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Robert E. Milstead, Jr.'s avatar

I will repeat what I wrote last month concerning sharing your opinion: I know there are many of you out there who read Compass Points but feel it unwise to comment. I understand. Just know that this ongoing “discussion” about the future of our Corps is healthy and more robust than it may appear. If nothing else, keep talking amongst yourselves. Don’t ever let anyone judge you for your opinion. It’s YOUR Corps.

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The Wolf's avatar

After reading a recent comment questioning the effect that Compass Points posts have across the defense community, I decided to query the publisher. Here is what I learned from our discussion.

Compass Points has multiple-thousands of subscribers, and daily posts are viewed thousands of times, upwards of 10,000 views in a day. Though the site is free there have been a large number of commitments to pay; readers have pledged close to $11,000 for a paid subscription though the publisher has no intention of changing its status as “free.”

The actual readership is impossible to determine because many subscribers forward the daily posts to others and several large email lists routinely pick up and distribute the daily posts. Based on available data one Internet authority estimated that approximately 150,000 people view Compass Points within 48 hours of its posting.

Email addresses allow the publisher to identify some subscribers. He reports there are dozens of subscribers with a “usmc.mil” address, meaning they are active duty Marines. Among these are some senior executives. Noted journalists from such outlets as the Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, and CBS News also subscribe and read nearly every post. As do analysts from the Congressional Research Service, Congressional Budget Office, and several defense focused think tanks.

I asked several other retired Marines, and they shared that their experience is the same as mine, that is, we have never met an active duty Marine who does not read Compass Points posts.

One recent comment suggested that the online journal, Real Clear Defense, which frequently republishes Compass Points posts is not highly regarded nor widely read. The reality is just the opposite. A former Marine I know who works on the Hill tells me that RCD is the most important source of media news on defense for members of Congress and their staffs. It has more than 64,000 followers. One web report states: “RealClearDefense (RCD) was created at the request of the Pentagon and Hill staff on the House Armed Services Committee. These groups felt that existing defense coverage was fragmented and there needed to be one place to go for information about military affairs, defense policy, national security, and foreign affairs. RCD does the best job in the industry of digesting the day’s news for military and defense professionals and enthusiasts. With its balanced mix of curated stories and original content, RCD is a force in the defense world, providing an open resource for anyone seeking a comprehensive understanding of the landscape.”

I note that those questioning Force Design 2030 and the course on which it has placed the Marine Corps have had 203 articles (authored or coauthored by 117 different writers) published in 53 different media outlets. Supporting articles consists of an additional 150 articles, authored or co-authored by 125 different writers, and published in 59 different media outlets.

So, in closing, I offer my sincere thanks to the Publisher, Editor, and staff of Compass Points for more than 1,000 informative daily posts. Please continue your exceptional work.

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