Marine Detachment USS Saratoga CV60

The Marine Detachment (MarDet) aboard USS Saratoga (CV-60) was established to provide shipboard security, ceremonial duties, and support for naval operations. Activated with the commissioning of the aircraft carrier in 1956, the MarDet consisted of a select group of United States Marines who served as part of the ship's company during both peacetime and periods of conflict. Throughout its service, including deployments during the Cold War, Vietnam War, and Operation Desert Storm, the MarDet contributed to the carrier's mission readiness and overall security. The Marine Detachment was disbanded in the late 1990s as the Navy phased out ship-based Marine units, marking the end of an era of Marine presence aboard capital ships like the Saratoga.