Compass Points - Dubious Achievements
The dubious achievements of Force Design.
Compass Points - Dubious Achievements
The dubious achievements of Force Design.
July 8, 2025
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What are the achievements of Force Design?
For nearly six years briefing slides have spun four-color tales of the Marine Corps’ Force Design. Force Design’s sensor and missile units, it is said, will be nearly invisible to China, while at the same time being a constant and visible deterrent. The sensor and missile units will sit, sense, and pass on data off the coast of China as nodes in a far greater joint kill chain. At times, Marine missileers might even get permission from the Navy to fire an occasional missile. The Marine infantry on the islands will not conduct offensive operations, but will stay in place and guard the missiles. When will the long promised string of operational missile units ever be in place off the coast of China? It is hard to say. In nearly six years, not one sensor and missile unit is in place and fully operational today. But the briefing slides still look good.
Compass Points has received a Force Design commentary from Jerry McAbee, a retired Marine and author. He takes a clear eyed look at Force Design and lists Force Design’s actual achievements. Compass Points thanks BGen McAbee for his insightful commentary.
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The Dubious Achievements of Force Design
Some recent comments on Compass Points have essentially characterized those of us speaking out against EABO/FD/SIF as pathetic figures who, like Don Quixote, are foolishly tilting at windmills. According to such comments, Chowder II has nothing to show for all its “noise,” citing zero traction in circles that matter and no changes to the path charted by the 38th and 39th Commandants. We are pejoratively accused of being stuck in the past, unable to accept a future that’s already cast in stone.
The criticism is irrelevant. Lincoln’s phrase from his Second Inaugural Address, “With firmness in the right, as God gives us to see the right” is relevant. We all know that history is replete with examples of bad decisions that were reversed over time, thanks to the persistence and determination of those who saw a better course of action. Our critics shouldn’t be too quick to write us off.
I will admit that the portfolio of FD achievements is certainly extensive, albeit about as impressive as the effectiveness of the Maginot Line. Allow me to cite a few examples of FD’s accomplishments:
1. Divestment of all armor, bridging, and in-stride breaching, severely restricting the effectiveness of Marine infantry to maneuver against the enemy.
2. Divestment of 14 of 21 artillery batteries in the active force, robbing Marine infantry of the close, continuous, accurate, and all-weather fire support needed to close with and destroy the enemy in the close and rear battles.
3. Divestment of 2 of the 6 AAV companies in the active force, limiting resiliency in amphibious operations and subsequent movement ashore.
4. Loss of 3 infantry battalions and 1 infantry regiment in the active force, contributing to an overall divestment of 21% of Marine infantry.
5. Loss of school trained snipers in Marine infantry battalions, almost certainly resulting in additional and needless casualties when next “the bullets start to fly.”
6. Divestment of 200 of the 600 tactical aircraft (HMLA, HMM, HMH, and F/A) in the active force. Note: efforts are ongoing or planned to buy back approximately 100 of the aircraft. See:
https://www.defensenews.com/opinion/commentary/2023/01/26/unwise-divestments-are-crippling-us-marine-corps-aviation/ and https://www.mca-marines.org/gazette/2025-aviation-plan-executive-summary/
7. Major cuts to expeditionary logistics, including divestment of all three Marine Wing Support Groups in the active force. Note: some functions were transferred throughout the wing and others eliminated.
8. Recent deactivation of the lead TLAM battery and decision to back away from the decision to standup a TLAM battalion by 2030, which was once hailed as, “… a historic chapter in the Marine Corps to prepare for war…” See:
https://news.usni.org/2023/07/25/marines-activate-first-tomahawk-battery
9. No fully capable MLR of the 3 planned and not even one fully capable NSM battery of the 14 planned = no fully capable SIF as envisioned in FD.
10. No LSM of the 35 “required” or even one of the modified and inferior Army LSVs.
11. Emasculated MPS, insufficient amphibious ships to keep 2.5 MEUs continually forward deployed and significantly degraded combined arms capabilities - - which have collectively crippled Marine Corps global response capabilities. See:
https://www.marinecorpstimes.com/opinion/commentary/2023/07/07/how-capable-is-todays-marine-corps-to-answer-a-9-1-1-call-not-very/
Like I said, the list of FD accomplishments is extensive but hardly impressive. It is certainly nothing to crow about, which is probably why proponents prefer to ignore the facts and accuse us of fighting a losing battle instead. Chowder II is on the right side of history. A righteous journey cuts both ways.
— Jerry McAbee, retired Marine and author
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Compass Points salutes BGen McAbee for taking time to provide his important insights.
Marine Corps Brigadier General Jerry McAbee (ret) is a career artillery officer. He served as the Chief of Staff for the Marine Corps Combat Development Command. His last assignment was Deputy Commander United States Marine Corps Forces Central Command during Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom. He writes prolifically on defense topics, and is the author of the Civil War history, “Stubborn Men and Parched Corn: The Eighteenth Georgia Volunteer Infantry Regiment.”
I am always amused by the juvenile insults directed at those who voice an opinion not perfectly aligned with EABO, FD and/or SIF. The slurs run the gamut and are routinely changed lest they grow stale. Such attacks, while unnecessary and distracting, serve no purpose other than drawing attention to the attacker. The offenders fail to address the message, focusing instead on the messenger. For context, consider the 1983 movie War Games.
Those who have seen it will almost certainly recall the scene where the computer has taken control of the U.S. nuclear launch procedures and is about to start a global nuclear war. All efforts to regain control of the computer have failed, prompting General Beringer (played by Barry Cobin) to smile sarcastically at Mr. McKittrick (played by Dabney Coleman) and remark, “Mr. McKittrick after very careful consideration, sir, I’ve come to the conclusion that your new defense system sucks,” which was obviously true.
McKittrick, not addressing the message (a computer run amuck) but instead attacking the messenger (Beringer), responds, “I don’t have to take that, you pig-eyed sack of s**t.” Beringer, considering the source, simply replies, “Oh, I was hoping for something a little better than that from you, sir. A man of your education.”
We all hope for more substance and fewer invectives from those defending FD. And we certainly want more proponents of FD weighing in on the issues. The topic is too important to the Marine Corps and to our national security for those favoring FD to remain silent.
Gen McAbee is right on target, as usual. The failed implementation of FD-2030 is undeniably obvious. It was not just incompetence and miscalculation.
What lurks beneath the surface is the way it was attempted. Deception, lack of integrity, lies by commission and omission which persist to this day. The damage to the Marine ethos and reputation of integrity without compromise will linger. It was widespread and deep which will be very hard to repair. It will be impossible without accountability.