The following explanation of a Marine Regimental Headquarters Company was written by retired Marine Officer Col. Carl Kachauskas.  He was the Communications Officer with Headquarters Company 9^th Marine Regiment 3^rd Marine Division 1967 in the Republic of Vietnam.  For those of us that served with him still “respectively” remember him as Major “K”.

  MISSION STATEMENT
 
      THE MARINE INFANTRY REGIMENT CONSISTS OF A HEADQUARTERS COMPANY, THREE ORGANIC INFANTRY BATTALIONS. (I SAY ORGANIC, BECAUSE ON OCCASIONS THE REGIMENT MIGHT TAKE ON OPERATIONAL CONTROL OF ADDITIONAL INFANTRY BATTALIONS SUCH AS THE 9TH MARINES DID DURING OPERATION BUFFALO IN VIETNAM, JULY 1967.) ATTACHED UNITS ARE TRADITIONALLY A TANK COMPANY, A RECON COMPANY, AND A DIRECT SUPPORT ARTILLERY BATALLION.
 
      I WILL BE DESCRIBING THE MISSION AND FUNCTIONS OF THE HEADQUARTERS COMPANY.
 
1096F 24 Sept 2001 HEADQUARTERS COMPANY, MARINE INFANTRY REGIMENT
 
TABLE OF ORGANIZATION           HEADQUARTERS COMPANY, MARINE INFANTRY REGIMENT
 
       MISSION AND TASKS
 
      A.   MISSION.  TO PROVIDE THE INFANTRY REGIMENTAL COMMANDER WITH THE MEANS
TO COMMAND AND CONTROL SUBORDINATE AND ATTACHED UNITS IN THE CONDUCT OF
GROUND COMBAT OPERATIONS, AND DIRECT THE SUSTAINMENT OF THE REGIMENT AND ATTACHED UNITS.

 B.  TASKS
 
      (1) SUPPORT THE INFANTRY REGIMENT COMMANDER AS DIRECTED IN THE PLANNING, COORDINATION AND SUPERVISION OF THE OPERATIONS OF THE REGIMENT, TO INCLUDE SUPPORT OF ATTACHMENTS.
 
      (2) PLAN, COORDINATE, AND CONDUCT GROUND COMBAT OPERATIONS AND RELATED OPERATIONS, AS DIRECTED ACROSS THE SPECTRUM OF WAR IN ANY EXPEDITIONARY ENVIRONMENT.
    
      (3) PLAN, COORDINATE, AND DIRECT THE SUSTAINMENT OF THE INFANTRY REGIMENT, INCLUDING ATTACHED UNITS.
 
      (4) PROVIDE AUTHORIZED INTERMEDIATE SUPPORT TO SUBORDINATE AND ATTACHED UNITS.
 
     C.  OPERATIONS.  S-3 OPERATIONS OFFICER TO INCLUDE THE AIR OFFICER, FSCC (ARTILLERY AND NAVAL GUNFIRE), AND NBC WARFARE; WITH STAFF ASSISANCE FROM,  S-1, PERSONEL AND ADMINISTRATION; S-2, INTELLIGENCE;
 S-4 LOGISTICS AND COMMUNICATIONS OFFICER, THE REGIMENTAL COMMANDER ANALYZES MISSIONS, DEVELOPS AND CONSIDERS COURSES OF ACTION, MAKES DECISIONS, ISSUES ORDERS, AND DIRECTS AND SUPERVISES THE OPERATION OF THE INFANTRY REGIMENT WITH ATTACHED AND REINFORECED UNITS.
 
     D.  FIREPOWER.  THE ORGANIC FIREPOWER OF THE HQCO CONSISTS OF INDIVIDUAL WEAPONS, GRENADE LAUNCHERS AND MEDIUM AND HEAVY MACHINE GUNS.  THESE WEAPONS ARE PRIMARILY FOR THE DEFENSE OF THE REGIMENTAL CP DURING COMBAT OPERATIONS.  THE ARE NOT NORMALLY USES IN OFFENSIVE MISSIONS.
 
     E.  MOBILITY.  ALTHOUGH THE HQCO IS PRIMARILY FOOT MOBILE, ORGANIC LIGHT MOTOR TRANSPORT AND MEDIUM TACTICAL VEHICLES ARE AVAILABLE TO TRANSPORT WEAPONS, PERSONNEL, EQUIPMENT, AND LOGISTICS.  THE HQCO AND ITS SUBORDINATE ELEMENTS ARE ALSO READILY TRANSPORTED BY TRACKED VEHICLES, HELICOPTERS, AMPHIBIOUS SHIPS, LANDING CRAFT, AND TACTICAL/STRATEGIC AIRLIFT.
 
     F.  COMMUNICATIONS.  COMMUNICATIONS ARE PROVIDED TO MAINTAIN RELIABLE AND CONTINUOUS COMMS TO SUBORDINATE, ATTACHED, ADJACENT UNITS AND HIGHER HEADQUARTERS.  THE PRIMARY MEANS OF COMMUNICATIONS ARE BY WIRE (TO INCLUDE VOICE AND DATA NETWORK TRANSMISSIONS) AND TACTICAL RADIO.  ALTERNATIVE METHODS OF COMMUNICATION ARE MESSENGER AND VISUAL.
      NOTE.  I DID NOT FIND ANY RADIO RELAY ASSETS, AS WE KNEW IT BACK IN 1966-67, IN THE T/O, I.E. NO SEPARATE RADIO RELAY SECTION IN THE COMM PLT. SEE PARA J.  
 
     G.  INTELLIGENCE.  THE S-2 SECTION PROVIDES INTEL SUPPORT TO THE REGIMENTAL HEADQUARTERS, SUBORDINATE AND ATTACHED UNITS.  HIGHER HEADQUARTERS PASSES INTELLIGENCE TO THE INFANTRY REGIMENT WHICH IS UTILIZED AND DISSEMINATED TO SUBORDINATE UNITS BY THE S-2 SECTION.
 
     H.  ADMINISTRATION AND PERSONNEL.  THE S-1 SECTION PROVIDES ADMIN AND PERSONEL SUPPORT TO THE REGIMENTAL HEADQUARTERS, SUBORDINATE UNITS AND ATTACHED UNITS.  THE S-1 INSURES THAT THE REGIMENT HAS SUFFICIENT PERSONNEL ASSETS TO CARRY OUT ITS MISSION.  IT IS RESPONSIBLE FOR DISBURSING, JUDICIAL AND PERSONNEL ADMINISTRATION THROUGHTOUT THE REGIMENT.
 
     I.  LOGISTICS.  THE S-4 SECTION IS RESPONSIBLE FOR ORGANIZATIONAL MAINTENANCE (2D ECHELON) ON ALL ORGANIC MOTOR TRANSPORT, ORDNANCE, AND COMMUNICATIONS-ELECTRONICS EQUIPMENTS WITHIN THE REGIMENTAL HEADQUARTERS.  THE S-4 HAS COGNIZANCE OVER THE SUPPLY SECTION WHICH PROVIDES ORGANIC SUPPLY SUPPORT FOR THE REGIMENTAL HEADQUARTERS.  OVERALL SUPPLY SUPPORT FOR THE ENTIRE INFANTRY REGIMENT IS PROVIDED BY AN ATTACHED LOGISTIC SUPPORT UNIT (LSU) FROM THE FORCE SERVICE SUPPORT GROUP (FSSG).
 
     J.  COMMUNICATIONS.  THE ORGANIC COMMUNICATIONS PLATOON OF HQCO; INFANTRY REGIMENT PROVIDES THE PERSONNEL AND EQUIPTMENT IN ORDER FOR THE REGIMENTAL COMMANDER TO EXERCISE COMMAND AND CONTROL OF THE INFANTRY BATALLIONS AND ATTACHED UNITS.  THE CURRENT WIRE SECTION OF THE COMMPLT IS RESPONSIBLE TO PROVIDE THE PRIMARY MEANS OF COMMUNICATIONS FOR THE REGIMENT AND CONSISTS OF A WIRE CHIEF, SSGT, AND 14 WIREMEN.  THE RADIO SECTION CONSISTS OF A RADIO CHIEF, GYSGT, AND 41 RADIO OPERATORS, 9 SGTS, 11 CPLS, 7 LCPL,S AND14 PFC,S (12 OF THE RADIO MOS ARE DESIGNATED MUX OPERATORS), 5 ENLISTED SMALL SYSTEMS SPECIALIST (COMPUTER TYPES) AND A TACP OF 1 SGT AND 4 RADIO OPERATORS.  THE HQ SECTION OF THE COMM PLT HAS A MAJOR, COMMO, LT ASST COMMO, MGYSGT COMMCHIEF, AND A COMMCENTER SECTION AND 4 ELECTRONICS REPAIRMEN.  THE MISSION STATEMENTS SAYS THAT WIRE IS THE PRIMARY MEANS OF COMMS FOR THE REGIMENT.  THE LIITED ASSETS OF THE WIRE SECTION DOES NOT LEND ITSELF TO PROVIDING COMMS TO THE INFANTRY BNS AND ATTACHED UNITS.  THE RADIO SECTION HAS SUFFICIENT ASSETS TO MAINTAIN CONTINUOUS COMMS TO BNS AND ATTACHED UNITS VIA A REGIMENTAL HF COMMAND NET AND A REGIMENTAL TAC NET.  THE MUX OPERATORS ARE THERE TO OPERATE EQUIPTMENTS THAT WOULD BRING BNS AND ATTACHED UNITS INTO THE REGIMENTAL SWITCHBOARD AND THE THEREBY THE DIVISION OR HIGHER HEADQUARTERS SWITCHED NETWORK.
 
       NOTE.  THE REGIMENTAL COMMPLT OF THE 1960'S HAD A RADIO RELAY SECTION, WHICH PROVIDE THE MEANS FOR THE WIRE SECTION TO COMUNICATE WITH THE BNS AND ATTACHED UNITS. THE CURRENT COMMPLT DOES NOT.  IN MY ESTIMATION THE WIRE SECTION IS NOT LARGE ENOUGH TO PROVIDE CONTINUOUS WIRE COMMS TO THE HQTRS AND THREE INFANTRY BNS.  THE 14 WIREMEN IN THE CURRENT T/O ARE SUFFICIENT TO RUN A REGIMENTAL CP.
 
      K. THE MISSION AND FUNCTIONS OF A REGIMENTAL HQCO.  HQCO IS PRIMARILY EMPLOYED TO PROVIDE AND COORDINATE SECURITYOF THE REGIMENTAL HDQRTS AND TO PROVIDE COMBAT SERVICE SUPPORT.  WHERE THE TERM "COMPANY" IS USED, IT INCLUDES THE REGIMENTAL STAFF, AS WELL AS ALLOTHER MENBERS OF THE HQCO.
 
       1.  ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT.  THE COMPANY HQTRS MAINTAINS THE SERVICE RECORDS FOR THE OFFICERS AND ENLISTED MEMBERS OF THE COMPANY.  THE HQCO IS CAPABLE OF PROVIDING LIMITED POSTAL AND LEGAL SERVICES, FULL DISBURSING, PX, AND CIVIL AFFAIRS SERVICES.  THE HQCO IS T/O WITH THE APPROPRIATED MOS PERSONNEL TO PROVIDE THESE SERVICES. 
 
       2.  HEALTH SERVICES.  THE HQCO HAS MEDICAL PERSONNEL, DOCTOR AND CORPSMEN, TO PROVIDE EMERGENCY TREATMENT AND PREPERATION FOR EVACUATION OF ALL CAUALTIES WITHIN THE COMPANY REQUIRING HOSPITALIZATION.  THESE MEDICAL PERSONNEL ARE CAPABLE OF OPERATING AN AID STATION FOR TREATMENT OF MINOR ILLNESSES AND INJURIES AND PREVENTION AND CONTROL OF DISEASES.  DENTAL SERVICES CAN BE PROVIDED WHEN REQUIRED.
 
      3.  RELIGIOUS.  A CHAPLAIN, ANY DENOMINATION, AND A CHAPLAIN ASSISTANT ARE AVAILABLE WHEN REQUIRED.
 
      4.  MESSING.  HQCO OPERATES A MESS HALL FOR THE COMPANY IN GARRISON OR IN THE FIELD.  NEEDLESS TO SAY THERE WILL BE OCCASIONS WHEN THE ONLY DAILY STAPLE WILL BE MRE'S.  TH HQCO IS STAFFED WITH THE REQUISITE COOKS AND EQUIPMENT TO PROVIDE HOT MEALS.  IN ADDITION, OCCASIONS WILL ARISE WHEN ENLISTED MEMBERS OF THE COMPANY WILL BE REQUIRED TO PERFORM MESS DUTIES WHEN DEPLOYED IN THE FIELD.  IN TODAYS ENVIRONMENT, CIVILIAN EMPLOYEES PROVIDE THESE SERVICES IN GARRISON. 
 
      5.  TRANSPORTATION.  THE HQCO HAS THE REQUISITE PERSONNEL TO PROVIDE ADEQUATE ORGANIC TRANSPORTATION FOR THE COMPANY.  THIS INCLUDES MEDIUM TACTICAL VEHICLES AND SMALL GENERAL PURPOSE VEHICLES. 
 
       6.  ENGINEERING.  THE HQCO DOES NOT HAVE ANY ORGANIC ENGINEERING CAPABILITY.  ANY ENGINEERING SUPPORT IS PROVIDED BY THE ENGINEERING BN WITH ASSIST BY THE FORCE SERVICE SUPPORT GROUP (FSSG).
 
       7.  MAINTENANCE.  THE HQCO HAS ORGANIZATIONAL MAINTENANCE (2ND ECHELON) ON MT, ORDNANCE AND COMM-ELECT EQUIPMENTS.
 
        8.  SUPPLY.  THE SUPPLY SECTION OF THE HQCO IS CAPABLE OF PROVIDING ORGANIC SUPPLY SUPPORT FOR THE COMPANY.  NOTE:  2D AND 3RD ECHELON SUPPLY SUPPORT TO THE HQCO AND INFANTRY BNS OF THE REGIMENT IS PROVIDED BY THE LOGISTIC SUPPORT UNIT OF THE FSSG ATTACHED TO THE REGIMENT. 
 
         9. SECURITY.  HQCO HAS LIMITED SECURITY PERSONNEL ON THE T/O.  ALL MEMBERS OF COMPANY CONTRIBUTE TO CP SECURITY WHEN DEPLOYED IN A HOSTILE TACTICAL SITUATION.