8th Marine Regiment Deactivates in Accordance with Commandant’s Force Design 2030 Initiative
28 Jan 2021

U.S. Marines and Sailors with 8th Marine Regiment (8th Marines), 2d Marine Division (2d MARDIV), conducted a deactivation ceremony of the 8th Marines’ Headquarters here on January 28, 2021.

The divestment of the regimental headquarters is in accordance with the 38th Commandant of the Marine Corps’ (CMC’s) Force Design (FD) 2030. The Marine Corps-wide initiative outlines that the Marine Corps’ future ground combat element will consist of seven regimental headquarters and twenty-one active infantry battalions, all of which will be distributed across three active divisions.

Force Design 2030 broadly details the approach the Marine Corps will take in order to be better prepared for future conflicts. General David Berger, Commandant of the Marine Corps, expressed in the document, “We will build one force – optimized for naval expeditionary warfare in contested spaces, purpose-built to facilitate sea denial and assured access in support of the U.S. Navy Fleets.” He continued, “While the future force we are developing is different in terms of structure and capabilities, it is consistent with our historical roots as Fleet Marine Forces and directly supports our Title 10 responsibility to seize and defend advanced naval bases, and (to) perform all such duties as directed by the President.”

Major General Frank Donovan, commanding general of the 2d Marine Division, added that “Today’s deactivation of 8th Marines signifies a transition, the transition of a storied regiment that has performed so well since 1917. The transition this time is part of our overall look and the Commandant’s force design to create organizations and units prepared for the future fight. It’s just a natural transition that we go through as we contract or expand the Marine Corps in certain locations and places, either by skillset or by geographical location, that fits with force design.”

8th Marines and its three infantry battalions have been directly involved with military operations spanning from the Banana Wars in the early 1900s, to major campaigns during World War II, the Cuban Missile Crisis, multinational peacekeeping operations in Lebanon, multiple operations in Eastern Europe, Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm, Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom, and numerous other operations in the twenty-first century.

Sergeant Major Keith Hoge, the regimental sergeant major for 8th Marines, spoke about the legacy of 8th Marine Regiment.

“Whether its combat, humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, or here in (the continental United States), whatever the mission, we’ve always risen to the occasion, and the Marines are better for that, and they can take that with them on to their next unit,” said Sergeant Major Hoge.

He continued, “I hope that we’ve made them proud, those of the past and those who have now moved out of the (regiment) to other battalions and units. They can take with them the 8th Marine Regiment fighting spirit and go on and do good things in the Marine Corps.”

The Marine Corps has continually adjusted its force structure and organization throughout its history, and this deactivation marks the fourth time the regiment has deactivated since its original activation in Quantico, Va., in October, 1917. The remaining 8th Marines infantry battalions have recently been realigned to adjacent regimental commands within 2d MARDIV. 1st Battalion, 8th Marines (1/8) was recently task-organized within 6th Marine Regiment, and is currently serving as the battalion landing team for the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit. 2nd Battalion, 8th Marines (2/8) was task-organized within 2d Marine Regiment. 3d Battalion, 8th Marines (3/8) is currently on Unit Deployment Program (UDP) to Okinawa, Japan, and will deactivate following their return to Camp Lejeune, in accordance with FD 2030.

2d MARDIV proudly recognizes the significant, meaningful, and lasting contributions and accomplishments of all of the Marines and Sailors who have served with this storied and successful regiment across time, and especially those who were a part of this most recent period of activation.

“The capabilities, platforms, and units which are being divested served the Corps honorably and with valor in previous fights,” said Berger in his FD 2030 mandate. He concluded, “The force design effort does not imply that (our divested units) are not of value. Rather, this effort confronts the reality that in a future threat-informed fight, other capabilities will be more useful to the maritime and joint mission.”

Please see the resources below for more information on the legacy of 8th Marine Regiment:

 

 

The complete Force Design 2030 document is available at the below hyperlink:

 

 

Imagery of the ceremony and a written story is available at the DVIDS link below. For more information about the event, please contact 2nd Lt. Paul Ortiz at paul.g.ortiz@usmc.mil or 2DMARDIVONTHERECORD@usmc.mil.

 

-USMC-

 

For imagery and video of the event, please visit  

DVIDS: https://www.dvidshub.net/unit/2MARDIV  

Facebook: www.facebook.com/2dMarDiv  

Twitter: https://twitter.com/2dMarDiv  

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/2dmardiv/  

Flickr: https://www.flickr.com/photos/2dmarinedivision/ 

Official Website: https://www.2ndmardiv.marines.mil/