Compass Points - Productive Comments

Readers expand the discussion.

Compass Points - Productive Comments

Readers expand the discussion.

October 19, 2024

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Watch out Ali Khamenei! The Middle East is a dangerous place. Over the last several weeks, Israel has terminated more than a half dozen senior Hezbollah leaders. More recently, Israel terminated Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar. Now, Israel continues to plan a retaliatory strike against Iran for their ballistic missile attack on Israel. Watch out Ali Khamenei! Ali Khamenei is the Supreme Leader of Iran. At least, he is Iran's leader for now.

Worldwide challenges threaten the safety and security of the US. What will happen next? No one knows. No matter what happens, however, there is no doubt Compass Points readers will have insightful analysis and comment.

Over the last week, Compass Points readers have responded online and off with a cornucopia of comments, insights, and analysis. Only a few of the comments are re-posted below. Most of the full comments are available for reading on the Compass Points site. As always, comments have been edited for length and content. Several long, thoughtful comments have been reduced to just a sentence or two. Often the real enjoyment comes, not as much from the excerpt included below but, from reading the comment in full. Compass Points appreciates the full, insightful, and professional comments of all readers. Many thanks!

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Thomas M. Huber

The American people do not realize it yet, but the US is in for a long existential struggle whose logic will require, and ultimately result in, massive changes to our industrial and economic systems, and to our political orientations as well. Otherwise, we will not be able to survive the challenges that will be posed by the Chinese mega-power and its allies. We must open our eyes both to the inevitable reality of major military confrontation in the Pacific and elsewhere, and to the question of how our military and society must become drastically stronger to remain free in the face of those challenges.

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Bob Whitener

As to the "2nd Land Army" issue, it is a Marine Corps. A corps, as a senior military headquarters, stands between the regiment, brigade or division and its senior HQ, the army.

Amphibious operations are the uniquely valuable capabilities the Marine Corps must maintain as an integral part of the nation’s naval power. Once ashore, however, the MAGTF must be trained and able to function in an expeditionary role up to the MEF level. This is a necessary, complementary role. It is not a competition role with the U S Army.

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medevicerep

Let us return to the days of accountability where the ship's captain is relieved for hazarding his ship. I believe that nothing ever happened to the Captain of the Bonhomme Richard that burned down in port, a disgrace to the same Navy that saved so many burning ships at sea in WWII.

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Joel T Bowling

The US Army is on target with its development and implementation of its MDFs! Unfortunately for our Corps, the US Army's new MDFs are more efficient and effective than the "brain child" of former CMC Gen Berger's Littoral Rgts that do little to warn or thwart any action by the CHICOMs against the RoC aka Taiwan! This FD2030 insanity has neutered the Corps' MAGTF capabilities and rendered the Corps to be used as "ship snipers" and coastal artillery and left the Corps solely dependent on the US Army for any armor/tank support and for large cannon artillery fire support, should any mission warrant such.

The author is "spot-on" with the observations and criticisms yet again, and the call for US Congressional hearings and oversight is critical immediately to reverse and restore our Corps as America's "Force-in-Readiness" and ability to fight in "every clime and place"!

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cfrog

I may be just a simple cave frog, but I wonder that we don't use our emergent SIF in the one obvious place where it would actually be a unique and overpowered asset: to reinforce our ally who already has SIF in place at the BRP Sierra Madre on Second Thomas Shoal. I understand the diplomatic complexities, to include the Philippines denying such support. However, the lack of discussion or comment around this obvious application is deafening. The concept would be for a very small det (4 Marines) from an MLR, with some of its unique assets, to join the detachment already on board the Sierra Madre as a symbol of partnered American presence in support of Philippine sovereignty. It would suck for the Det, as the Sierra Madre is slowly falling apart, but success would mean the ability for meaningful repairs and more robust resupply for all on the outpost.

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Douglas C Rapé

The USMC could have a true ship killing capability within weeks. The F-35 B can carry the USAF developed ship killing smart bombs internally. Combine the range of the aircraft and the smart bomb and with the maneuverability of Amphibious shipping and Pacific airfields and the entire, current USMC concept is stillborn. Why is the stubborn insistence being stuck to? Observe, Orient, Decide and Cancel. If the current Marine leadership cannot grasp what is happening they need to be removed.

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polarbear

Agree! Why FD2030 reduced and eliminated squadrons in favor of developing ground based anti-ships missiles is beyond my grasp. The Navy's primary anti-ship weapon is aircraft. Why not put the focus on the stealthy US Marine F-35 armed with standoff weapons. Why go in the direction of developing land based anti-ship missiles when the US Navy has the Arleigh Burk Destroyer with the existing and an improving effective anti-ship missile defense.

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Coffeejoejava

With all the defensive weapons that current naval ships have at their disposal, how many missiles does doctrine state you fire at each target to overwhelm their defenses and score a "kill"?

I can only assume that the Chinese have as many defensive weapons on their vessels as the US does. So the answer to my query above is definitely more than one. The NMESIS that I have seen has two missiles, short range ones at that. How many of these exactly does one of these SIF units have?

And back to my logistics background: the SIF has fired its initial loadout....How do they rearm? How do they protect themselves from the inevitable response? Because firing missiles at something is not a way to remain "stealthy". The LMSR things the Corps is attempting to force the Navy to purchase (I won't get into the Navy’s current practice of manning ships at 75-80% manning for deployments or their current recruitment woes) are not "stealthy" and will not survive in a high threat atmosphere. How are the Marines now moved or protected?

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Jerry McAbee

The more one studies Force Design, the worse it looks. One's imagination is truly boggled by the incompetence that created this disaster. One's faith is tested by the arrogance that perpetuates it.

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Douglas C Rapé

Let me suggest the book "The Jungle in Neutral" by Chapman. Surviving in Malaysian coastal regions on minimal logistical support is a nightmare scenario and not for the faint of heart. Just small arms and limited ammunition become a huge burden. Initial EABO suggested living off of the land and purchases from locals. Don’t hear much about that any more. Logistics is the base consideration and I have yet to see a viable solution. “Not logistically supportable” has killed many a course of action.

It is time to put this fantasy to rest. Not a Marine mission, all other services can do it better, the USMC can do it better with Quicksink bombs carried by F-35’s and the concept is not logistically supportable. The SecNav needs to step up and put this to rest. Time to send some people into retirement.

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polarbear

If I understand the current US Joint Military situation, the US Army fielded the Multi-Domain Task Force (MDTF) in response to the US strategic shift towards the CCP Pacific threat (See CP-Ode to HEMETT).

The US Air Force has just completed the activation of "the last of its first six Air Task Forces" (See CP-Wild Blue Yonder).

The US Navy now has a solution to reload the missile tubes of their Alleigh-Burk Destroyer at sea. In addition, the US Navy now has a “Quick-Sink” anti-ship program (See CP-That Sinking Feeling).

The US Marine Corps has fielded the MLR with short range anti-ship missiles (See-CP Missile Mistake) that is going to be deployed by small amphibs yet to be built, supplied by experimental “narco-boats” with the cargo capacity of a 5 ton truck (See CP-Narco Boat Hits Oki).

In addition, the current Commandant is making the empty boost that the US Marine Corps is the eyes and ears of the Joint Force. Read General McKenzie’s book “The Melting Point” to understand where the real eyes and ears of the Joint Force reside. (In many ways this book is a study of the Combatant Commander’s C&C capabilities.)

It is time for Chowder II to visit Capitol Hill with recommendations for a new Commandant that understands both the US Marine Corps Development system and how to coordinate with the strategic focus of the Joint Military System.

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cfrog

The USAF has typically done well copying good ideas from the USMC and hiring from the USMC as their needs dictate. See 'Special Reconaissance' (https://afspecialwarfare.com/afspecwar-overview/special-reconnaissance/). They are also pretty good at smiling over their cards at the patsy while sitting at the DoD poker game.

Would it surprise anyone if in the next year, the USAF announces small Sensor/CCT Deep Strike Detachments, basically small composite reconnaissance units with networked passive sensing capabilities designed to operate from areas around Pacom, employing medium to long range full spectrum fires? (Of course, someone will say we basically already have that, and I will say, I know....and not talking about the MLR here).

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Randy Shetter

What I find astounding is that with the knowledge and experience of former Commandants, of General Officers, of numerous Field Grade officers and a multitude of Marines and concerned citizens on this post, none of it seems to make a dent into CMC Smith's thinking.

Unfortunately, it will be young Marines who will pay the price for this foolishness.

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Paul Van Riper

It was only a few days after CMC met with all former CMCs in August and heard the concerns of nearly all of them that he issued his flawed Commandant's Planning Guidance indicating he chose to ignore those concerns; apparently he intends to move full speed ahead with Force Design 2030 though he dropped the date. Unless CMC is given new direction from SecDef or SecNav to make changes, there are no indications he will do so. Congress could also act if enough members understood the damage done to national security. Chowder Society II will not give up its efforts to get the Corps back to being the nation's premier global, combined arms,  crisis response force.

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The Wolf

In the “Old Corps” (before the 38th Commandant) Marine Corps History and Tradition—its very heritage—were important. Marines honored that heritage in word and deed! If the 38th Commandant could eliminate storied regiments such as the 3rd, 4th, and 12th Marines and foist off names like the 3rd, 4th, and 12th Marine Littoral Regiments with a stroke of his pen why should anyone be surprised that Joe Marine decide can Banjo Company is better than Bravo Company. The Wolf can only howl that what we have seen is a mockery of our heritage, likely the product of a limited intellect focused on personal prominence rather than the legacy of the Corps.

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Compass Points salutes all readers who in their own ways are continuing to build the discussion about a stronger Marine Corps and also thanks all our readers who served as seminar leaders this week by providing topics, articles, and comments. Many thanks!