Q&A: Major General Dennis J. Hejlik
MARSOC Warrior
Delivering Marine Corps Capabilities into the USSOCOM Arena
Major General Dennis J. Hejlik
Commanding General
U.S. Marine Corps Forces Special
Operations Command
Major General Dennis J. Hejlik is the commanding general, U. S. Marine Corps Forces Special Operations Command.
Hejlik enlisted in the Marine Corps in 1968, and was honorably discharged as a sergeant in 1972. He graduated from Mankato State University in 1975 and was commissioned a second lieutenant through the platoon leaders class program.
Upon completion of the Basic School in December 1975, Second Lieutenant Hejlik reported to 2nd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, where he served as a rifle and weapons platoon commander, assistant operations officer, commanding officer, Company E, and regimental assistant operations officer. In July 1978, First Lieutenant Hejlik transferred to the 3rd Marine Division where he served as the aide-de-camp to the commanding general. In May 1983, he was assigned to 3rd Battalion, 8th Marines where he served as commanding officer, weapons company, and later as the battalion logistics officer. During Operation Desert Storm he served with the G-3, I MEF. In June 1993, he transferred to the 2nd Marine Division and served as the G-1A until assuming command of 1st Battalion, 2nd Marines in November 1993 and in 1996 served as the executive officer of the 2nd Marine Regiment. In July 1997, he assumed command of Marine Barracks, Washington, DC. In July of 2004 he assumed command of the 1st Marine Expeditionary Brigade at Camp Pendleton, Calif. In October 2005 he assumed command of the U. S. Marine Corps Forces Special Operations Command at Camp Lejeune, N.C.
In July of 1979 First Lieutenant Hejlik reported to Marine Barracks, Yorktown, Va., where he served as a platoon commander and guard officer. Subsequently, Captain Hejlik attended the Amphibious Warfare School in Quantico, Va. In May 1986, Major Hejlik was transferred to the Marine Corps Combat Development Command, Quantico, as a tactics instructor at Amphibious Warfare School. From 1989 to 1990, he attended the Marine Corps Command and Staff College. Following graduation, he transferred to Headquarters Marine Corps for duty with the Enlisted Assignment Section, Manpower and Reserve Affairs. From 1992 to 1993, Lieutenant Colonel Hejlik attended the Naval War College where he received a Masters of Science Degree in national security strategy. In January 1996, he transferred to Headquarters Marine Corps for assignment as the senior military fellow with the Council on Foreign Relations. He was assigned as the military secretary to the commandant of the Marine Corps in July 1999. Beginning in 2001 he served as the principal director for Special Operations and combating terrorism in SOLIC/OSD. In October of 2002, he transferred to U.S. Special Operations Command, for duties as chief of staff and director of the Center for Command Support. In August 2003, he was reassigned as director, Center for Policy, Training and Readiness, U.S. Special Operations Command. Brigadier General Hejlik was then appointed as deputy commanding general, I Marine Expeditionary Force and commanding general, 1st Marine Expeditionary Brigade.
Hejlik's personal decorations include the Defense Superior Service Medal with Gold Star, Legion of Merit with Gold Star, Meritorious Service Medal with two Gold Stars, Navy Marine Corps Commendation Medal, Navy Marine Corps Achievement Medal, Combat Action Ribbon, Good Conduct Medal, and the Leftwich Award.
Interviewed By SOTECH Editor Jeff McKaughan
Q: Good morning General Hejlik. Could we start with an update on the organization and structure of MARSOC? When will you be operational and where do you stand on manning the organization?
A: We’re working hard to make MARSOC fully operationally capable [FOC] by September 2008, and we’re well on the way to accomplishing that goal. As of the 12th of June, 609 of an anticipated 2,500 personnel are assigned to and present for duty at MARSOC.
Three of our Foreign Military Training Unit [FMTU] teams are completely trained and prepared to conduct Foreign Internal Defense [FID] missions now. Three additional FMTU teams will complete their final operational readiness exercises in July, and two more teams recently started their initial training. By FOC we plan to have 24 FMTU teams formed.
Several platoons from Marine Force Reconnaissance recently transferred to MARSOC’s 2nd Marine Special Operations Battalion [MSOB] to form the first Marine Special Operations Companies [MSOC]. The first of these companies is currently training to deploy with the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit and provide a maritime SOF capability to SOCOM and the geographic combatant commanders.
In addition to the FMTU and two MSOBs—the 2nd MSOB at Camp Lejeune and the 1st MSOB at Camp Pendleton—MARSOC will include Marine Special Operations School [MSOS] and a Marine Special Operations Support Group [MSOSG].
Some members of the MSOS have already joined MARSOC and begun development of screening, assessment, selection and training standards to ensure our capabilities meet or exceed existing SOF standards.
The MSOSG will provide a wide range of SOF support capabilities, including combined arms planning and coordination, K-9—dog handlers, communications and combat service support, including logistics and all-source intelligence fusion.
Q: Is overall Marine Corps manning going up or is MARSOC going to take Marines away from the larger Corps allocation?
A: MARSOC personnel will be drawn from the current end-strength of the Marine Corps. FMTU transferred directly to us when MARSOC activated on the 24th of February 2006; Marines from Force Reconnaissance will form the first Marine Special Operations companies; and portions of the current Special Operations Training Group, which is a Marine Expeditionary Force asset, will form the core of the Marine Special Operations School.
The remaining MARSOC personnel will be recruited and assigned from within the ranks of the Marine Corps based on their individual ability to meet the screening, assessment and selection criteria we establish to ensure we meet or exceed current SOF standards.
Q: Will MARSOC take advantage of the reserve forces or will MARSOC be totally active duty?
A: Reservists are a terrific resource and contribute a great deal to the Marine Corps’ total combat power. Marine Reserve forces are a key to success in the global war on terrorism. MARSOC headquarters will include Marine reservists in a wide range of positions, especially during our formative stages as we work to gather the experience and expertise we need in order to reach our goal of full operational capability by September 2008.
Q: How will Marines become eligible to join MARSOC? In the other components, they are first trained as regular soldiers, airmen or sailors, then join and go through the special operations specific training.
A: MARSOC personnel will be basically trained Marines and sailors who successfully pass the screening, assessment and selection process. Specific criteria for joining MARSOC are based on billet descriptions and anticipated mission requirements. However, all operational MARSOC units will complete operational readiness exercises in order to achieve SOF certification that meets or exceeds current SOF standards.
Q: Will there be any typical mission sets or assignments that will become MARSOC specialties?
A: MARSOC Marines and sailors will train hard to achieve our predicted core tasks of direct action, special reconnaissance, foreign internal defense, counter terrorism, information operations and unconventional warfare. These capabilities compliment and expand those of the other service components with the unique aspect of the Marine Corps’ ability to conduct assigned tasks forward from the sea.
Q: What technologies or equipment items will your forces need that have not been part of the Marine TO&E in the past?
A: We haven’t identified all of our unique training and equipment requirements yet, but one of the four “SOF Truths” is that people are more important than equipment. With that in mind, we intend to provide our Marines and sailors with the training and equipment that will enable them to be successful in every mission assigned.
Q: Marines have typically liked having their own airlift capability to support ground operations. Do you foresee MARSOC gaining any SOF-specific fixed or rotary wing aircraft?
A: There are no plans right now to create an aviation element within MARSOC. The type of mission or task assigned will determine the aviation capability required from USSOCOM or the Marine Corps.
Q: Is the funding and chain of command for MARSOC in relation to USSOCOM and the USMC the same as it is for the other components— USASOC, NAVSPECWARCOM, AFSOC—and USSOCOM and their larger branch?
A: MARSOC is a service component that falls under the operational control of SOCOM and the administrative control of the Marine Corps. Consequently, USSOCOM will provide funding for SOF-unique training and equipment, while the Marine Corps continues to provide funding for standard Marine training and equipment.
Q: Language has always been a big part of Special Forces training in the United States, and it has gained even more momentum lately. With the tasks that you will be charged with, how will you handle the language requirement?
A: Language training is an integral part of the programs we are developing, especially for those Marines in the Foreign Military Training Unit who will be directly involved in foreign internal defense missions. FMTU teams current complete 200 to 250 hours of language instruction in French, Arabic, Spanish or Russian. We will expand that training to 400 or more hours, including opportunities for intense language immersion instruction.
Q: For members of the defense industry community out there that want to do business with MARSOC and think they have the perfect solution for your requirements, how do they go about doing that?
A: We need to be sure we distinguish between requirements and desirements. We will work to fill requirements first by coordinating with the Marine Corps or with USSOCOM to determine whether the requirement can be met internally. If our terrific partners in the defense industry feel they can fill a capability gap, then we ask that they contact the Special Operations Acquisition and Logistics Center at SOCOM.
Q: Prior to your command at MARSOC you held a command position at USSOCOM. Was that of any benefit when it came time to create an organization separate from the big-Corps and had dual lines of command?
A: My Marine Corps career—to include duty with SOLIC and USSOCOM—prepared me quite well to establish a foundation for MARSOC. As the chief of staff and later director of operations for USSOCOM, I received a tremendous education on the overall Special Operations Command and specifically the strategic planning process and the acquisition process. They are, hands down, the best in the Department of Defense.
Q: Is there anything else you would like to add?
A: The Marines and sailors of MARSOC are proud to be aboard as team members with the warriors of the special operations community and as the Marine Corps’ warfighting component of SOCOM. ♦