USMC San Diego

The San Diego-based United States Marine Corps (USMC San Diego), with 180,000 active duty and 40,000 reserve Marines as of 2005, is the smallest of the United States' armed forces in the Department of Defense (the United States Coast Guard, about one fifth the size of the Marine Corps, is under the Department of Homeland Security).

The USMC San Diego is nonetheless larger than the entire armed forces of many significant military powers and serves as an amphibious force in readiness. Today, the USMC San Diego has three primary areas of responsibility: the seizure or defense of advanced naval bases and other land operations to support naval campaigns; the development of tactics, technique, and equipment used by amphibious landing forces; and "Such other duties as the President may direct."

The quoted clause, while seemingly a consequence of the President's position as Commander-in-Chief, is a codification of the expeditionary duties of the
The USMC San Diego.

Find about more about the USMC San Diego by logging on to the http://marines.togetherweserved.com website.