The United States Marine Corps

United States Marine Corps

The United States Marine Corps is a branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for providing power projection from the sea, using the mobility of the United States Navy to deliver combined-arms task forces rapidly. It is one of seven uniformed services of the United States...

 MOS 0306, Infantry Weapons Officers, or Marine Gunners, are Chief Warrant Officers that are technical weapons specialists and are knowledgeable (as pertaining to their acceleration of grade and experience) in the tactical employment of all the weaponry in Marine Corps arsenal; all weapons organic to the Marine infantry units

Ground combat element

In the United States Marine Corps, the Ground combat element is the land force of a Marine Air-Ground Task Force . It provides power projection and force for the MAGTF.-Role within the MAGTF:...

.

Their technical skills complemented with infantry field experience fundamentally posits them as advisers to the force commander

Force Commander

Force Commander can refer to:* Force commander , a command post in the British Army and several other armed forces or multinational forces* Star Wars: Force Commander...

s within the Fleet Marine Force

Fleet Marine Force

The United States Fleet Marine Forces are combined general and special purpose forces within the United States Department of the Navy that are designed in engaging offensive amphibious or expeditionary warfare and defensive maritime employment...

's task forces

Marine Air-Ground Task Force

The Marine Air-Ground Task Force is a term used by the United States Marine Corps to describe the principal organization for all missions across the range of military operations. MAGTFs are a balanced air-ground, combined arms task organization of Marine Corps forces under a single commander that...

 (i.e. Marine Expeditionary Force

Marine Expeditionary Force

A Marine Expeditionary Force or MEF is the largest type of a Marine Air-Ground Task Force...

 (MEF) and its subordinate units). When assigned directly to a section of the general staff (usually "S-3/G-3" (Operations) sections), Marine Gunners may be responsible for developing and monitoring weapons training protocols, its tactical employment of weapons, and preventive maintenance of the unit's infantry weapons. During combat operations, Marine Gunners assists their force commanders in battle tracking.

They are sent forward to oversee the battle, reporting directly to task force commanders in a "directed telescope" fashion. Additional assignments may be assigned based on future needs of the Marine Corps; such as new weapons systems acquisition, new weapons systems research and development, management of the units ammunition allocation—and the unit training plan, infantry training, and fire support planning.

They have oversight of the unit's annual re-qualification programs for the service rifle and pistol, and supervise the unit's training programs with respect to individual and infantry crew served weapons—to include preparation of training plans and schedules. They also design, develop, implement and control expeditionary ranges, world wide. They have the ability to "set-up" combined arms training. As infantry weapons officers advance in grade, they are assigned to instructor/trainer billets, usually at the School of Infantry

School of Infantry

A School of Infantry provides training in weapons and infantry tactics to infantrymen of a nation's military forces.Schools of infantry include: Australia*Australian Army - School of Infantry, Lone Pine Barracks at Singleton, NSW. France...

, Infantry Officer Course, The Basic School, etc., or more prestigious assignments, such as the Anti-Terrorism Battalion

Anti-Terrorism Battalion

Anti-Terrorism Battalion is a specialized-infantry battalion in the United States Marine Corps. It falls under the 4th Marine Division as part of the Marine Forces Reserve...

 of 4th Marine Division (under the Fleet Marine Force operational status–the 4th Marine Expeditionary Brigade (4th MEB)).

Insignia

The title "Gunner" is almost always used in lieu of a rank (i.e., "Gunner Smith" as opposed to "Chief Warrant Officer Smith"), and the rank insignia worn on the right collar or shoulder is replaced with a "bursting bomb", similar to the insignia inside the rank chevrons of a Master Gunnery Sergeant

Master Gunnery Sergeant

Master Gunnery Sergeant is the ninth and highest enlisted rank in the United States Marine Corps...

. The rank insignia of the chief warrant officer bar is worn on the left.

The rank insignia and gunner "bursting bomb" insignia are worn as described in the text as viewer is looking at the Marine, not as they are worn by the wearer. The "bursting bomb" insignia is worn on the left collar, and the chief warrant officer rank insignia is worn on the right collar.

External links

• 0306, Infantry Weapons Officer—usmilitary.about.com