You need to update your information in light of what Marsoc is doing. Marsoc operators are being trained to the same standards as SEALS and SF.
My son was started out in 3/6 moved to Recon then to Force Recon and is now part of Marsoc (Marine Special Ops Command).
Yeah special operators were being overly taxed with the new 21st century style of fighting in Afghanistan/Iraq/Iran and they needed more qualified candidates and resources to call upon. The Marines for years have trained guys good enough to be a SEAL or a G.B. It only made sense they setup their own and train with SOCOM.
I think the debate boils down to semantics. Marines in MARSOC are Marines, period. They are not “Seals”, “Green Berets” or anything but Marines who happened to be trained for special operations. They do not get different uniforms, or wear special patches, berets, or covers.
Even several decades ago (during my time in the Corps - - I’m old!) there were plenty of Marines who worked special operations. There was “Force Recon”, snipers, and even dog handlers (who had the highest bounty on their heads in Vietnam, btw).
Today, the Marines have formed the new command, MARSOC, as its contribution to the US Special Operations Command. There’s about 2,500 Marines (and sailors) in MARSOC. And that’s what you have - - Marines trained for special operations and assigned to MARSOC. But they do not have any special name or designation other than “Marine”.
Again, the debate here appears to be one of semantics.
Semper Fidelis,
LH