Edsons and Carlsons Raiders

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OUTLINE

I. Introduction.

The Marine Corps today has developed itself into an elite fighting force based on strong naval traditions. The basic Marine is amphibious, which means that the warrior is capable of fighting on land and sea. The idea of an amphibious landing was developed through the training of the Marine Raider Battalions, which was tested and perfected in combat. Although there were two Raider Commanders with very different views on how to prepare their marines, Evans Carlson and Merritt Edson were responsible for training lightly armed Marines for amphibious assaults.

II. Body.

1. Historical Background

a. Forming of the Marine Raiders

b. Evans Carlson, Commanding Officer, 2nd Raider Battalion

c. Merritt Edson, Commanding Officer, 1st Raider Battalion

2. Training

a. Carlson’s Training

b. Edson’s Training

c. The Amphibious Raid

d. Close-In Fighting

e. Combatative Conditioning

f. State of Combat Readiness

3. Significant Battles

a. Makin Island, 2nd Raider Battalion

b. Guadalcanal, 1st Raider Battalion

c. Guadalcanal, 2nd Raider Battalion

d. Forming of the 3rd and 4th Raider Battalions

4. Summary

a. Strengths of the Raider Battalions

b. Weaknesses of the Raider Battalions

c. Dissolving of the Raider Battalions into the infantry units.

III. Conclusion.

The Marine Raider Battalions developed an elite fighting force within an elite service. There still exist today the elite units of the Marine Corps, such as the Force Reconnaissance Battalions and the Special Operation Capable Units, but the Raider Battalions were the first specialist of the amphibious doctrines. Although the amphibious landing has been preformed throughout the ages since the invention of the water-bearing vessels, the Marine Raider Battalions tested and perfected this combat operation. Although the two Raider Commanders had very different views on how to prepare their marine...

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