Compass Points - Not Prepared
Congress issues military report
Compass Points - Not Prepared
Congress issues military report
August 5, 2024
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The defense news site Real Clear Defense publishes a "Morning Recon" list of specially curated articles that it sends to a readership that includes think tanks, defense corporations, and Congress. In this morning's publication, Real Clear Defense features yesterday's Compass Points post, "Marine Wife and Mom - An open letter to the Commandant." The letter is a heartfelt plea of concern from a member of the Marine Corps family.
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I wanted to give you the background of what I have experienced as a Marine mom. For the last few years, though, all I hear about the Marine Corps is worried talk about something called Force Design. What is it? I have tried to read about it. I am not sure I understand it. But it does not sound good. From my understanding, you are shipping young Marines off to different islands with no way to come back home.
-- Marine wife and mom
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The defenders of Force Design are so fearful of criticism they have even sent out trolls to attack Marine wife and mom for not being a military expert. If they are so fearful of a few words from a concerned mother, imagine the pressure being applied right now to the FFRDC -- federally funded research and development center. The FFRDC has been tasked by Congress to review the entire Force Design controversy. Be strong FFRDC. Resist the trolls. Continue to investigate the critical question: have Marine Corps combined arms, crisis response capabilities been degraded over the last several years or not?
While some in Congress have still not woken up to the dangers of Force Design, there are signs that world events have caused many in Congress to take a fresh look at the military -- and they do not like what they see. Defense News is reporting on a special outside panel that has taken a hard look at the US military and come to a stark conclusion, "‘Not prepared’: Congressional panel calls for huge defense buildup"
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America’s odds of fighting a major war are the highest in 80 years, and its military isn’t prepared for one.
This was the finding of a bipartisan panel tasked by Congress to review U.S. defense strategy. Its nearly 100-page report reveals a crisis of confidence in American national security.
-- Defense News
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The panel did not directly address the question: have Marine Corps combined arms, crisis response capabilities been degraded over the last several years or not? Still, the panel's report may be a sign that the Congress is beginning to take a new look at the Nation's combat capabilities.
The fighting in Ukraine is a warning. Despite new technology, combat against large aggressive forces like Russia are still difficult, bloody battles between infantry and artillery on one side and infantry and artillery on the other.
Compass Points salutes both Marine wife and mom and the Congressional commission on military preparedness, as well as all those making their voices heard for a stronger military.
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Compass Points – Marine Wife & Mom
An open letter to the Commandant
August 4, 2024
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Defense News - 07/29/2024
‘Not prepared’: Congressional panel calls for huge defense buildup
By Noah Robertson
As a former Marine (1960-1968) , it does make me wonder what our former and present Commandant have in mind for the Corps. My son and a Nephew were also Marines, My wife's parents were WW II Marines. We are concerned about the divest to invest idea. Concentrating on China as the only potential future problem has hamstrung the Corps at a time when we have problems worldwide. As others have pointed out, we can’t even take care of the Houthis in Yemen. The Air Force helped sink the Tarawa with a guided bomb, an FA 18 used a ship killer missile on the same target, the and the Army is preparing to increase it presence in the Pacific area. These three major military components can easily take care of some of the problems in the pacific. What is the purpose of having the Marines isolated on islands without the ship killing weapons to defend themselves and that have not even been developed yet. If we put these Marines on these islands, we can’t supply them, and we can’t move them. We have divested ourselves of our armor, 1/3 of our Aviation, some of our Infantry, and much of our Artillery. The Corps has always been looked to as the point of the spear and the first to get to the problem area and help the people in disaster situations or clear a beach head or inland area for combat operations. We simply don’t have the people equipment to do much of this now. A bit more divestment and there will be no reason for the Marine Corps to exist.
Former Marine Corporal Dr. John Watkins
And “they” make it harder on the warriors as they have announced our presence in the Med and today they revealed our strategy for the arctic. Opsec is apparently not taught in our schools. Unless all this is “deception” . But a joint Russo-Chinese bomber incursion into Alaskan airspace indicates we ought to have a strategy up yonder. My time in Adak and at MCMWTC would have me believe training and specialized gear is not widely available. In the old days 2d Marines and 1/10 had cold weather as a recurring commitment. “Not prepared”? Wait and see is not an option. Not a Marine quality either!