Harold McElroy

The Marine Detachment (MARDET) aboard USS Carl Vinson (CVN-70) was established shortly after the carrier’s commissioning in 1982. MARDET provided onboard security, ceremonial duties, and supported shipboard operations, including nuclear weapon security during the Cold War. Marines also participated in training for ship defense, boarding operations, and reinforced the close relationship between the Navy and Marine Corps. The tradition of Marine Detachments on Navy ships was phased out in the late 1990s, but the legacy of MARDET USS Carl Vinson remains an important chapter in both naval and Marine Corps history.