In October 2006 Marine Corps Special Operations Command (MARSOC) was created at Camp Lejeune North Carolina.

The majority of the combat personnel assigned to the battalion was drawn from the Marine Corps Force Reconnaissance.

[3][4] The Marine Corps' Special Operations proof of concept consisted of Det One deploying to Iraq with Navy SEALs from Naval Special Warfare Group 1 in 2004.

The first deployment was marked with controversy and Marines from 2nd Raider Battalion were relieved from their operational charter in the country by an Army General from USSOCOM after claims were made that the Marines reacted inappropriately and caused excessive civilian casualties.

[5] In September 2009 the 1st Raider Battalion returned to Afghanistan in command of a joint special operations task force in the northwest of the country.