Ideally a group of retired former leaders could engage the next SecNav and SecDef with a brief on the changes the USMC has undergone in the last five years and explain why the Corps is no longer able to be the 911 Force it has been. The second part of the brief is the steps it would take to return the Corps to a viable, global response force.
With the right connections the brief could be condensed and presented to the incoming President and National Security Advisor. It would have to focus on how to recapture a capability the Commander in Chief no longer has and how to redevelop that critical resource to prevent larger conflicts.
This is where history comes back like a flaming boomerang. I have no reason to believe the incoming President would be favorable to receiving such a brief. His experience with retired, senior Marine leaders in his last administration may not predispose him to be open to input. Rightly or wrongly, the incoming President is very much vested in personal relationships and loyalties. The relationship between him and the Corps might be beyond repair.
At the time I warned that the actions of Gen Mattis and Gen Kelley could have long term, adverse consequences for the one military service that must have support from Congress and the POTUS to thrive. I had the same reservations when Gen Jones became President Obama’s National Security Advisor as well as when retired LtCol MacFarlane served in the Reagan Administration. I would add those who signed letters taking a position on who the next President should be hurt the Corps as well.
The lesson is crystal clear. Retired Marines should not engage in politics as the adverse consequences are more to the Corps than to them personally.
It will be a huge challenge to rebuild and restructure the Corps into three modern MAGTFs under perfect circumstances. It has been made significantly more difficult thanks to the political aspirations of Marines who should have sought other post retirement opportunities.
This writer couldn’t agree more. All the more reason to example the fitness of the current flag officers to remain in command or joint support roles. That said, Chowder Society II has a mighty voice, a whole host of officers that led in combat, that either were part of transformations or actually transformed the Marine Corps on their watches has to be a compelling clarion call to action. A lot may also depend on SecDef and SecNav appointments. The right people in those two postions could help sway a president who may have lost trust and confidence in the Corps. One cannot think of a more tragic set of circumstances we find here and now. A clown car show of FD2030 and officers who conflict themselves with political appointments post retirement. Indeed a very bad look. But there are young tough bright officers and senior NCO’s out there and they need the chance to come up now and start turning the whole mess around.
To put a further point on the matter of FD2030 and the damage done, (to leave the foibles of few aside) 20 years ago, on 7 November the second Battle of Fallujah commenced. Operation Phantom Fury by all accounts was a 7 week long battle in a tight urban environment against a determined enemy well dug in and prepared for a long fight, defense in depth and a willingness to die for their cause. Many analogies to the Battle of Hue’ have been made and certainly there are many similarities. But, today, the Marines could not really conduct such a battle, use of armor, artillery, engineers, close air etc, etc have either been diminished or outright divested to nonexistence. This assumes that there is a navy capable of delivery a MEF sized force to conduct such a fight. Every time we are to,d by consultants and experts that there will never be another Hue’ or Fallujah, there is one. In order to meet the challenges of future battles, the Corps needs all its divested assets back, and most importantly true leaders, well schooled, well trained and not corrupted by their own images made larger than life by a fawning press, or periodic glances into a mirror which p only returns an image of self importance and not the harsh assessment that one is isn’t nearly as good as they think they are. It is all one and the same, when people become too important for their own good, they become to a large degree a liability. We are living with a lot of liability currently. But, with hard continued efforts on all fronts the Corps can be returned to the 911 force it can be, and meet its title X mandates with elan and effectiveness.
The foibles of a few have arguably made it harder for the many to restore Marine Corps warfighting capabilities and ethos. That said, we remain undeterred in our efforts and are increasingly optimistic that the "unrighteousness" (pun intended) of the past 6 years can still be set right.
“Others will debate the controversial issues, national and international, which divide men’s minds; but serene, calm, aloof, you stand as the nation’s war guardian, as its lifeguard from the raging tides of international conflict, as its gladiator in the arena of battle. For a century and a half you have defended, guarded, and protected its hallowed traditions of liberty and freedom, of right and justice. Let civilian voices argue the merits or demerits of our processes of government; whether our strength is being sapped by deficit financing, indulged in too long, by federal paternalism grown too mighty, by power groups grown too arrogant, by politics grown too corrupt, by crime grown too rampant, by morals grown too low, by taxes grown too high, by extremists grown too violent; whether our personal liberties are as thorough and complete as they should be. These great national problems are not for your professional participation or military solution. Your guidepost stands out like a ten-fold beacon in the night - Duty - Honor - Country. “
—- Gen Douglas MacArthur.
That said, I would nominate Condeleeza Rice for SecDef and former Senator Manchin as the SecNav. I would ask Trey Gowdy to be the Sec Army and Rick Perry to be the SecAF.
Yep, I was thinking the same thing. I like her position on avoiding sending the youth of are country to die in needless never ending wars. I feel that she would be a balancing force against others who want to jump in to conflicts that we may have little need to.
The Sec.Army is tasked to provide trained and ready forces to the Regional commanders. In that role she has no real say on where we might fight when. The reason I would like her for sec Army is to reverse the woke garbage, get fraternization under control, recruit effectively and secure funding for modernization.
Charles, you are correct that you need the wide range of assets and considerable training dedicated to urban warfare to capture an urban complex. Your casualties in the best of circumstances will be high. Phantom Fury was driven by multiple political decisions. My opinion is that you surround it and eventually starve them out or level it. Neither was politically acceptable and the battle was therefore fought. It is for others to determine if it was worth it.
Douglas, I was blessed to serve with two senior NCO’s that were at Hue’ GySgt. Mel Worley was there for most of the fight. It was, as you note a complicated fight not without it’s own political issues, like do we destroy the ancient city with CAS and artillery. Mel Worley said it was the most fatiguing fighting ever, mind bending. He was so sick and tired of it after 30 days that he slumped down behind the wall of a building and stuck his arm out and moved it up and down saying “shoot me, shoot me.” He did say the tanks and Ontos were a godsend, and they used the 106 on mounted mules to great effect. But, it boiled down to house by house, block by block clearing ops, and the casualties were very high. When one looks at successful ground campaigns highly mobile forces using their speed to encircle and and deny access in and out of a large urban area, whilst allowing the larger attack and advance to continue sure has its merits and successes. Of course in older times the old siege strategy was effective, sure the defender pulled up the draw bridge over the moat, but if the aggressor had the will and material they would outlast the defenders and effect surrender on their terms.
This all said, Happy Birthday Marines! 249 and counting! But who’s counting!
All the comments of these General Officers, who have great credibility in our previous Corps, and some I have met personally, and had great military respect for, but.... when they openly castigate the political leader DJT, as our next CINC, they negate any idea of having a conversation to impact our Corps. Gen Zinni and others failed to remember they are supposed to be "A-political" as Senior 4 stars. The same for ADM McRaven, Gen Hayden and all the other 150 plus Sr offices who castigated him and hence his followers, and now his soon to be cabinet key staff. Why would anyone want to now engage you? These Officers have shown to openly support the other party (D), who was not focused on a better military, but using Dod as a social experiment with wokeness and DEI. Our Sr leaders have failed in accountability and responsibility to our Corps and our Warfighting mentality! You focused on cutting CMC Dave Berger's (and now Eric Smith's) throat with his/their vision of the future fight and the operational requirements of our Corps. Your ego, as Sr leaders got the best of you. You could have been a great help to our Corps now and into our future, as our "Gray beards" should be, but your outright insolence to the guy in charge, Dave and Eric and now DJT was professionally wrong. You all would never have allowed that on your watch! Gen Zinni as Striking 9th and COMCENTCOM was very strict in his Commanders decisions process. But now you all have been so political in nature, and so negative to the current SecNav/CMC why would any Senior DoD Director, SeS, CJCS or other 4 star in the next administration want to talk to you or listen to your rants. You all stepped over the line. its different as lowly 05's to even 1 and 2 stars, but as a 3 and 4 star, its your never ending responsibility to help the Corps, not openly castigate it, or our CINC! You don't hear BoB Neller, or George Smith (whether they like or dislike FFD2030 or DJT) running at the mouth, because they have acted like true professionals! I hope your future retirement lives remain successful, but your negativizes has repercussions. Every good Marine Commander and Officer/Sr SNCO knows "Reward in public, punish in private"... you all forgot that! SemperFi.
VISION2035 will reverse and restore the insanity of FD2030 if the new SecDef and SecNav have the insight and urgency to act immediately in demanding this from the Corps' leadership and holding them accountable!
Ideally a group of retired former leaders could engage the next SecNav and SecDef with a brief on the changes the USMC has undergone in the last five years and explain why the Corps is no longer able to be the 911 Force it has been. The second part of the brief is the steps it would take to return the Corps to a viable, global response force.
With the right connections the brief could be condensed and presented to the incoming President and National Security Advisor. It would have to focus on how to recapture a capability the Commander in Chief no longer has and how to redevelop that critical resource to prevent larger conflicts.
This is where history comes back like a flaming boomerang. I have no reason to believe the incoming President would be favorable to receiving such a brief. His experience with retired, senior Marine leaders in his last administration may not predispose him to be open to input. Rightly or wrongly, the incoming President is very much vested in personal relationships and loyalties. The relationship between him and the Corps might be beyond repair.
At the time I warned that the actions of Gen Mattis and Gen Kelley could have long term, adverse consequences for the one military service that must have support from Congress and the POTUS to thrive. I had the same reservations when Gen Jones became President Obama’s National Security Advisor as well as when retired LtCol MacFarlane served in the Reagan Administration. I would add those who signed letters taking a position on who the next President should be hurt the Corps as well.
The lesson is crystal clear. Retired Marines should not engage in politics as the adverse consequences are more to the Corps than to them personally.
It will be a huge challenge to rebuild and restructure the Corps into three modern MAGTFs under perfect circumstances. It has been made significantly more difficult thanks to the political aspirations of Marines who should have sought other post retirement opportunities.
This writer couldn’t agree more. All the more reason to example the fitness of the current flag officers to remain in command or joint support roles. That said, Chowder Society II has a mighty voice, a whole host of officers that led in combat, that either were part of transformations or actually transformed the Marine Corps on their watches has to be a compelling clarion call to action. A lot may also depend on SecDef and SecNav appointments. The right people in those two postions could help sway a president who may have lost trust and confidence in the Corps. One cannot think of a more tragic set of circumstances we find here and now. A clown car show of FD2030 and officers who conflict themselves with political appointments post retirement. Indeed a very bad look. But there are young tough bright officers and senior NCO’s out there and they need the chance to come up now and start turning the whole mess around.
I agree that retired Marines need to “stay in their lane”. Damn, I was just going to suggest General Conway for SECDEF and General Zinni for SECNAV.
To put a further point on the matter of FD2030 and the damage done, (to leave the foibles of few aside) 20 years ago, on 7 November the second Battle of Fallujah commenced. Operation Phantom Fury by all accounts was a 7 week long battle in a tight urban environment against a determined enemy well dug in and prepared for a long fight, defense in depth and a willingness to die for their cause. Many analogies to the Battle of Hue’ have been made and certainly there are many similarities. But, today, the Marines could not really conduct such a battle, use of armor, artillery, engineers, close air etc, etc have either been diminished or outright divested to nonexistence. This assumes that there is a navy capable of delivery a MEF sized force to conduct such a fight. Every time we are to,d by consultants and experts that there will never be another Hue’ or Fallujah, there is one. In order to meet the challenges of future battles, the Corps needs all its divested assets back, and most importantly true leaders, well schooled, well trained and not corrupted by their own images made larger than life by a fawning press, or periodic glances into a mirror which p only returns an image of self importance and not the harsh assessment that one is isn’t nearly as good as they think they are. It is all one and the same, when people become too important for their own good, they become to a large degree a liability. We are living with a lot of liability currently. But, with hard continued efforts on all fronts the Corps can be returned to the 911 force it can be, and meet its title X mandates with elan and effectiveness.
The foibles of a few have arguably made it harder for the many to restore Marine Corps warfighting capabilities and ethos. That said, we remain undeterred in our efforts and are increasingly optimistic that the "unrighteousness" (pun intended) of the past 6 years can still be set right.
“Others will debate the controversial issues, national and international, which divide men’s minds; but serene, calm, aloof, you stand as the nation’s war guardian, as its lifeguard from the raging tides of international conflict, as its gladiator in the arena of battle. For a century and a half you have defended, guarded, and protected its hallowed traditions of liberty and freedom, of right and justice. Let civilian voices argue the merits or demerits of our processes of government; whether our strength is being sapped by deficit financing, indulged in too long, by federal paternalism grown too mighty, by power groups grown too arrogant, by politics grown too corrupt, by crime grown too rampant, by morals grown too low, by taxes grown too high, by extremists grown too violent; whether our personal liberties are as thorough and complete as they should be. These great national problems are not for your professional participation or military solution. Your guidepost stands out like a ten-fold beacon in the night - Duty - Honor - Country. “
—- Gen Douglas MacArthur.
That said, I would nominate Condeleeza Rice for SecDef and former Senator Manchin as the SecNav. I would ask Trey Gowdy to be the Sec Army and Rick Perry to be the SecAF.
Doug, how do you feel about Tulsi Gabbard for a position in the defense establishment.
That is a damn good question. I think she would make a good Sec Army.
Yep, I was thinking the same thing. I like her position on avoiding sending the youth of are country to die in needless never ending wars. I feel that she would be a balancing force against others who want to jump in to conflicts that we may have little need to.
Thoughts?
The Sec.Army is tasked to provide trained and ready forces to the Regional commanders. In that role she has no real say on where we might fight when. The reason I would like her for sec Army is to reverse the woke garbage, get fraternization under control, recruit effectively and secure funding for modernization.
Good comments. I forgot that SecArm is not a combatant commander.
Charles, you are correct that you need the wide range of assets and considerable training dedicated to urban warfare to capture an urban complex. Your casualties in the best of circumstances will be high. Phantom Fury was driven by multiple political decisions. My opinion is that you surround it and eventually starve them out or level it. Neither was politically acceptable and the battle was therefore fought. It is for others to determine if it was worth it.
Douglas, I was blessed to serve with two senior NCO’s that were at Hue’ GySgt. Mel Worley was there for most of the fight. It was, as you note a complicated fight not without it’s own political issues, like do we destroy the ancient city with CAS and artillery. Mel Worley said it was the most fatiguing fighting ever, mind bending. He was so sick and tired of it after 30 days that he slumped down behind the wall of a building and stuck his arm out and moved it up and down saying “shoot me, shoot me.” He did say the tanks and Ontos were a godsend, and they used the 106 on mounted mules to great effect. But, it boiled down to house by house, block by block clearing ops, and the casualties were very high. When one looks at successful ground campaigns highly mobile forces using their speed to encircle and and deny access in and out of a large urban area, whilst allowing the larger attack and advance to continue sure has its merits and successes. Of course in older times the old siege strategy was effective, sure the defender pulled up the draw bridge over the moat, but if the aggressor had the will and material they would outlast the defenders and effect surrender on their terms.
This all said, Happy Birthday Marines! 249 and counting! But who’s counting!
All the comments of these General Officers, who have great credibility in our previous Corps, and some I have met personally, and had great military respect for, but.... when they openly castigate the political leader DJT, as our next CINC, they negate any idea of having a conversation to impact our Corps. Gen Zinni and others failed to remember they are supposed to be "A-political" as Senior 4 stars. The same for ADM McRaven, Gen Hayden and all the other 150 plus Sr offices who castigated him and hence his followers, and now his soon to be cabinet key staff. Why would anyone want to now engage you? These Officers have shown to openly support the other party (D), who was not focused on a better military, but using Dod as a social experiment with wokeness and DEI. Our Sr leaders have failed in accountability and responsibility to our Corps and our Warfighting mentality! You focused on cutting CMC Dave Berger's (and now Eric Smith's) throat with his/their vision of the future fight and the operational requirements of our Corps. Your ego, as Sr leaders got the best of you. You could have been a great help to our Corps now and into our future, as our "Gray beards" should be, but your outright insolence to the guy in charge, Dave and Eric and now DJT was professionally wrong. You all would never have allowed that on your watch! Gen Zinni as Striking 9th and COMCENTCOM was very strict in his Commanders decisions process. But now you all have been so political in nature, and so negative to the current SecNav/CMC why would any Senior DoD Director, SeS, CJCS or other 4 star in the next administration want to talk to you or listen to your rants. You all stepped over the line. its different as lowly 05's to even 1 and 2 stars, but as a 3 and 4 star, its your never ending responsibility to help the Corps, not openly castigate it, or our CINC! You don't hear BoB Neller, or George Smith (whether they like or dislike FFD2030 or DJT) running at the mouth, because they have acted like true professionals! I hope your future retirement lives remain successful, but your negativizes has repercussions. Every good Marine Commander and Officer/Sr SNCO knows "Reward in public, punish in private"... you all forgot that! SemperFi.
M2
Michael McCusker
LtCol USMC (Ret)
VISION2035 will reverse and restore the insanity of FD2030 if the new SecDef and SecNav have the insight and urgency to act immediately in demanding this from the Corps' leadership and holding them accountable!