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The Republic of Korea Marine Corps (ROKMC) is a national strategic mobile force under the Republic of Korea Navy, primarily tasked with amphibious operations during wartime. The Marine Corps does not operate naval vessels. Marine Corps Mottos • Once a Marine, Always a Marine • Ghost-catching Marines • Invincible Marines • Until it's done The Marine Corps salute is "Pil-seung" (Victory), the same as the Navy. List of Units under the Marine Corps Headquarters • 1st Marine Division • 2nd Marine Division • 6th Marine Brigade • 9th Marine Brigade • Yeonpyeong Unit • Marine Corps Education and Training Group • Marine Corps Logistics Group • Marine Corps Air Group • Marine Corps Special Reconnaissance Brigade List of Units under the 1st Marine Division • 2nd Marine Brigade • 3rd Marine Brigade • 7th Marine Brigade • 1st Division Artillery Brigade List of Units under the 2nd Marine Division • 1st Marine Brigade • 5th Marine Brigade • 8th Marine Brigade • 2nd Division Artillery Brigade Enlisted Marines are recruited on a voluntary basis. Marine Corps Non-Commissioned Officers (NCOs) are selected after passing document screening, interviews, and physical fitness tests. Following a background check, they become NCO candidates and undergo training at the Marine Corps Education and Training Group. The Korea Naval Academy is the institution that produces Marine Corps officers. While Marine officers are graduates of the Naval Academy and are sometimes perceived as being part of the Navy faction, this is not actually the case. The Commandant of the Marine Corps is a Lieutenant General, the Vice Commandant is a Brigadier General, Division Commanders are Major Generals, and Brigade Commanders are Brigadier Generals. Regimental Commanders are Colonels, Battalion Commanders are Lieutenant Colonels, Company Commanders are Captains, and Platoon Leaders are Second Lieutenants. The ranks, in ascending order, are Private, Private First Class, Corporal, Sergeant, Staff Sergeant, Sergeant First Class, Master Sergeant, Sergeant Major, Warrant Officer, Second Lieutenant, First Lieutenant, Captain, Major, Lieutenant Colonel, Colonel, Brigadier General, Major General, Lieutenant General, and General. Private to Sergeant are enlisted soldiers; Staff Sergeant to Sergeant Major are NCOs; Warrant Officer is a warrant officer; Second Lieutenant to Captain are company-grade officers; Major to Colonel are field-grade officers; and Brigadier General to General are general officers. Famous for their uniquely strong sense of camaraderie, the ROK Marines take pride in being an elite force compared to the general soldiers of the Army, Navy, and Air Force. Bizarre and irrational levels of military misconduct have become a symbol of the Marine Corps. Compared to other branches where beatings and hazing have largely disappeared, irrational practices and bad habits still persist. Company-grade and field-grade officers live in military apartments, while general officers reside in official residences provided by the state. These residences are staffed by residence orderlies who manage the property, run errands, and handle household chores. From the rank of General, officers are entitled to luxury vehicles and helicopters. Civilians are strictly prohibited from entering the base. Even family members cannot enter unless it is for an official visit. Family or relatives of general officers may enter after verification with the general. The total strength of the Marine Corps is 28,000 personnel. Marine Corps Headquarters is located in Hwaseong, Gyeonggi-do. 1st Marine Division Headquarters is in Pohang, Gyeongsangbuk-do. 2nd Marine Division Headquarters is in Gimpo, Gyeonggi-do, and Incheon. 6th Marine Brigade Headquarters is in Ongjin-gun, Incheon. 9th Marine Brigade Headquarters is in Jeju Special Self-Governing Province. The Yeonpyeong Unit is on Yeonpyeong Island, Ongjin-gun, Incheon. All soldiers wear combat uniforms while on base. Although the Commandant of the Marine Corps holds the rank of Lieutenant General, since 1998, as part of improvements to the command structure, it has become customary to treat the Commandant as the most senior Lieutenant General in the entire ROK Armed Forces. Since there are seven four-star Generals in the ROK military, the Commandant ranks 8th in the overall protocol hierarchy of active-duty generals. A General has four stars, a Lieutenant General has three, a Major General has two, and a Brigadier General has one. Seoyeon is the eldest, Junseo is the second child, and Seojun is the youngest.