MARDET, MCoE — PAST AND PRESENT
1920s — STUDENTS AT THE U.S. ARMY INFANTRY SCHOOL: Since the 1920s there have been Marine students attending schools, courses, and training at the U.S. Army’s Infantry School. During this era, there was typically a company or field grade officer with administrative support personnel facilitating student attendance and administrative support.
1949 — INSTRUCTORS AT THE U.S. ARMY INFANTRY SCHOOL: Shortly after World War II, the Marine Corps permanently assigned an infantry lieutenant colonel to the U.S. Army’s Infantry School for duty as an amphibious operations instructor.
1960-2010 — MARINE CORPS REPRESENTATIVE TO THE U.S. ARMY INFANTRY SCHOOL: By the 1960s the mission and scope of Marines at U.S. Army’s Infantry School had grown. Not only did Marines serve at Army schools as instructors, but also assisted the Marine Corps by representing our Service interests and equities in common USA—USMC doctrine and development and testing of new weapons systems and equipment. In that era, the unit became known as the “Marine Corps Representative to the U.S. Army Infantry School.” Some exceptionally well known Marines such as Gen P.X. Kelley (28th Commandant of the Marine Corps), and MajGen James Livingston (Medal of Honor recipient) served here during this era as the senior Marine or as an instructor at the Infantry School.
2010-2020 — MARINE CORPS DETACHMENT, FORT BENNING: During this period, the unit came to be known as “Marine Corps Detachment, Fort Benning.” From 2005-2011, due to base realignments and closures, detailed planning was conducted to consolidate all Armor training (USA and USMC) to the Maneuver Center. From 2010-2011, when USMC armor MOS producing schools relocated here, the historic role of “Marine Corps Representative” was converted from an 0302 infantry officer (commanding officer billet) to an 1802 tank / armor officer position.
2021-PRESENT — MARINE CORPS DETACHMENT, U.S. ARMY MANEUVER CENTER OF EXCELLENCE: As part of the Commandant’s Force Design 2030 initiative, the detachment’s commanding officer was converted back to an 0302 LtCol infantry officer billet. Based on a Congressional Task Force dedicated to renaming places and things dedicated to the Confederacy, the detachment came to be known as “Marine Corps Detachment, U.S. Army Maneuver Center of Excellence.”