Compass Points - Banjo and Chaos?

Important to communicate.

Compass Points - Banjo and Chaos?

Important to communicate.

October 15, 2024

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Compass Points needs the help of readers to solve a mystery.

It is all about communication.

It is particularly important for military forces in the field to communicate.

Generations raised on cell phones would "LOL" to find that in using field radios even today it is often difficult to hear clearly what the person on the other end is saying. If the person is talking about a point on a map, it might be impossible to be sure whether they are saying "Point C" or Point E, G, T, V, or Z.

This radio confusion led to the creation of the military spelling alphabet often called the phonetic alphabet. As early as World War II the US military and allies had standardized on an alphabet that began:

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A = Able

B = Baker

C = Charlie

D = Dog

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After extensive research, a few years later the standard alphabet was upgraded.

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A = Alfa

B = Bravo

C = Charlie

D = Delta

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For decades, the name of Companies in Marine battalions followed the military alphabet.

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A Company = Alfa Company

B Company = Bravo Company

C Company = Charlie Company

D Company = Delta Company

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Now, however, it seems that the history and tradition of battalion company names may be changing.

In a Defense One article, author Jennifer Hlad recounts her visit with the Marine Littoral Regiment in Hawaii.

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The 3rd Marine Regiment became the 3rd MLR on March 4, 2022, in a ceremony that created the first of three such units prescribed by the service’s Force Design 2030 transformation effort. A second MLR is now being formed in Okinawa, with a third planned for Guam.

Unlike the Corps’ traditional infantry regiments, which are composed of a headquarters company and four infantry battalions, the 3rd MLR has a headquarters element and three subordinate commands: 3rd Littoral Anti-Air Battalion, Combat Logistics Battalion 3, and Littoral Combat Team 3.

-- Defense One

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One MLR Marine interviewed assured the Defense One writer that, “The basic skills have not changed at all.” Perhaps at the level of some individual Marine field skills not much has changed, but the divestment of so much air, arty, armor, and more means that the combined arms skills of Marine infantry battalions have been significantly eroded.

In addition, it may be that the Marine Corps is losing not only critical combined arms capabilities but also a sense of history and tradition. Marine regiments with histories rich in battlefield achievements have being reduced in size, reduced in capabilities, and then had their historic names stripped away.

The Defense One article indicates that there may be more re-naming going on in the Marine Corps. The article interviews two Hawaii MLR Marines and identifies one Marine as a member of "Banjo" company and the other Marine as a member of "Chaos" company.

Banjo?

Chaos?

What happened to "Bravo" and "Charlie" companies?

Has the Marine Corps thrown out the traditional and historic company names like "Alfa, Bravo, Charlie, and Delta?"  Instead of being given historic and traditional names, are MLR companies being saddled with random names like: "Artichoke, Banjo, Chaos, and Dumpster?"

Compass Points asks for readers' help. Read the Defense One article that refers to “Banjo” and “Chaos” companies. Were the Marines of 3rd MLR pulling a prank on the Defense One reporter when they told her they were from "Banjo" and "Chaos" companies? Is it possible the reporter just made up “Banjo” and “Chaos” from her imagination?

Or is it really true that as part of the campaign of throwing away combined arms capabilities, the Marine Corps has genuinely begun throwing away the traditional names for companies, "Alfa, Bravo, Charlie, & Delta" and replaced them with names like, "Artichoke, Banjo, Chaos, and Dumpster?"

Compass Points salutes the Marines of 3rd MLR.

Work hard Marines. Train, study, and learn. Take time to ask your seniors about the power and might of the combined arms, global, crisis response, Marine Air Ground Task Force. In a dangerous world the day is coming soon when the Nation will need the worldwide crisis response that only Marines can provide.

“Bravo Zulu” Marines!

Or is it better to say, “Banjo Zulu?”

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Defense One - 10/06/2024

 Inside the Marine Corps’ first-ever littoral regiment

By Jennifer Hlad

https://www.defenseone.com/threats/2024/10/inside-marine-corps-first-ever-littoral-regiment/400084/