In referencing the ROK dilemma of living next door to China, and our need to be able to quickly move to their defense, I recall Gen. Barrow’s reference to Nathan Bedford Forrest’s dictum: “Git there firstest with the mostest”, put the skir on ‘em & keep it there”. We might want to reflect on that. Once again, let History temper our judgment. Semper Fi!
You do not develop national strategy with a crayon mark drawn across a map of the Pacific. Especially when the crayon mark is on the wrong side of the South China Sea. Nor do you form a strategy by mimicking the CCP’s “island chain” strategy. It plays the strategic advantage card into their hands. The first island chain has already been penetrated and it basically sends a signal you are prepared to surrender a hand full of your allies and friends (Taiwan, Korea, Viet Nam) on the wrong side of the line.
The US Marine Corps Amphibious MAGTFs have a role to play in the “great power completion” and a peer-to-peer conflict with the CCP. The Navy and Marine Corps currently have one MEU tied up in the Red Sea Area (CENTCOM). The US should have at least another MEU cutting circles around those man made islands in the South China Seas. It would also be strategically advantageous if INDOPACOM had second MEU in the Indian Ocean and the Straits of Malacca. Remember the South China Sea extends all the way to the Straits of Singapore. Let’s not forget that the WW2 Japanese invaded Malaysia with a series of amphibious assaults on the eastern coast and a few thousand bicycles to capture Singapore in 70 days.
My concern is that at least Marine CP has pointed out all the related issues with the 2030 Design spawned by a bad strategy. Congress seems to have noticed by tasking the US Marine Corps to provide answers. Why are they waiting for the answers when they are obvious? Is the Marine Corps and Navy leadership delaying for a new administration?
"And a resolution adopted by the CCP Central Committee in November 2021 stated, "Resolving the Taiwan question and realizing China’s complete reunification is a historic mission and an unshakable commitment of the Party."
Not tanks, No Arty, No Bridging Capability (Frozen Chosin) No Snipers, etc etc…We could always buy a horse. 22 – Sergeant Reckless
28 Nov
Introducing Sergeant Reckless, a small Mongolian-bred mare with a racing background in her native country, who became a national hero and the pride of the US Marines.
She was purchased at the age of five for 250 US dollars – from a young Korean boy who needed money to buy his sister an artificial limb – by US Marines during the Korean War to carry ammunition for the 75mm Recoilless Rifle Platoon.
During the Battle of Outpost Vegas in March 1953, she made 51 trips up to the gun sites – most of the time by herself – and carried more than 9000 pounds of ammunition on her back. Wounded twice, she never stopped. She also evacuated wounded and dead from the battlefield, and quickly earned the love and respect of all the Marines who served with her.
We understand that Reckless, who received two Purple Hearts, was a colourful character in her own right, and would hang out around the mess hall and tents when not carrying ammunition or soldiers.
She was a fan of beer, pickles and pancakes. She has been called by some America’s greatest war horse.
In the 1990s Sgt. Reckless was named by Life magazine among America’s top 100 heroes. She was trained to step over communication cables, get down when there was incoming fire and to ignore the sounds of battle. Sergeant Reckless was promoted to Staff Sergeant Reckless in 1959 in honour of her war efforts, and she returned to the United States to live out her days at Camp Pendleton. She died in 1968. Although Sgt. Reckless has been recognized with bronze statues at both Camp Pendleton (California) and the National Museum of the Marine Corps (Virginia), it was the vision of James E. “Ted” Bassett III, a Marine Corps combat veteran of World War II and former president and chairman of the Keeneland Association, that she be memorialised at the Kentucky Horse Park. She has had books written about her and even a song dedicated to her.
As you know under US Law ie Goldwater Nichols Combatant Commanders are the warfighters……..CMC trains and equips……SO GENERAL SMITH does not get to write off anything. We all anxiously await the Commandants response to his predecessor’s violation of US Code in regard to unilaterally turning Our Marine Corps into the infamous defensive Indo Pacom “One Trick Pony”……apologies to Sergeant Reckless…
WHO WE ARE
U.S. Marine Corps Forces Korea (MARFORK) is the U.S. Marine Corps' service component for United States Forces Korea (USFK) and United Nations Command (UNC). It commands all U.S. Marine forces assigned to USFK and UNC; advises USFK and UNC on the capabilities, support, and proper employment of Marine forces; and supports the defense of the Republic of Korea (ROK) by facilitating the rapid introduction of U.S. Marine forces onto the Korean Peninsula in order to maintain stability in Northeast Asia. Additionally, MARFORK is the U.S. Marine Corps’ representative to the Commandant of the ROK Marine Corps.
It’s apparent from our “transformation” that we’ve already written the ROK off. We’ve dismissed them to the US Army and setup our perimeter in Darwin, Guam, and other small islands.
Great post and should be taken seriously, also to mention China's involvement in South America. Venezuela would surely make moves on Guyana and the Panama Canal with its friend Iran moving on the Red Sea as it is now through Yemen. China's influence in these areas make spreading our forces a real reality. I'm sure there are more, but just trying to make a point for adding force design to the Marine Corps and not subtracting so much.
In referencing the ROK dilemma of living next door to China, and our need to be able to quickly move to their defense, I recall Gen. Barrow’s reference to Nathan Bedford Forrest’s dictum: “Git there firstest with the mostest”, put the skir on ‘em & keep it there”. We might want to reflect on that. Once again, let History temper our judgment. Semper Fi!
My favorite NBF is: “War means fighting and fighting means killing”.
Yes, sir. He was right, and we are the wiser for remembering that.
Island Chain Strategy
https://intpolicydigest.org/china-has-almost-breached-the-first-island-containment-chain/
You do not develop national strategy with a crayon mark drawn across a map of the Pacific. Especially when the crayon mark is on the wrong side of the South China Sea. Nor do you form a strategy by mimicking the CCP’s “island chain” strategy. It plays the strategic advantage card into their hands. The first island chain has already been penetrated and it basically sends a signal you are prepared to surrender a hand full of your allies and friends (Taiwan, Korea, Viet Nam) on the wrong side of the line.
The US Marine Corps Amphibious MAGTFs have a role to play in the “great power completion” and a peer-to-peer conflict with the CCP. The Navy and Marine Corps currently have one MEU tied up in the Red Sea Area (CENTCOM). The US should have at least another MEU cutting circles around those man made islands in the South China Seas. It would also be strategically advantageous if INDOPACOM had second MEU in the Indian Ocean and the Straits of Malacca. Remember the South China Sea extends all the way to the Straits of Singapore. Let’s not forget that the WW2 Japanese invaded Malaysia with a series of amphibious assaults on the eastern coast and a few thousand bicycles to capture Singapore in 70 days.
https://www.welovecycling.com/wide/2019/06/28/japanese-style-bicycle-blitzkrieg/
My concern is that at least Marine CP has pointed out all the related issues with the 2030 Design spawned by a bad strategy. Congress seems to have noticed by tasking the US Marine Corps to provide answers. Why are they waiting for the answers when they are obvious? Is the Marine Corps and Navy leadership delaying for a new administration?
"And a resolution adopted by the CCP Central Committee in November 2021 stated, "Resolving the Taiwan question and realizing China’s complete reunification is a historic mission and an unshakable commitment of the Party."
Not tanks, No Arty, No Bridging Capability (Frozen Chosin) No Snipers, etc etc…We could always buy a horse. 22 – Sergeant Reckless
28 Nov
Introducing Sergeant Reckless, a small Mongolian-bred mare with a racing background in her native country, who became a national hero and the pride of the US Marines.
She was purchased at the age of five for 250 US dollars – from a young Korean boy who needed money to buy his sister an artificial limb – by US Marines during the Korean War to carry ammunition for the 75mm Recoilless Rifle Platoon.
During the Battle of Outpost Vegas in March 1953, she made 51 trips up to the gun sites – most of the time by herself – and carried more than 9000 pounds of ammunition on her back. Wounded twice, she never stopped. She also evacuated wounded and dead from the battlefield, and quickly earned the love and respect of all the Marines who served with her.
We understand that Reckless, who received two Purple Hearts, was a colourful character in her own right, and would hang out around the mess hall and tents when not carrying ammunition or soldiers.
She was a fan of beer, pickles and pancakes. She has been called by some America’s greatest war horse.
In the 1990s Sgt. Reckless was named by Life magazine among America’s top 100 heroes. She was trained to step over communication cables, get down when there was incoming fire and to ignore the sounds of battle. Sergeant Reckless was promoted to Staff Sergeant Reckless in 1959 in honour of her war efforts, and she returned to the United States to live out her days at Camp Pendleton. She died in 1968. Although Sgt. Reckless has been recognized with bronze statues at both Camp Pendleton (California) and the National Museum of the Marine Corps (Virginia), it was the vision of James E. “Ted” Bassett III, a Marine Corps combat veteran of World War II and former president and chairman of the Keeneland Association, that she be memorialised at the Kentucky Horse Park. She has had books written about her and even a song dedicated to her.
As you know under US Law ie Goldwater Nichols Combatant Commanders are the warfighters……..CMC trains and equips……SO GENERAL SMITH does not get to write off anything. We all anxiously await the Commandants response to his predecessor’s violation of US Code in regard to unilaterally turning Our Marine Corps into the infamous defensive Indo Pacom “One Trick Pony”……apologies to Sergeant Reckless…
WHO WE ARE
U.S. Marine Corps Forces Korea (MARFORK) is the U.S. Marine Corps' service component for United States Forces Korea (USFK) and United Nations Command (UNC). It commands all U.S. Marine forces assigned to USFK and UNC; advises USFK and UNC on the capabilities, support, and proper employment of Marine forces; and supports the defense of the Republic of Korea (ROK) by facilitating the rapid introduction of U.S. Marine forces onto the Korean Peninsula in order to maintain stability in Northeast Asia. Additionally, MARFORK is the U.S. Marine Corps’ representative to the Commandant of the ROK Marine Corps.
It’s apparent from our “transformation” that we’ve already written the ROK off. We’ve dismissed them to the US Army and setup our perimeter in Darwin, Guam, and other small islands.
Great post and should be taken seriously, also to mention China's involvement in South America. Venezuela would surely make moves on Guyana and the Panama Canal with its friend Iran moving on the Red Sea as it is now through Yemen. China's influence in these areas make spreading our forces a real reality. I'm sure there are more, but just trying to make a point for adding force design to the Marine Corps and not subtracting so much.