Totally agree, I wonder when politicians on both side of the aisle will wake up and find that Horse in their bed. We can't seem to get the message across that the Marine Corps of today can't perform all of the duties that Article 10 says we should be capable of. FD 2030 is a complete wreck and should be immediately reversed.
"he Marine Corps has drastically cut its tubed artillery. Is everything fine?" Every other major country with a military are looking at ways to improve their artillery - faster loading, more maneuverable and quicker positioning, and better protection...except the US Marine Corps. I had the honor and pleasure to serve in Vietnam with Chuck Krulak, Tony Zinni and Joe Hoar who understood the value of artillery as a direct support of infantry operations. I was an FO with India 3/12, a 105 mm battery, an FDO and XO with Whiskey 2/12, a Howtar (look it up!) battery that was helicoper transportable, an artillery advisor with the Vietname Marine (outstanding cannon-cockers) and the battery commander with Kilo4/11 at the start and during the next 6 months of TET 1968. I saw what COFRAM (DPICM) rourds did to "dig in" VC and NVA units. The Marfine Corps leadership needs to lead, put the current Force Design in a buring dumpster and figure out how we get our MAGTF Marine Corps back. Given the state of the current DoD leadership, I am not holding my breath...
I reached out directly to Hung Cao on LI and he has not responded. I attempted to contacted Sebastian Gorka, former C&SC professor on X via DM, and he blocked me.
MAGA needs to make the USMC Great Again--retire CMC Gen Eric Smith and urgently create high speed, long-range amphibious to replace ACV and AMPHIBIOUS combat logistics to replace LCAC. Listen to Gen Tony Zinni on FD and me on amohibs for 21st C Amphibious warfare.
Mr. Hegseth, Cao are saving the USN, why are they letting USMC twist in the wind with FD? Why are they not listening to retired USMC generals, or me on amphibious technology foresight, or former DoW exec Gary Anderson?
Again. FD2030 has ruined our beloved Corps MAGTF capabilities and must be reversed immediately implementing VISION2035 to save our Corps and restore our MAGTF lethality and capabilities @
In my opinion, the answer to todays CP's questions are: no, everything is not fine. FD is a half-baked plan which is 6-7 years behind schedule. Its prime weapon's system, the NMEMSIS, is still not fully operational. FD has left the 3rd MARDIV woefully inadequate to be considered as a combat division. Marine divisions are without field artillery, and armor.
We are told by some, that the new Marine Corps has the full support of Congress and the DOD. As I have queried in the past, do members of Congress (a totally dysfunctional organization), fully understand what has been lost with the divestment of Marine Corps equipment and capabilities? Do they realize that the United States now, does not have a fully functional robust naval expeditionary force? Do they realize that this Nation does not have a naval forceable entry capability, as it did in the past? We know that the current CMC gives a "dog and pony show" when he testifies before Congress about FD. We are told that such capabilities are no longer needed because of drones, and long-range precision fires. Well, as we've discussed this week, drones and long-range precision fires are nice to have, but you still must fight the close fight with combined-arms forces. We have been told that the next peer fight will be with the PLA, yet there are numerous ongoing conflicts which do not include China. We are also told that in a fight with the PLA, we must fight within the WEZ. The advocates of FD never discuss fighting China on the peripheries. That is where the Marine Corps would excel as a robust, medium weight, combined-arms, naval expeditionary force. If we returned to the pre-FD Marine Corps with newer technologies and capabilities, then the answer to today's CP question, would be: Yes!
You asked whether members of Congress truly understand what has been lost with the divestments under Force Design.
Yes, Congress has been thoroughly briefed by those who oppose it. LtGen Van Riper himself confirmed as much on 14 April 2025 when he wrote:
“Senior members of Chowder Society II are talking with key members of the Senate and House and the current administration. We are seeing increasing interest in our message…”
Like you, I’m curious how those engagements went. But there are indications . . .
Totally agree, I wonder when politicians on both side of the aisle will wake up and find that Horse in their bed. We can't seem to get the message across that the Marine Corps of today can't perform all of the duties that Article 10 says we should be capable of. FD 2030 is a complete wreck and should be immediately reversed.
https://www.rounds.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/rounds-manchin-lead-bipartisan-bicameral-letter-urging-investments-to-modernize-marines
"he Marine Corps has drastically cut its tubed artillery. Is everything fine?" Every other major country with a military are looking at ways to improve their artillery - faster loading, more maneuverable and quicker positioning, and better protection...except the US Marine Corps. I had the honor and pleasure to serve in Vietnam with Chuck Krulak, Tony Zinni and Joe Hoar who understood the value of artillery as a direct support of infantry operations. I was an FO with India 3/12, a 105 mm battery, an FDO and XO with Whiskey 2/12, a Howtar (look it up!) battery that was helicoper transportable, an artillery advisor with the Vietname Marine (outstanding cannon-cockers) and the battery commander with Kilo4/11 at the start and during the next 6 months of TET 1968. I saw what COFRAM (DPICM) rourds did to "dig in" VC and NVA units. The Marfine Corps leadership needs to lead, put the current Force Design in a buring dumpster and figure out how we get our MAGTF Marine Corps back. Given the state of the current DoD leadership, I am not holding my breath...
I reached out directly to Hung Cao on LI and he has not responded. I attempted to contacted Sebastian Gorka, former C&SC professor on X via DM, and he blocked me.
MAGA needs to make the USMC Great Again--retire CMC Gen Eric Smith and urgently create high speed, long-range amphibious to replace ACV and AMPHIBIOUS combat logistics to replace LCAC. Listen to Gen Tony Zinni on FD and me on amohibs for 21st C Amphibious warfare.
Mr. Hegseth, Cao are saving the USN, why are they letting USMC twist in the wind with FD? Why are they not listening to retired USMC generals, or me on amphibious technology foresight, or former DoW exec Gary Anderson?
Exactly 💯
Again. FD2030 has ruined our beloved Corps MAGTF capabilities and must be reversed immediately implementing VISION2035 to save our Corps and restore our MAGTF lethality and capabilities @
👍 indeed!
In my opinion, the answer to todays CP's questions are: no, everything is not fine. FD is a half-baked plan which is 6-7 years behind schedule. Its prime weapon's system, the NMEMSIS, is still not fully operational. FD has left the 3rd MARDIV woefully inadequate to be considered as a combat division. Marine divisions are without field artillery, and armor.
We are told by some, that the new Marine Corps has the full support of Congress and the DOD. As I have queried in the past, do members of Congress (a totally dysfunctional organization), fully understand what has been lost with the divestment of Marine Corps equipment and capabilities? Do they realize that the United States now, does not have a fully functional robust naval expeditionary force? Do they realize that this Nation does not have a naval forceable entry capability, as it did in the past? We know that the current CMC gives a "dog and pony show" when he testifies before Congress about FD. We are told that such capabilities are no longer needed because of drones, and long-range precision fires. Well, as we've discussed this week, drones and long-range precision fires are nice to have, but you still must fight the close fight with combined-arms forces. We have been told that the next peer fight will be with the PLA, yet there are numerous ongoing conflicts which do not include China. We are also told that in a fight with the PLA, we must fight within the WEZ. The advocates of FD never discuss fighting China on the peripheries. That is where the Marine Corps would excel as a robust, medium weight, combined-arms, naval expeditionary force. If we returned to the pre-FD Marine Corps with newer technologies and capabilities, then the answer to today's CP question, would be: Yes!
You asked whether members of Congress truly understand what has been lost with the divestments under Force Design.
Yes, Congress has been thoroughly briefed by those who oppose it. LtGen Van Riper himself confirmed as much on 14 April 2025 when he wrote:
“Senior members of Chowder Society II are talking with key members of the Senate and House and the current administration. We are seeing increasing interest in our message…”
Like you, I’m curious how those engagements went. But there are indications . . .