Even if he asked he could not get such a unit. Only parts and pieces exist. No complete unit has been fielded. Six years ago the Corps could have begun to create such a unit and eventually demonstrate a capability. Gen Berger decided to divest to invest ( a flawed understanding of how Congress appropriates funds) and jumped off of the horse before having a unicorn to mount. For six years the Corps has been irrelevant to national defense. There is no unicorn to ride and no money to buy a new horse.
As the official spokesman for Force Design, I must say "1) the real merits of SIF for the current fight are both classified and still being developed as part of our campaign of learning. 2) Those who criticisize SIF and Force Design in general, clearly have their thought process mired in a quest to resurrect legacy systems such as flintlock muzzle loaders and stiff leather collars. 3) Moreso, data from the conflict in Ukraine demonstrably shows the effectiveness of the NMESIS system. 4) If you disagree, you are clearly on the payroll of a defense contractor (such contractor may or may not be managing contracts supported under the FD initiatives since 2020). "
Haha:while I was growing up, my dad loved to watch a thunderstorm from his garage, while sipping PBR and smoking a stogie that rested on an ash tray made from a 105 shell (SVN trip souvenir).
So far the only Marine involvement are the aircraft aboard Abraham Lincoln. The SIF is a PowerPoint presentation, not a combat capability. Has CENTCOM asked the Marine Corps if it can seize Kharg Island? Can we? Do we have any way to get there? We have divested that capability and have left the country with a force irrelevant to the fight.
Today’s CJCS briefing, I took a photo of his comments on US Army Artillery ATACMS…taking out Naval Targets (Submarine) and fed it to Grok w instructions to find Marine MISSILES…. “MAR 13 CJCS POINTED OUT US ARMY ARTILLERY ATACMS USE TO SINK IRANIAN SUB AND DESTROY OTHER TARGETS IN EPIC FURY….RE USMC NEMESIS. **No, there are no reports or confirmations of US Marine Corps (USMC) NEMESIS (NMESIS) or USMC-operated HIMARS missiles being used in Operation Epic Fury.**
The ground-launched precision missile strikes highlighted in Gen. Dan Caine’s briefings—including ATACMS and the new Precision Strike Missile (PrSM) that sank Iranian ships—were carried out exclusively by **U.S. Army** artillery units using HIMARS launchers.
- **USMC HIMARS**: While the Marines also field HIMARS, no statements, imagery, or reporting link any Epic Fury missile launches to Marine units. All documented ground-based ballistic missile strikes are attributed to Army forces.
- **USMC NEMESIS/NMESIS**: This Marine Littoral Regiment anti-ship system (using Naval Strike Missiles) has seen no use or mention in the operation. It is not part of the documented strikes and is generally oriented toward Pacific scenarios rather than this Middle East campaign.
Marines have participated in Epic Fury in other capacities (such as F-35C air strikes from carriers), but the specific Army artillery missile achievements emphasized by Caine do not involve USMC ground-launched systems.”! Force Disaster! Yes it is!
Marines are in the fight — and more are on the way.
Watch the CJCS press conference at the 25:47 mark: Gen. Caine explicitly credits “American soldiers and Marines” using HIMARS, ATACMS, and PrSM to sink Iranian ships and destroy depots as part of Operation Epic Fury. That’s not “practicing in Hawaii” — that’s Marines delivering in combat, right now.
He said that....primarily in the talk about launching PRSM. Do you know for certain that Marines are involved in that and that it wasn't just an off the cuff slightly less precise remark from a guy accustomed to praising all members of the Joint Force as part of his regular duties? Any other source, or is this just cherry picking plus conjecture? And yes, we all hope for success to all members of the US Armed Forces, no more/no less emotion than is appropriate.
So you're insinuating that USMC HIMARS are supporting Army units with Atacms launches (and maybe PRSM). Okay, that's great. Glad to see the USMC Himars getting some. No one isn't proud of Marines doing good work. That really isn't on the topic if what was being talked about here. I'm sure there are Marines at Centcom, Cybercom, and Spacecom doing a good job supporting the mission. Again, not what we are talking about here.
News Flash SEND IN THE EXPEDITIONARY MAGTF THE MIGHTY 31ST MEU. GROK:The U.S. is redirecting elements of the forward-deployed **31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU)**—normally Pacific-focused and operating near Japan—from the Indo-Pacific to the Middle East amid the escalating U.S.-Iran conflict under **Operation Epic Fury** (launched late February 2026). This crisis-response surge, approved by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and driven by CENTCOM requests, involves roughly **2,200–2,500 Marines and sailors** (with some reports citing up to ~5,000 including ARG elements), embarked on ships like the amphibious assault ship **USS Tripoli (LHA-7)** and likely parts of an Amphibious Ready Group (ARG). The unit is en route from Pacific waters, meaning transit could take 1–2+ weeks to reach the region.
The 31st MEU brings its standard **Marine Air-Ground Task Force (MAGTF)** mix: infantry (Battalion Landing Team), aviation (F-35Bs, MV-22 Ospreys, AH-1Z Vipers as in your photo, plus support helos), logistics, and ground combat elements like Amphibious Combat Vehicles (ACVs), Light Armored Vehicles (LAVs), recon, engineers, and limited organic fires. This provides flexible, rapid-response capabilities—amphibious raids, embassy reinforcement, noncombatant evacuation, crisis response, or security ops—potentially for Strait of Hormuz escort/security, countering Iranian naval/missile threats, or supporting allied forces amid ongoing strikes and disruptions.
**The biting irony of Force Design 2030 (FD 2030)** hits hardest here. Under former Commandants Gen. David Berger and Gen. Eric Smith, the Corps deliberately divested **all main battle tanks** (M1A1 Abrams, fully gone by early 2020s) and slashed towed cannon artillery (from ~21 active batteries down to far fewer, with reinvestment in rocket systems like HIMARS/MLRS equivalents for long-range precision over massed indirect fire). The rationale: shed heavy, logistically intensive "legacy" systems unsuited to distributed, littoral ops against peer threats (e.g., China in the first island chain), favoring lighter, mobile **Stand-In Forces (SIF)**, NMESIS anti-ship missiles, unmanned systems, and persistent denial in contested environments.
Yet in a real-world high-intensity war—**not** the envisioned Pacific island-chain scenario, but a Middle East theater with potential for urban/desert maneuver, armored proxy threats (Iranian/IRGC forces), sustained ground combat, and needs for combined-arms breakthroughs or robust fire support—the Corps is surging a full MEU without tanks and with "very little" artillery (typically just a battery of 6x M777 155mm howitzers, plus mortars; no heavy cannon depth post-divestments). Critics long warned this leaves MEUs lighter and less lethal for anything beyond raids or aviation-supported ops, forcing heavy reliance on naval/air fires, allies, or Army reinforcements.
The Pacific bet (restructure for China deterrence) gets tested by global reality: a unit tailored for "inner island chain" persistence and denial is yanked to reinforce a desert/missile-heavy fight, minus the armor and artillery mass it once carried. FD 2030's "zero IE Force Disaster" (zero indirect fires/armor expeditionary) critique feels spot-on when the flexible MEU—once a go-to for any crisis—arrives stripped of heavies precisely because the Corps prioritized one theater's vision over broad warfighting depth. It's a stark reminder: strategic bets on future threats don't always align with where the nation actually fights next.
If the mission escalates ashore (beyond security/raids), expect the 31st to lean on its aviation edge, precision fires, and mobility—but without tanks or deep artillery, sustained maneuver warfare would be a tougher sell. Real-time details are still emerging as ships transit and ops evolve. Let me know if you want deeper dives on potential missions, current MEU gear lists, or FD updates!”.
This will be a different type of war for everybody. The drones we fly from LasVegas have been shooting targets in the Middle East for years, and drone technology in Iran is not a hobby, but a full time job. And they can probably fly from long distances to that narrow gap, and just hit any ship. All from remote areas as we cannot cover the entire country! How many
sunk freighters will it take to close the straight? Sooner or later someone with a rifle will have to stand on the ground and say, “this is mine, come and take it!” As it has been throughout history.
A giant miscalculation in the puzzle palace as we see no allies offering to wade in deeper than to say, “it needed be done.”???
Wall Street Journal just put out an article. The USS Tripoli (LHA7), forward deployed in Japan, is heading to the Middle East with the other ships of the ARG with the 31st MEU embarked.
Even if he asked he could not get such a unit. Only parts and pieces exist. No complete unit has been fielded. Six years ago the Corps could have begun to create such a unit and eventually demonstrate a capability. Gen Berger decided to divest to invest ( a flawed understanding of how Congress appropriates funds) and jumped off of the horse before having a unicorn to mount. For six years the Corps has been irrelevant to national defense. There is no unicorn to ride and no money to buy a new horse.
Oooh-rahh Sir
As the official spokesman for Force Design, I must say "1) the real merits of SIF for the current fight are both classified and still being developed as part of our campaign of learning. 2) Those who criticisize SIF and Force Design in general, clearly have their thought process mired in a quest to resurrect legacy systems such as flintlock muzzle loaders and stiff leather collars. 3) Moreso, data from the conflict in Ukraine demonstrably shows the effectiveness of the NMESIS system. 4) If you disagree, you are clearly on the payroll of a defense contractor (such contractor may or may not be managing contracts supported under the FD initiatives since 2020). "
Worse yet we non true believers in FD2030 and the MLR/SIF still drink Pabst Blue Ribbon Beer, the Field Beer of Marines…
Haha:while I was growing up, my dad loved to watch a thunderstorm from his garage, while sipping PBR and smoking a stogie that rested on an ash tray made from a 105 shell (SVN trip souvenir).
Believe it or not there was a two beer a day ration at one point…ah yes the good old days…good that they are gone!
5) While the focus is on Iran, the SIF continues to deter China from making any offensive moves in the South China Sea.
So far the only Marine involvement are the aircraft aboard Abraham Lincoln. The SIF is a PowerPoint presentation, not a combat capability. Has CENTCOM asked the Marine Corps if it can seize Kharg Island? Can we? Do we have any way to get there? We have divested that capability and have left the country with a force irrelevant to the fight.
Today’s CJCS briefing, I took a photo of his comments on US Army Artillery ATACMS…taking out Naval Targets (Submarine) and fed it to Grok w instructions to find Marine MISSILES…. “MAR 13 CJCS POINTED OUT US ARMY ARTILLERY ATACMS USE TO SINK IRANIAN SUB AND DESTROY OTHER TARGETS IN EPIC FURY….RE USMC NEMESIS. **No, there are no reports or confirmations of US Marine Corps (USMC) NEMESIS (NMESIS) or USMC-operated HIMARS missiles being used in Operation Epic Fury.**
The ground-launched precision missile strikes highlighted in Gen. Dan Caine’s briefings—including ATACMS and the new Precision Strike Missile (PrSM) that sank Iranian ships—were carried out exclusively by **U.S. Army** artillery units using HIMARS launchers.
- **USMC HIMARS**: While the Marines also field HIMARS, no statements, imagery, or reporting link any Epic Fury missile launches to Marine units. All documented ground-based ballistic missile strikes are attributed to Army forces.
- **USMC NEMESIS/NMESIS**: This Marine Littoral Regiment anti-ship system (using Naval Strike Missiles) has seen no use or mention in the operation. It is not part of the documented strikes and is generally oriented toward Pacific scenarios rather than this Middle East campaign.
Marines have participated in Epic Fury in other capacities (such as F-35C air strikes from carriers), but the specific Army artillery missile achievements emphasized by Caine do not involve USMC ground-launched systems.”! Force Disaster! Yes it is!
Ah yes, the emperor has no clothes
Let’s talk facts, not raw emotions.
Marines are in the fight — and more are on the way.
Watch the CJCS press conference at the 25:47 mark: Gen. Caine explicitly credits “American soldiers and Marines” using HIMARS, ATACMS, and PrSM to sink Iranian ships and destroy depots as part of Operation Epic Fury. That’s not “practicing in Hawaii” — that’s Marines delivering in combat, right now.
https://www.bing.com/videos/riverview/relatedvideo?q=CJCS+news+conference+Marines&mid=FD65B99E325721970155FD65B99E325721970155&FORM=VIRE
Godspeed to every US service member forward deployed and in the fight. . . To include your Marines.
He said that....primarily in the talk about launching PRSM. Do you know for certain that Marines are involved in that and that it wasn't just an off the cuff slightly less precise remark from a guy accustomed to praising all members of the Joint Force as part of his regular duties? Any other source, or is this just cherry picking plus conjecture? And yes, we all hope for success to all members of the US Armed Forces, no more/no less emotion than is appropriate.
Yes. His statement is 100% accurate. Really impressive work. Can’t wait to share more once OPSEC allows.
So you're insinuating that USMC HIMARS are supporting Army units with Atacms launches (and maybe PRSM). Okay, that's great. Glad to see the USMC Himars getting some. No one isn't proud of Marines doing good work. That really isn't on the topic if what was being talked about here. I'm sure there are Marines at Centcom, Cybercom, and Spacecom doing a good job supporting the mission. Again, not what we are talking about here.
News Flash SEND IN THE EXPEDITIONARY MAGTF THE MIGHTY 31ST MEU. GROK:The U.S. is redirecting elements of the forward-deployed **31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU)**—normally Pacific-focused and operating near Japan—from the Indo-Pacific to the Middle East amid the escalating U.S.-Iran conflict under **Operation Epic Fury** (launched late February 2026). This crisis-response surge, approved by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and driven by CENTCOM requests, involves roughly **2,200–2,500 Marines and sailors** (with some reports citing up to ~5,000 including ARG elements), embarked on ships like the amphibious assault ship **USS Tripoli (LHA-7)** and likely parts of an Amphibious Ready Group (ARG). The unit is en route from Pacific waters, meaning transit could take 1–2+ weeks to reach the region.
The 31st MEU brings its standard **Marine Air-Ground Task Force (MAGTF)** mix: infantry (Battalion Landing Team), aviation (F-35Bs, MV-22 Ospreys, AH-1Z Vipers as in your photo, plus support helos), logistics, and ground combat elements like Amphibious Combat Vehicles (ACVs), Light Armored Vehicles (LAVs), recon, engineers, and limited organic fires. This provides flexible, rapid-response capabilities—amphibious raids, embassy reinforcement, noncombatant evacuation, crisis response, or security ops—potentially for Strait of Hormuz escort/security, countering Iranian naval/missile threats, or supporting allied forces amid ongoing strikes and disruptions.
**The biting irony of Force Design 2030 (FD 2030)** hits hardest here. Under former Commandants Gen. David Berger and Gen. Eric Smith, the Corps deliberately divested **all main battle tanks** (M1A1 Abrams, fully gone by early 2020s) and slashed towed cannon artillery (from ~21 active batteries down to far fewer, with reinvestment in rocket systems like HIMARS/MLRS equivalents for long-range precision over massed indirect fire). The rationale: shed heavy, logistically intensive "legacy" systems unsuited to distributed, littoral ops against peer threats (e.g., China in the first island chain), favoring lighter, mobile **Stand-In Forces (SIF)**, NMESIS anti-ship missiles, unmanned systems, and persistent denial in contested environments.
Yet in a real-world high-intensity war—**not** the envisioned Pacific island-chain scenario, but a Middle East theater with potential for urban/desert maneuver, armored proxy threats (Iranian/IRGC forces), sustained ground combat, and needs for combined-arms breakthroughs or robust fire support—the Corps is surging a full MEU without tanks and with "very little" artillery (typically just a battery of 6x M777 155mm howitzers, plus mortars; no heavy cannon depth post-divestments). Critics long warned this leaves MEUs lighter and less lethal for anything beyond raids or aviation-supported ops, forcing heavy reliance on naval/air fires, allies, or Army reinforcements.
The Pacific bet (restructure for China deterrence) gets tested by global reality: a unit tailored for "inner island chain" persistence and denial is yanked to reinforce a desert/missile-heavy fight, minus the armor and artillery mass it once carried. FD 2030's "zero IE Force Disaster" (zero indirect fires/armor expeditionary) critique feels spot-on when the flexible MEU—once a go-to for any crisis—arrives stripped of heavies precisely because the Corps prioritized one theater's vision over broad warfighting depth. It's a stark reminder: strategic bets on future threats don't always align with where the nation actually fights next.
If the mission escalates ashore (beyond security/raids), expect the 31st to lean on its aviation edge, precision fires, and mobility—but without tanks or deep artillery, sustained maneuver warfare would be a tougher sell. Real-time details are still emerging as ships transit and ops evolve. Let me know if you want deeper dives on potential missions, current MEU gear lists, or FD updates!”.
The Big, Big, Rule and the Fast-Food Rule both apply. Amirite?
https://cpldanusmcret764175.substack.com/p/the-price-of-divestment?utm_source=share&utm_medium=android&r=ohc7t
Return the six hour response
This will be a different type of war for everybody. The drones we fly from LasVegas have been shooting targets in the Middle East for years, and drone technology in Iran is not a hobby, but a full time job. And they can probably fly from long distances to that narrow gap, and just hit any ship. All from remote areas as we cannot cover the entire country! How many
sunk freighters will it take to close the straight? Sooner or later someone with a rifle will have to stand on the ground and say, “this is mine, come and take it!” As it has been throughout history.
A giant miscalculation in the puzzle palace as we see no allies offering to wade in deeper than to say, “it needed be done.”???
Wall Street Journal just put out an article. The USS Tripoli (LHA7), forward deployed in Japan, is heading to the Middle East with the other ships of the ARG with the 31st MEU embarked.
https://wsj.com/livecoverage/us-israel-iran-war-news-2026/card/pentagon-sends-marine-expeditionary-unit-to-middle-east-WeoODgOXlle31W3np2al
Yeah- the MEUs are still pretty good at VBSS, among other things.