25th Marine Regiment (United States)

The 25th Marine Regiment (25th Marines) is one of three infantry regiments in the 4th Marine Division of the United States Marine Corps. From its headquarters in Fort Devens, Massachusetts, the regiment commands fifteen training centers in nine states throughout the Northeast. These units consist of approximately 3,500 reserve and active duty Marines and are located from Maine to Delaware, West Virginia and as far west as Ohio. The 25h Marines is primarily a cold weather regiment and frequently trains in northern Norway.

Mission
Prepare for employment as a Regiment tasked to plan and conduct combat operations in order to locate, close with, and destroy the enemy by fire and maneuver, or to repel his assault by close combat.

The reserve mission is to provide trained and qualified units and individuals to augment, reinforce, or reconstitute the active component of the Marine Corps in time of war, national emergency, and such other times as the national security may require.

Current units
The Regiment comprises three infantry battalions and a Headquarters Company:
 * Headquarters Company - Fort Devens, Massachusetts
 * 1st Battalion 25th Marines (1/25) - Fort Devens, Massachusetts
 * 2nd Battalion 25th Marines (2/25) - Garden City, New York
 * 3rd Battalion 25th Marines (3/25) - Brook Park, Ohio

History


The 25th Marines was activated on 1 May 1943, at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, North Carolina and was initially manned by Marines from throughout the Northeast. The regiment was subsequently assigned to the 4th Marine Division for service in World War II. Initially located at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California, the regiment was ordered to the Pacific Theater in January 1944 and participated in the Battle of Kwajalein, Saipan, Battle of Tinian and the Battle of Iwo Jima. The regiment won two Presidential Unit Citations for its participation in these battles. The 25th Marines returned to Camp Pendleton at the end of the war and on 10 November 1945 the Regiment was deactivated.

On 1 July 1962, 16 ½ years after its colors had been folded following its service in World War II, the 4th Marine Division was reactivated as a Reserve Division. This reactivation included all three Battalions of the 25th Marines. Since then, the reactivated units have served proudly. Reserve Marines of the regiment have served alongside their regular counterparts in training exercises throughout the world.

In February 1991 the entire Regiment was fully activated for Operation Desert Storm. Although, only 1st Battalion deployed into Southwest Asia and participated in the 1st Marine Division's initial breach of Iraqi defenses, the regimental headquarters, 2nd and 3rd Battalions mobilized in support of other operational requirements.

In January 2002 the regimental headquarters Company and 2nd Battalion, 25th Marines deployed to Camp Lejeune, North Carolina in support of Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Noble Eagle. Subsequently, Headquarters Company and 2nd Battalion, 25th Marines were deactivated in January 2003. Since 2003 the regiment has routinely deployed infantry battalions, advisor teams, and Military Transition Teams to Iraq, Afghanistan, and the Horn of Africa in support of the Global War on Terror. Concurrently, the regiment actively participates in numerous bilateral and multilateral theater engagement operations throughout the globe.