Compass Points - Congo calling
Time for the Marines to step forward.
Compass Points - Congo calling
Time for the Marines to step forward.
January 30, 2025
.
Two great opportunities for the Marine Corps to step forward and help the US and allies around the globe.
On one side of the globe, the Philippines are ready to work with US military missiles units. On the other side of the globe, the Congo is calling.
For nearly five years, the Marine Corps has been struggling to put Marine missile teams on islands off China's coast, like the Philippines. The first problem has been winning the support of the Philippines. Pacific nations are wary of allowing US missile units on their territory. The nations worry that China will object.
Now, Philippine army units will train with a US operational missile unit on Luzon. It is an important step forward. But the missile unit that the Philippine army will work with is not a US Marine Corps missile unit. It is a US Army missile unit.
.
----------------
----------------
.
Philippine soldiers will train on the U.S. military’s intermediate-range Typhon missile system during army drills next month, in preparation for the annual Salaknib Exercise between the U.S. and Philippine armies later this year.
Speaking to the press yesterday, Philippine Army spokesperson Col. Louie Dema-ala said that the training, which will involve members of the army’s artillery regiment and the U.S. Army Pacific’s First Multi-Domain Task Force, will focus on “orientation and familiarization” with the missile system and its capabilities, the Inquirer reported.
The U.S. military deployed the Typhon system to the northern Philippines in April of last year ahead of the Balikatan military exercises with Philippine troops, and then left it in place after the conclusion of the exercises in May. The deployment came amid growing tensions over parts of the hotly contested South China Sea, which have seen Philippine and Chinese coast guards clash over disputed features in the Spratly Islands.
-- The Diplomat
.
----------------
----------------
.
The Philippine army will be working with a US Army missile unit, instead of a US Marine missile unit. There is no operational US Marine missile in the Philippines or anywhere else off China's coast.
For nearly five years, the US Marine Corps has focused its time and attention on a plan to deploy operational missile units on islands off China's coast. Despite all the focus, however, the Marine Corps still has not be able to deploy off China's coast any operational missile units.
When the Philippines were finally ready to work with a deployed US missile unit, the Marine Corps was not ready.
Turning away from the misguided Marine Corps missile plan, half a world away there may be another opportunity for the Marine Corps to help the US and allies. It all depends on what the current US Marine Commandant calls the "3.0 requirement."
.
----------------
----------------
.
MARINE EXPEDITIONARY UNITS (MEUS) – 3.0 REQUIREMENT
The Amphibious Ready Group / Marine Expeditionary Unit (ARG/MEU) is the premier force offering of our Corps, and I will make all necessary investments to keep it that way. No other formation we offer as Marines is as responsive or flexible as a three-ship ARG/MEU. Forward deployed, the MEU provides our national leadership with combat credible forces that are persistently on-scene and contribute to deterrence, campaigning, crisis response, and combat operations.
-- 39th Commandant's Planning Guidance
.
----------------
----------------
.
The ARG/MEU is the Marine Corps "premier force offering of our Corps?" The ARG/MEU is "persistently on-scene?"
According to the recent USNI Fleet Tracker report, the "premier force offering of our Corps" is not currently "persistently on-scene" anywhere in the world. There are no ARG / MEUs patrolling the global oceans.
What are Americans trapped in the Republic of the Congo supposed to do now? The Republic of the Congo has been invaded by rebels supported by Rwanda. The rebels have already captured the city of Goma and are continuing to advance and seize more territory. The rebels are seeking to depose the Congolese President, Félix Tshisekedi.
.
----------------
----------------
.
Congolese President Félix Tshisekedi has vowed to restore government authority in the east, where Rwanda-backed M23 rebels have seized control of the city of Goma and are reportedly advancing south to take more territory.
In a televised address to the nation, he said a "vigorous and coordinated response" against what he called "terrorists" was under way.
He criticised the international community for "inaction" and for not doing enough in the wake of the escalating security crisis.
The weeks-long offensive by the rebels has prompted warnings of a looming humanitarian crisis and growing international pressure to end the fighting.
-- BBC News
.
----------------
----------------
.
In the Congo's "looming humanitarian crisis" a US Marine MAGTF could arrive off the coast of the Congo near Pointe-Noire. The force of Marines would be prepared to immediately deter, assist, and fight.
Just by arriving off the coast of the Congo, US Marines might be able to prevent further violence and protect civilians.
Send in the Marines!
Unfortunately, there are no ARG/MEUs ready to be sent to the Congo.
With no Marine missile units deployed to the Philippines and no ARG/MEUs steaming toward Congo, how is the Marine Corps helping the US and allies? Compass Points salutes the Marines on the US southern border, but Marines can best serve the Nation not by border patrol, or by sitting on Pacific islands waiting for China's ships. The Marine Corps is designed to be the Nation’s premier 9-1-1, crisis response force.
The Marine Corps has allowed itself to fall in between two capability sets. For the last five years, the Marine Corps has focused on a new island missile force, but it still has zero island missile units deployed off China's coast. Over the same five years, the Marine Corps has divested, degraded, and destroyed too many crisis response units, equipment, and capabilities.
What is the solution?
The Marine Corps needs to re-discover the Marine Air Ground Task Force (MAGTF). It will take a new focus and new energy to make the MAGTF once again the Marine Corps priority.
Somewhere there is another global challenge, another "looming humanitarian crisis" just around the corner. The policy makers in the new administration will need new global options. It is past time for the Marine Corps to turn attention to the upgraded and enhanced 9-1-1, crisis response MAGTF.
.
- - - - -
.
The Diplomat - 01/29/2025
Philippine Troops to Train With US Missile System Next Month, Army Says
The Typhon intermediate-range missile system has been present in the country since joint military drills in April 2024.
By Sebastian Strangio
.
- - - -
.
Marines
39th Commandant's Planning Guidance
.
- - - - -
.
BBC News - 01/30/2025
DR Congo president vows 'vigorous' fight to halt M23 rebel advance
By Basillioh Rukanga
I'm in no hurry to jump in the middle of a Rwanda/Congo fight but we should certainly have the capability of putting a real MAGTF (one with tanks, arty and engineers) into action in order to evacuate Americans when required. Without that capability, we can no longer claim to be the nation's 911 force.
“Unfortunately, there are no ARG/MEUs ready to be sent to the Congo.
What needs to happen here is the USAFRICOM Combatant Commander (who happens to be a US Marine) needs to send a request to the new SECDEF with the Subject: “I sure could use an ARG/MEUSOC in the Gulf of Guinea”. His chain of command as the Combatant Commander is SECDEF and then POTUS. The lack of amphibious ships issue would be planted squarely on the SECDEF and POTUS desks. The SECDEF would then call in SECNAV and ask the question; why don’t any of the Combatant Commanders have a 911 force on station in their AOR? WTF, OVER.