, and the letter "M."

In 1868, Brigadier General Commandant Jacob Zeilin appointed a board "to decide and report upon the various devices of cap ornaments of the Marine Corps." On 13 November 1868, the board turned in its report. It was approved by the Commandant four days later, and on 19 November 1868 was signed by the Secretary of the Navy.

The emblem recommended by this board consists of a globe (showing the Western Hemisphere) intersected by a foul anchor, and surmounted by a spread eagle. On the emblem itself, the device is topped by a ribbon inscribed with the Latin motto "Semper Fidelis" (Always Faithful). The uniform ornaments omit the motto ribbon.

The general design of the emblem was probably derived from the British Royal Marines' "Globe and Laurel." The globe on the U.S. Marine emblem signifies service in any part of the world. The eagle also indirectly signifies service worldwide, although this may not have been the intention of the designers in 1868. The eagle which they selected for the Marine emblem is a crested eagle, a type found all over the world. On the other hand, the eagle pictured on the great seal and the currency of the United States is the bald eagle, strictly a North American variety. The anchor, whose origin dates back to the founding of the Marine Corps in 1775, indicates the amphibious nature of Marines' duties.

On 22 June 1954, President Dwight D. Eisenhower signed an Executive Order, which approved the design of an official seal for the United States Marine Corps. The new seal had been designed at the request of the Commandant of the Marine Corps, General Lemuel C. Shepherd, Jr.

The new seal consisted of the traditional Marine Corps emblem in bronze; however, an American bald eagle replaced the crested eagle depicted on the 1868 emblem, and is depicted with wings displayed, standing upon the western hemisphere of the terrestrial globe, and holding in his beak a scroll inscribed with the Marine Corps motto "Semper Fidelis" (Ever Faithful) with the hemisphere superimposed on a foul anchor. The seal is displayed on a scarlet background encircled with a Navy blue band edged in a gold rope rim and inscribed "Department of the Navy, United States Marine Corps" in gold letters. Coincident with the approval of this seal by the President, the emblem centered on the seal was adopted in 1955 as the official Marine Corps Emblem.

As always, the above artworks are available  via my “Military Insignia” galleries from FineArt America. You can just follow the links in the article to get to the corresponding galleries.

To active duty or reserve military personnel, veterans and their family members: I grant an explicit permission to download the above images to be used for non-profit/non-commercial and charitable causes, benefiting troops and their families, as well as for non-commercial internal duty-specific purposes, such as unit website design, training materials and presentations.