Close Combat - Mcrp 3-02b

Today's Marines operate within a continuum of force where conflict may change from
low intensity to high intensity over a matter of hours. Marines are also engaged in
many military operations other than war, such as peacekeeping missions or noncombatant
evacuation operations, where deadly force may not be authorized. During noncombative
engagements, Marines must determine if a situation warrants applying
deadly force. Sometimes Marines must decide in a matter of seconds because their
lives or the lives of others depend on their actions. To make the right decision,
Marines must understand both the lethal and nonlethal close combat techniques needed
to handle the situation responsibly without escalating the violence unnecessarily.
Marine Corps Reference Publication (MCRP) 3-02B, Close Combat, provides the tactics,
techniques, and procedures of Marine Corps close combat. It also provides the
doctrinal basis for the Marine Corps Close Combat Training Program (MCCCTP).