Compass Points - Reflection & WIR

Better discussion for a better Corps

Compass Points - Reflection & WIR

Better discussion for a better Corps

May 19, 2024

.

Happy Sunday!

.

Sunday is a good day to look back at the week. Before we get to our WIR - Week in Review, it is worth reflecting on what the discussions on Compass Points are for. Compass Points is a discussion site about the Marine Corps and National security. Compass Points advocates for a stronger Marine Corps and a stronger National defense.

.

These are momentous topics, worthy of a robust discussion, discourse, and debate. This is not a petty discussion of personalities or persons. Rather, we are at a critical time, facing critical topics. The urgency of the issues dictates the frankness of the debate.

.

The discussion should be conducted as a professional discussion among Marines and friends of the Corps from all backgrounds and experience. Those Marines on active duty years ago and those on active duty today are bound together on the same journey. We all share the same goal: to ensure the Marine Corps is strong today and stronger tomorrow.

.

If the Marine Corps grows stronger in the future, then all of us — on all sides — will win. If the Marine Corps grows weaker, then we all lose.

.

Writing some time ago in the Marine Times, General Charles Krulak, the 31st Commandant of the Marine Corps, reflected on professional discussion among Marines and some "bedrock principles."

.

==========

.

First off, it is not a commandant’s Marine Corps; the Marine Corps belongs to all Marines past and present, living and dead. It is all of our Marine Corps.

It became our Marine Corps the moment we earned our eagle, globe and anchor. It will remain our Marine Corps for the rest of our lives.

On a moral/ethos level, we, all of us, love and care for the Marine Corps. That commitment, that ethos, can sometimes be underappreciated or misunderstood. Yet it is our touchstone. We must never lose that commitment, that sense of ownership.

While some few of us at any one time may have some legal authority over elements of the Marine Corps, we, all of us, have moral authority; it is our Corps; we care about it; we should not allow anyone to make us feel that caring for our Corps and sometimes questioning its path is somehow “not our job.”

And, although some few may see this keen sense of belonging as a problem, it is truly one of the Corps’ strengths. Consider how many corporate executives would give much to have their employees think, work, and act with our sense of commitment.

Second, positions held are not career steppingstones; they are temporary occasions for serious, self-sacrificing stewardship.

Stewards live with an unrelenting sense of what came from the self-sacrifices of the past. The respect, the power, the lives and the capabilities that they hold in the present all came from the physical and intellectual efforts, and in some cases the heroic self-sacrifices, made by others: Marines, parents, teachers, coaches, pastors and priests and patriots of every occupation.

Our ethos must continue to develop Marine leaders and commanders who not only understand but, by every action, manifest that they live with deep awareness of that legacy. The veterans that made us U.S. Marines and mentored us throughout our lives provided living, consistent examples of respect for our legacy.

We learned that if Marines of their caliber spent time developing a capability, then we had a sacred duty to understand why that capability, that training, that character, that skill set was needed. We learned to seek the experience, counsel and wisdom of those of all ranks who went before us. And it was not hard for us to do. We wanted to learn from those who went before us. We wanted to be good stewards.

Number three, our legacy and heritage include hosting rigorous and professional discussions about our Marine Corps, writ large and inclusive of all Marines, all those who have served with Marines, and all who love and care for Marines.

-- General Charles Krulak, "Whose Marine Corps?" Marine Times 05/27/2022

.

==========

.

Week in Review

We began the week with discussions about MARSOC robot dogs and the power of cannon artillery. Wednesday discussed delays in the Landing Ship Medium and Thursday saluted hard working Marine recruiters. Friday continued a discussion about the importance of a combined arms force of Marines. We ended the week with some outstanding reader comments.

.

Monday 13 May -- MARSOC Dogs

The Marines of MARSOC, like Marines in units all around the world, are doing great things. Marines everywhere have something special with them -- it is not a robot dog. The next time Marines find themselves in the kind of intense fighting ongoing in Ukraine, it will not be robot dogs that save the day, it will be Devil Dogs. Technology is always important, but it is the indomitable heart inside a Marine that makes the Marine Corps special. Devil Dogs!

https://marinecorpscompasspoints.substack.com/p/compass-points-marsoc-dogs

.

Tuesday 14 May -- Call for Fire

Is the Marine Corps waking up to the ongoing significance of cannon artillery? The Marine Corps has not announced the return of even one battery yet. The Marine Corps seems to be still fixated on rockets and missiles. Rockets, missiles, and other precision munitions are useful, but should not be developed at the expense of cannon artillery.

https://marinecorpscompasspoints.substack.com/p/compass-points-call-for-fire-8da

.

Wednesday 15 May -- More Amphibs

The delay in the LSM benefits the Marine Corps. If the LSM were ever to start construction, it would use scarce shipyard facilities and construction crews. The more the LSM is delayed, the more shipyard facilities and crews are available to build ARG/MEU amphibious ships that are much larger and more useful than the LSM.

https://marinecorpscompasspoints.substack.com/p/compass-points-more-amphibs

.

Thursday 16 May -- Recruiting Rodeo

These are tough recruiting years for all the military services -- including the Marine Corps. The Nation has long depended on the Marine Corps to be most ready when the Nation is least ready. With the worldwide roster of growing threats from China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea, the Nation may be least ready today. That means the Marine Corps must be most ready.

https://marinecorpscompasspoints.substack.com/p/compass-points-recruiting-rodeo

.

Friday 17 May -- Combined Arms Infantry

If the Marine Corps wants to be prepared to win in the Pacific today against a determined peer adversary, it will take a robust Navy fleet working closely with robust combined arms Marine infantry battalions. So-called Marine Stand-in-Force missile units on islands in the Pacific will never have the numbers or combat capabilities to fight the combined arms, single battle.

https://marinecorpscompasspoints.substack.com/p/compass-points-combined-arms-infantry

.

Saturday 18 May -- Corral of Comments

Polarbear

Madness. The United States Marine Corps purpose is simple and clear; it is amphibious assault.

https://marinecorpscompasspoints.substack.com/p/compass-points-corral-of-comments

.

===========

.

Compass Points thanks General Charles Krulak for his wise counsel and thanks also all our readers who served as seminar leaders this week by providing topics, articles, and comments. Many thanks!