23 Comments
User's avatar
Charles Wemyss, Jr.'s avatar

Stunning, leaves one breathless at the prevarication of a four star flag officer in the post of Commandant of the US Marine Corps. That was just his opening statement, do any of us have the courage to watch C-Span and see what other tales he attempted to tell? Imagine sitting with the “acting CNO” the new SevNav and running that jive by Congress, especially when his boss’s boss has said something completely different and given new commanders intent. General Smith is either the most stupid man ever to sit in residence at the oldest standing structure in Washington DC, or he figures he is the smartest guy in the room, and can blow this dreck by everyone. He likely has rat like cunning, figures the “Acting CNO” is just that and he has looked at Secretary Phelan and figures him for a political dupe and is going to outlast they, and us all.

Can we blame him? He looks across the broad spectrum of those Congressmen and women before whom he is testifying and sees what we see. A bunch of tired whited haired old dudes with hearing aids (one lady has purple hair, okay we like diversity) and not one knows a thing about the business of the Marine Corps. One can guess if challenged to tell the American people what the Marine Corps mission is, and or give broad strokes of Title X that they would fail. So General Smith gets a pass. SecNav’s priority is ship building, thus General Smith skates.

General Smith built his own prima fascia case for being fired. Perhaps our best hope is that the SecDef will see enough and decides to fire the 39th CMC himself and leave the SecNav out of it. But nothing will change until General Smith, and every acolyte associated with FD Fuzzy Wuzzy are sent into retirement. Hopefully to retirement where there is very little modern communications capability.

I say again….stunning, breathlessly stunning…

Expand full comment
Don Whisnant's avatar

I devoted 2-plus hours of my retired life to listen to the oversight committee question SecNav, the acting CNO and the CMC. I was sorely disappointed that no one seriously questioned Gen. Smith on the viability of Force Design. Either 1) they don’t care, 2) don’t know enough to ask questions, or 3) think all is well and the Marine Corps is on the right path forward. Or maybe all three. Very disappointing, except to watch the old lady with blue/purple hair.

Expand full comment
Randy Shetter's avatar

Don, I think your points 2 and 3 cover most of the problem. Most people who know very little will think the concept of "precision" guided missiles hitting Chinese ships is a real high tech good idea. The false belief that drones and precision missiles will win the next war is the popular belief now. Many people probably do not know that the war in Ukraine is still being fought with tanks and arty. Additionally, most people do not know or understand what has been lost to acquire FD. Not just the divested tanks and arty, but the loss of power from the sea. They do not understand the importance or need for a robust combined arms naval expeditionary force. Just my thoughts about this fiasco.

Expand full comment
Don Whisnant's avatar

I know that Compass Points and Chowder II are working hard to set things straight for the Marine Corps. It's just disheartening to see a committee like this with no visible understanding of the current situation.

Expand full comment
Corporal Grable's avatar

Maybe they understand it and CP and Chowder II do not. . .

Expand full comment
Don Whisnant's avatar

For me, that’s not reasonable. In the collective group of Marines that oppose Force Design, there are too many personal heroes with relevant experience. I simply can’t believe they are all wrong.

Expand full comment
Corporal Grable's avatar

Don, I watched it, too! The Members actually praised Force Design on multiple instances!!! Disappointing that CP has been at this for several years and we have nothing to show for it.

Expand full comment
Raymond Lee Maloy's avatar

Nothing will change until General Smith is gone…One way or the other! Semper Fi

Expand full comment
medevicerep's avatar

Agreed. He is incapable of admitting FD2030 was a mistake. Every officer is trained early to admit mistakes and correct. Check fire and recalibrate. He had dug his heels in. It’s time to go.

Expand full comment
Randy Shetter's avatar

He's had too much Force Design Kool Aid!

Expand full comment
Douglas C Rapé's avatar

Righteous cause? Does the CMC even know the definition of righteous? FD-2030 is not righteous. Deceptive, devious, misleading, dishonest, delusional….

Expand full comment
Randy Shetter's avatar

How can the current MEU be the Swiss Army Knife of the Joint Force, when its just a light infantry force? Where are the other blades: arty, tanks, engineers, etc?

Expand full comment
Corporal Grable's avatar

MEUs have everything you just spoke of except tanks . . . and much much more. . .

Expand full comment
Randy Shetter's avatar

Yes, but tanks offer hard hitting offensive and defensive mobile firepower. No heavy engineering/breaching assets. Plus the Corps as a whole lacks sufficient tube artillery to be a credible offensive force.

Expand full comment
SALTY GATOR's avatar

We will never learn if we never say that we were wrong. We don't need Barracks 2030. We need FIX THE BARRACKS NOW. I wonder if the good General would accept his company commanders letting him know that their UNSAT DRRS reporting was going to be rectified in five years? Or, would the Sgt Maj of Marine Corps wait five minutes, let alone five seconds, to field day an UNSAT space?

Expand full comment
Ray “Skip” Polak's avatar

IF “2” THEN NOT “1”! Impossible to flesh out the MEU if our assets go to “2”—and it has no teeth. None of us disagree with 3

Expand full comment
Coffeejoejava's avatar

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kt9mumDHsvA

The full hearing with the Navy and the Corps.

Expand full comment
Corporal Grable's avatar

Interesting comments from Rep. Calvert (R-CA), during his opening statement. He says the Marine Corps’ Force Design is both “bold and necessary.” He then goes on to say, “the future of the Marine Corps depends on getting this right, and we’re committed to providing the resources to make that happen.”

I am a longtime follower of CP and this is my first time posting. Why do our elected officials see things so differently than what is presented on this site? What is CP doing to change their minds?

Expand full comment
Paul Van Riper's avatar

General Berger told Congress that he would modernize and through his "divest to invest" approach it would cost nothing. He sold them a bright shiny car and few have bothered to look under the hood to see there is nothing there. Members of Chowder Society II continue to talk with various members of Congress and slowly they are coming around. As I mentioned on this site previously, I spent more than two hours along with a retired Marine 4-star in my home talking with Representative Rob Wittman who is on the House Armed Services Committee. Others or our team have talked with members of the current administration at the highest level. We are happy to have Compass Points supporting our efforts and its readership continues to grow. One authority estimated that approximately 150,000 people read a post within 48 hours; subscribers distribute it widely within hours of posting. We will not give up the fight until our Corps is bacl on the right track!

Expand full comment
Corporal Grable's avatar

Thanks for the comments, General. My concern is although you spoke with Rep Wittman for four hours, he is on the record as saying (thanks Google), “Finally, I'd like to hear from the Commandant on the progress he's making with Force Design. Preparing our Marines to be successful in potential conflict with China is critically important. Force design will do just that and with that I yield to my friend the ranking member for any opening statement he may have.”

Yesterday’s testimony was a Force Design love fest. Not one member challenged the Commandant on FD. Every comment was positive!

We come here everyday looking for wins and it seems like all we get are more articles and promises. We are Marines and we fight to win! Please show us we are winning.

Expand full comment
Paul Van Riper's avatar

Nice try Ian; I wasn't born yesterday!

Expand full comment
Corporal Grable's avatar
User was temporarily suspended for this comment. Show
Expand full comment