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3rd MSOSB changes commanders

Photo By Sgt. Steven Fox | Lieutenant Col. Brian Rideout and Maj. Edward Norris salute the color guard during the...... read more read more

NC, UNITED STATES

06.17.2015

Courtesy Story

Marine Forces, Special Operations Command

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. – The distinct competitive advantage of Marine Special Operations Forces remains their ability to seamlessly integrate world-class operations, intelligence, communications and logistics Marines in support of U.S. Special Operations Command missions.

MARSOC’s three Marine Special Operations Battalions and three corresponding Marine Special Operations Support Battalions pair-up to man, train and equip unique, reinforced Marine Special Operations Companies of unparalleled capability to three Theater Special Operations Commands.

The leadership of one of these battalions, 3rd MSOSB, changed hands when Lt. Col. Brian Rideout relinquished command to Maj. Edward Norris during a change-of-command ceremony at Stone Bay, aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, N.C., June 12, 2015.

The change of command was signified by the ceremonial passing of the U.S. Marine Corps’ colors from the outgoing to the incoming commander. Following the symbolic exchange, Col. Archibald M. McClellan, commander, Marine Special Operations Support Group, spoke briefly about Rideout and his time at 3rd MSOSB.

“As a commander, you are responsible for everything in the command: good, bad; easy, hard; beautiful and ugly,” said McClellan. “He never gave up the moral high ground, always stayed a true professional and led with a good heart and a clean conscience.”

Rideout took the stage following McClellan’s address and shared words detailing his fond experiences with the battalion.

“These ladies and gentlemen from the battalion have given me a sense of pride and I’m humbled to have had this opportunity,” said Rideout.

He said that at any given time, one-third of the battalion is deployed to Special Operations Command – Africa, and another third is augmented to Marine Special Operations Companies preparing to deploy. Consequently, two-thirds of the battalion was unable to attend the changing of command.

The incidence of sparsely populated battalion quarters is both deliberate and essential to adequately support 3rd MSOB’s operations. Over the course of 3rd MSOSB’s entire existence, Rideout oversaw the battalion’s evolution to its current operational sophistication and capabilities.

Rideout previously assumed command of Combat Support Battalion on June 27, 2013, shortly after the unit was re-designated from MARSOC’s sole intelligence battalion.

The significance of this change was that it integrated Special Operations Communicators, Joint Terminal Attack Controllers, Multi-Purpose Canine handlers and Multi-Discipline Intelligence operators into the only battalion of its kind – both in the Marine Corps and across USSOCOM.

During Rideout’s tenure, CSB planned and executed Special Operations Forces Level 1 training on behalf of the MARSOC commander to certify seven different Special Operations Capability Specialists across the communications, fires, intelligence and MPC functional areas.

Most notably, under Rideout’s tenure, the Multi-Discipline Intelligence Operators Course matured to its current form and conducted five iterations, graduating approximately 100 MDIO specialists. Completing the maturation of the course, 3d MSOSB transferred the course to the Marine Special Operations School in December 2014.

MDIOC and its graduates maintain a distinct reputation across USSOCOM and the Marine Corps Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Enterprise as the model for multi-discipline intelligence training and execution, Rideout said.

Rideout’s team subsequently developed a systematic training continuum that certified individual Special Operations Capability Specialist proficiency at the Intelligence Direct Support Team and Command, Control, Communications, Computers Support Team before fusing all seven SOCS into a Marine Special Operations Support Team prior to Change of Operational Control to the MSOB. Today, the battalion’s Training Readiness Exercise remains the standard across the three MSOSBs at MARSOC.

On May 22, 2014, the Battalion re-designated from CSB to 3d MSOSB. Rideout said this important evolution solidified habitual relationships with MARSOC’s MSOBs and demonstrated regional alignment and commitment to the three TSOCs. Furthermore, he said, it added a logistics company to the table of organization.

Although Rideout’s Battalion is currently aligned to primarily support Special Operations Command Africa, it remains the only battalion in MARSOC to have simultaneously deployed MSOSTs to three TSOCs supporting six different O-6 level commands.

As both USSOCOM and the U.S. Marine Corps work to improve interoperability, 3d MSOSB successfully evolved and codified its Individual Train Phase (ITP) and training continuum to spread its best practices throughout MSOSG. Rideout said he and his Marines pioneered the integrated training between MARSOC and General Purposes Forces (GPF) from I and II Marine Expeditionary Forces as well as interagency partners. Through the integration of these partners into the training continuum’s capstone event, SOCS are more ready and able to deliver superb results to theater partners and customers, he said.
During the ceremony, Rideout told Norris he is left in good hands.

“The Marines out here represent the best and the brightest, and they’ll do anything for you,” said Rideout.
Norris, who served as the executive officer of 2nd MSOB, and more recently as MARSOC’s G-7 (Training and Education) exercise officer, spoke briefly about his family, friends, colleagues and Marine’s he’ll be leading.

“I am honored, humbled and blessed to have this fine opportunity to lead these Marines,” said Norris. “I look forward to joining this team.”

The unit is scheduled to re-designate once again to become 3d Marine Raider Support Battalion on June 19, 2015. The re-designation is a result of the August 2014 proclamation to align MARSOC with the Marine Raiders of World War II.