Compass Points – A Dunkirk Moment
Ordinary Citizens Must Come to the Rescue
Compass Points – A Dunkirk Moment
Ordinary Citizens Must Come to the Rescue
In May and June of 1940, the British Expeditionary Force (BEF) was stranded on the coast of France at Dunkirk. With the German army advancing and the English Channel to their backs, the BEF was in danger of being destroyed. The BEF could not save itself. The Royal Navy could not come to the rescue. It seemed there was no way out. Yet, more than 300,000 BEF soldiers were rescued. How?
It took citizen action. It took massive citizen action. Ordinary citizens climbed into their own boats and came to the rescue. They formed a citizen flotilla that steamed across the English Channel to Dunkirk. Ordinary citizens saved the stranded BEF. Without citizen action, all would have been lost.
Today, the National Interest is publishing the first of three articles outlining Vision 2035, a better way forward for the Marine Corp.
Vision 2035
Global Response in the Age of Precision Munitions
The Concerns – National Interest 12 December 2022
The Choice – National Interest 13 December 2022
The Vision – National Interest 14 December 2022
Vision 2035 is not intended as the end of the discussion of a better way forward for the Marine Corps. It is the beginning of a discussion. But it is a discussion the Marine Corps and the Nation must have. The Marine Corps is too important to national security to remain on the path it is on now.
The Marine Corps is stranded along the island chain, trapped in a concept that has stripped away critical capabilities. The Marine Corps cannot rescue itself. The Navy is not coming to the rescue. There is only one solution to rescuing the Marine Corps and making sure it remains strong today and stronger tomorrow.
The solution? Citizen action. Ordinary citizens, leaders of Marines, and friends of the Corps, must come to the rescue.
When you read the articles about Vision 2035, you are coming to the rescue.
When you participate in the discussion on Compass Points, in the National Interest, and elsewhere, you are coming to the rescue.
When you write letters to editors, you are coming to the rescue.
When you contact your elected representatives, you are coming to the rescue.
We cannot leave Marines stranded. Stand up, speak up, and take citizen action today, so we still have a stronger Marine Corps tomorrow.
National Interest (nationalinterest.org) December 12, 2022
Former Marine Generals: ‘Our Concerns with Force Design 2030’
We believe the path currently charted by the Marine Corps poses a significant risk to national security.
By Generals John J. Sheehan and James Amos
. . . What, exactly, are our concerns? They fall into five categories: (1) The myopic focus on one enemy in one geographical region employing one method with a defensive orientation; (2) The devastating reduction of operational capabilities for global response; (3) The loss of currently needed capabilities for two to seven or more years and the associated risk these reductions pose to national security, all incurred with the “divest to invest” approach to modernization; (4) The unusual way in which force structure decisions were made outside of the highly regarded combat development process; and (5) The adoption of personnel plans that are likely to destroy the culture and ethos of the Corps, attributes that have enabled Marines to fight and win some of the nation’s most difficult battles. . . .
When I first became aware of FD2030 and then read the particulars, I was at first struck with the thought that this initiative is very narrow in scope with regard to a future foe. My next thoughts were around ingress/ egress of small units from within the PLA’s lethality zone. Next I was concerned about the logistics involved in resupply of many small units by sea and air while in the same lethality zone. The notion of these units being inserted , resupplied ,and withdrawn in stealth was bothersome in that the PLA has excellent means of observation and the ability to strike based upon them. Next concern is the idea of eliminating armor, some field artillery, and air assets in the hope that the Navy will fully sign on and build the ships necessary to support this . That is not a guarantee. As we all are aware, once something is discarded and unfunded it is extremely difficult to recover. Lastly and equally concerning are the proposed changes to the very core of what makes Marines. The very notion of entering service with rank and without the rights of passage and skills we all experienced plus the invaluable knowledge base associated with them is anathema to our professionalism , culture , and differentiation from the other services.
I am equally disturbed by the notion of quelling open and robust discussion. I do not view opposing thoughts from highly respected voices with hundreds of years experience as something to dismiss because it falls outside the dictates of , in relative terms, a small group of individuals who temporarily have control of our Corps. The dissent ,as I see it, is not some knee jerk reaction but well thought out questions, concerns , and requests for more visible and inclusive conversations before we jump into an abyss we will have difficulty crawling out of if this endeavor falls flat.
I have always has respect for the MCG as a highly professional journal that was a forum for all thoughts and discussion. I am troubled that it seems to be subject to pressure to limit the ability of those of us who have grave concerns over FD 2030 and what it may portend for the future of the Corps
The idea that a small number of high ranking (4 star level)marine officers could completely revise the historic mission of our corps without promulgating their radical concepts to the whole of retired marines across our land, potentially jeopardizing our national defense, appears treasonous on its face.