The US Marine Corps is expelling one soldier and disciplining another for their roles in a video showing a lance corporal throwing a puppy off a cliff while on patrol in Iraq.

The 17-second video posted on YouTube drew furious condemnation from animal rights groups when it came to light in March.

The clip shows two marines joking before one hurls the puppy into a gully. Yelping is heard as it flips through the air.

Marine Corps Base Hawaii said today that Lance Cpl David Motari received unspecified "non-judicial punishment" and "is being processed for separation" from the Marine Corps.

The second marine, Sgt Crismarvin Banez Encarnacion also received unspecified "non-judicial" punishment.

In the video clip, an off-camera marine is heard telling his comrade who threw the dog off the cliff: "That's mean. That's mean, Motari." The off-camera marine sniggers slightly afterwards.