The plans to transform the Marine Corps’ Combat Instructor Military Occupational Specialty (MOS) into a full-fledged Special Duty assignment (SDA) similar to that of Drill Instructor and Recruiter were first announced in 2002. But it was not until September, 2014 that the Corps announced the establishment of a Marine Corps Combat Instructor Ribbon (MCCIR), finalizing the process of making it an official SDA.
Marines selected to serve as Combat Instructors (MOS 0913) will undergo nine weeks of training at the Combat Instructor School located at the Marine Corps’ School of Infantry (West) at Camp Pendleton, California. The 46 day-program comprises over 400 hours of academic instruction (with eight related written tests), over 100 performance evaluations, 60 hours of physical training, and more than 30 miles of conditioning hikes.
Nearly 20 topics covering all aspects of combat are included in the MOS 0913 curriculum, including weapons (individual and crew-served), land navigation, defensive and offensive techniques, combat marksmanship, communications, scouting, patrolling, first-aid (CPR and Tactical Combat Casualty Care, or TCCC), IEDs, and the all-important School of Infantry Standard Operating Procedures (SOP).
The MCCIR is not awarded upon graduation from Instructor School, but rather upon completion of an SDA tour as an Instructor. Marines serving in an MOS 0913 billet, in a billet containing the word “instructor” at one of the Corps’ two Schools of Infantry (SOI), or at one of several billets in an advanced Infantry Training Battalion must complete a full 36-month tour of duty to earn the ribbon, while a tour of duty for those in specified leadership billets at one of the two SOIs is 18 months.
The MCCIR can be rewarded retroactively to any Marines who meet or have met the eligibility and service requirements on or after October 9, 2002. The MCCIR follows the Marine Security Guard Ribbon in precedence and is above the Armed Forces Reserve Medal.