Compass Points - Iran Strike
US hits Iranian nuclear sites
Compass Points - Iran Strike
US hits Iranian nuclear sites
June 22, 2025
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Sunday is a good time for reflection.
This Sunday is a good day to be grateful for Operation Midnight Hammer, the successful US strike on the nuclear sites in Iran. No-one knows what the future holds, but for now, it is worth taking a moment to enjoy the success of the US strike.
The purpose of Operation Midnight Hammer was to end the Iranian nuclear capability and to cool down future conflict in the Middle East. While Iran’s nuclear sites appear to be destroyed, no doubt the future nevertheless holds more conflicts in the Middle East or other conflicts around the world.
For Operation Midnight Hammer, when the US Air Force and US Navy were called to perform the mission, they were ready to perform and their performance was outstanding. The Air Force and the Navy had the units, equipment, and capabilities that were needed.
For the Marine Corps, the question now is: in the future, when the Marine Corps is called to perform a crucial mission, will the Marine Corps be ready to perform? Does the Marine Corps have the units, equipment, and capabilities that are needed?
Senior Marine leaders in testimony before Congress and in other statements repeatedly claim the Marine Corps is still just as strong of a global, expeditionary, crisis response force as it has ever been. Is that accurate?
What is the actual state of Marine combined arms capabilities? Instead of only considering official words from senior Marine leaders, perhaps it is better to consider the issue using a different method. Perhaps we can see more clearly by using a scenario like the Xanadu Thought Experiment.
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Xanadu Thought Experiment
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In the near future, a Marine MEU arrives off the coast of the troubled African nation of Xanadu to stabilize the situation and evacuate American embassy personnel that are already on the beach. The port city is receiving sniper fire and sporadic artillery attacks. A few kilometers away, across a narrow river, is the capital of Xanadu under siege by rebel forces. Beyond the capital, there is danger that the country next to Xanadu may send its entire army across the border on the side of the rebel forces. The MEU's mission is to evacuate the Americans, defeat the rebel forces, protect the capital, and stabilize the country.
Unfortunately, just as the MEU arrives offshore, the Commanding Officer is stricken with appendicitis and evacuated to Germany. A new CO is flown in. He is known as the Combined Arms Colonel, the MAGTF King. He commanded two MEU's and has been teaching at the Marine Corps University the history of MAGTF combined arms. While he has great experience in MEU operations, he has been so busy teaching the history of the MAGTF and its amazing capabilities, that he has not kept up with the latest changes in MEU capabilities.
It is only a few hours before dawn when the new CO steps off the helo in Xanadu and goes straight to the briefing room where his staff is assembled. The new CO has been reading briefing papers for the last several hours and knows he must act fast.
After some quick introductions, the new CO addresses his staff.
"Marines, I want a complete plan put together based on this outline.
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1. Commencing at dawn, we use rotor-craft to evacuate the Embassy personnel to safety. Make sure our MPs protect those LZs. We do not want crowds rushing our aircraft.
2. Battalion sniper teams move into the town and clean out the enemy snipers.
3. Our artillery shuts down their artillery and prepares to support our advance on the capital.
4. We will send a fire and maneuver force to clean out the rebels and retake the capital. Our fixing force will move directly toward the capital and establish a base of fire. Our maneuver force, including tanks, will cross the river and hit them in the flank.
5. Have our engineers put a bridge across the river, the local bridge is not strong enough.
6. We need to coordinate with the Navy to make room for the second MEU to arrive.
7. And we need to bring in the Maritime Prepositioning assets so if the neighboring country jumps across the border, we will be ready for Marine fly-in-echelons to arrive.
Any thoughts?"
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There was complete silence in the briefing room. The Colonel thought it was because the staff was overwhelmed with the brilliance of his plan.
Finally, the intel officer spoke up.
"Sir, I know you have just arrived, but the MEU has no tanks, no artillery, no snipers, no engineers, no bridging, no Military Police, there is no second MEU nearby, and there are no Maritime Prepositioning assets we can call on."
After a moment, the intel officer concluded, "we do have several small drones."
— Xanadu Thought Experiment
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The US Air Force and the US Navy had the units, equipment, and capabilities they needed when Operation Midnight Hammer came calling. When the next US operation comes calling and the Marine Corps is ordered into action, will the Marine Corps have the units, equipment, and success that are needed?
Even today, if the Marine Corps is genuinely prepared for any contingency as senior Marine leaders often claim, is the Marine Corps in place and ready to assist in the event of unexpected Iranian reaction? Where is a Marine MAGTF on scene with the capability to evacuate civilians, reinforce security, conduct raids on coastal targets, take down ships and attack boats, rescue pilots or other personnel? Where are the Marines?
The future is unknown. The Middle East is always an area of concern. Still, Compass Points salutes all the military and civilians in the US and in Israel who did the hard work to make the strike on the Iran nuclear sites such a resounding success. Many thanks!
There was a time when the first two questions asked by the NSC during a crisis was where are the carriers and where are the Marines. We know where the carriers are right now. Where are the Marines?
Ok, I’ll play. . .
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Thanks for the guidance, MAGTF King. In order of your points:
1. Embassy Evacuation
We’ll launch MV-22s at dawn for the embassy evac, potentially reinforced with CH-53s depending on numbers. Citizens already at the port can be handled via LCUs or LCACs. As for MPs—we don’t carry a company of them. To my knowledge, MEUs never have. But we have our rifle companies trained in NEO procedures, including crowd control with non-lethals. We’ll secure the LZ just fine.
2. Sniper Employment
Respectfully, sending sniper teams alone into an urban environment to “clean out” other snipers is not how we do business. Recon Snipers still exist (and are still very good), but they’re best used surgically—supporting infantry maneuver or providing overwatch. I’ll recommend an integrated plan, if you like.
3. Counter-Battery Fires
Our artillery battery is ashore and fully mission capable. Yes, MEUs still bring 155mm howitzers—and some deploy with HIMARS depending on tasking. Either way, we can begin counter-battery fire as soon as we receive targeting data. Coordination with ACE sensors and UAS is underway.
4. Fire & Maneuver Plan
MEUs do not have bridging companies—never did. But our ACVs can swim the river. LAVs might be able to cross too depending on current, slope, and depth. Alternatively, we will secure the far side with heliborne infantry and link up across the water. We don’t need to build a bridge to flank effectively—we’re Marines.
5. Engineer Capabilities
We do have engineers attached, but again, not a bridging unit (and again, not sure a MEU ever has). They can blow obstacles, clear routes, or shore up the local bridge if necessary. But if it’s about mass crossing, we’ll swim it or fly it. Adapt and overcome.
6. Follow-on Forces
We can request 22 MEU if this evolves into a larger operation, but right now we’re within the capability of a single MEU. No requirement yet for a second. If that changes, we’ll move quickly and 22 can cut their work up short.
7. Maritime Prepositioning
We do still have Maritime Prepositioning assets, sir. They’re staged globally, but activating them requires significant lead time and strategic lift coordination. Purpose will drive the request—are we planning to receive a full fly-in echelon or posture for regional deterrence? We’ll need clarity to initiate that process. I’m sure the designated USMC Service Response Force is ready.
8. Regional Threat
If the neighboring country commits conventional forces, we’re not handling that alone. That’s when the joint force gets called in. Air Force long-range strike, Navy cruise missiles, etc. will make their presence known. In the meantime, our organic F-35s, H-1s, and precision fires give us a powerful deterrent and plenty of fight.
Ready to execute when you are.