0311 Rifleman MOS Patch

0311 Rifleman MOS Patch (U.S. Marines) 4.5" x 3.25" Embroidered Patch with Iron-On Backing

Superior Materials: Made with premium polyester thread and durable twill fabric, ensuring long-lasting color and strength.

Advanced Embroidery Technology: Crafted using the most advanced embroidery machinery, guaranteeing intricate detail, sharp lines, and consistent quality every time.

Easy Iron-On Application: Features a heat-activated adhesive backing for quick, no-sew attachment. Simply position, iron, and press for a secure bond.

Versatile Use: Perfect for personalizing jackets, backpacks, uniforms, or any fabric surface that needs a touch of personality. 

Durable and Washable: Designed to withstand everyday wear and occasional washing without fading or fraying.

Formations & Origins
The 0311 Rifleman is the beating heart of the United States Marine Corps infantry. This Military Occupational Specialty (MOS) is as old as the Corps itself in principle, though the numerical designation 0311 came into use after the Marine Corps implemented the MOS system in the 20th century. The 03-series denotes infantry roles, and 0311 specifically identifies the standard rifleman—the foundational warfighter of every Marine infantry unit.

Every Marine may be a rifleman, but the 0311 is the embodiment of that ethos. These Marines serve in rifle platoons and companies as part of Marine infantry battalions. From Guadalcanal to Fallujah, the 0311 has been in the mud, the jungle, the sand, and the streets, leading assaults, holding perimeters, and closing with the enemy by fire and maneuver.

The patch associated with the 0311 MOS isn't a formal one like a unit patch. Instead, it’s symbolized by the crossed rifles insignia worn on the Marine Corps Combat Utility Uniform and, more importantly, by a reputation forged in every conflict the Marines have faced.

Notable Commanders
While the 0311 Rifleman is an enlisted MOS and not a unit, many of the Marine Corps’ greatest warriors began their careers as riflemen. Gunnery Sergeant John Basilone, awarded the Medal of Honor and Navy Cross during World War II, was a machine gun section leader but started with the same infantry training as any 0311.

General Alfred M. Gray Jr., the 29th Commandant of the Marine Corps, started his career in the infantry and deeply respected the grunts on the ground. General James Mattis, though an officer and not an 0311, shaped his career around the needs and realities of the Marine rifleman, often speaking of them in reverent tones and demanding that commanders earn their Marines’ trust through hardship shared on the battlefield.

In practice, the platoon commander, platoon sergeant, and squad leaders are the guiding hands for 0311s in combat. These leaders, often junior noncommissioned officers and lieutenants, are tasked with the hardest missions in the hardest places, carrying the legacy of generations who fought before them.

Major Campaigns/Operations
The 0311 Rifleman has served in every major conflict involving the United States Marine Corps since the MOS system was implemented and long before. In World War II, riflemen led the way in amphibious assaults across the Pacific—Tarawa, Saipan, Iwo Jima, and Okinawa.

In Korea, 0311s climbed the icy ridges of the Chosin Reservoir, fighting Chinese infantry in brutal close quarters. In Vietnam, they patrolled the dense jungles and rice paddies, fought in the cities of Hue and Da Nang, and endured the terror of tunnel networks, booby traps, and ambushes.

During Operation Desert Storm, they assaulted Iraqi defenses in the largest tank and mechanized infantry offensive since World War II. In Afghanistan and Iraq, 0311s became synonymous with urban warfare, counterinsurgency, and small-unit combat, from Fallujah and Ramadi to Helmand Province and Sangin.

Whether fighting in the shadows of bombed-out cities or under the sun in open desert, the 0311 has been there—carrying a rifle, scanning rooftops, kicking in doors, and doing the hard job of being the tip of the spear.

Specialized Role/Equipment
The 0311 Rifleman is trained in the full range of infantry tactics and fieldcraft. This includes patrolling, ambushes, raids, fire and maneuver, defensive operations, and combat marksmanship. Riflemen are often part of fire teams composed of a team leader (typically a corporal), an automatic rifleman, an assistant automatic rifleman, and a rifleman. Every Marine in this team is cross-trained to fill another’s role if necessary.

The standard weapon for an 0311 has evolved over time. In Vietnam, it was the M16A1. By the Global War on Terror, it became the M16A4 and later the M4 carbine, often equipped with ACOG scopes, PEQ-15 laser designators, and other attachments. The M27 Infantry Automatic Rifle (IAR), a variant of the HK416, is now widely used among 0311s, offering improved accuracy and reliability.

In addition to their primary weapon, riflemen are proficient in using grenades, AT4s (anti-armor), claymore mines, and squad automatic weapons. The role is physically and mentally demanding, requiring long movements on foot, sustained exposure to the elements, and constant readiness to engage in lethal combat.

Acts of Heroism
Acts of valor are almost expected among 0311s. Not because they’re taken for granted, but because the rifleman is always in the fight. One of the most powerful stories of modern heroism comes from Iraq in 2004 during the Second Battle of Fallujah.

Lance Corporal Kyle Carpenter, an 0311 who later received the Medal of Honor for actions in Afghanistan, exemplified the spirit of the rifleman. In 2010, while on a rooftop with his fire team, a grenade was thrown toward his position. Without hesitation, he shielded his fellow Marines from the blast, absorbing the explosion with his body. He survived, grievously wounded, and became a symbol of what it means to place the lives of others above your own.

In Vietnam, stories of 0311s holding their positions against overwhelming numbers, rescuing wounded comrades under fire, and calling in air strikes on their own positions to stop enemy advances became the stuff of battalion lore. These weren’t always written into history books, but they were told around fire pits, remembered by those who were there.

Legacy & Notable Achievements
The 0311 Rifleman is the spiritual and tactical cornerstone of the United States Marine Corps. Everything the Corps trains for—every amphibious landing, every battle drill, every live-fire range—is built around supporting the 0311’s mission to close with and destroy the enemy.

From the Pacific island chains to the sandstorms of Iraq, the 0311 has been the one walking point, securing sectors, defending perimeters, and finishing the fight. The legacy of the rifleman is carved into the walls of Marine Corps history—etched with blood, sweat, courage, and grit.

They don't wear flashy patches. They don’t seek headlines. But they’re the ones who always go first, who always fight hardest, and who carry the Corps’ honor on their shoulders with every mission.