The point being well articulated is twofold. The Amphibious forces feinted a potential amphibious assault. That tied down Iraqi forces that might have been better deployed in the defenses elsewhere. Iraqi Stand In Forces were next to useless in the defense, in fact worse since they were tied down awaiting possible attack. The second that the structure of the MAGTF was articulate enough to build out a capable fighting force, abet with some early logistical difficulties (over come over time and clever use of ALL assets) to potentially assault the Iraqi flank, and was task organized for the mission. The sort of conflict described has been the rule for decades, and the rapid response is a matter of history and the successes which were achieved, are clear, the exception has been in the last 20 plus years. But any planning based on long protracted nation building efforts are not the norm. Many said after Viet Nam, never again, yet that is exactly what the 20:years war were, long protracted nation building efforts and the outcomes equally bad or worse than in Southeast Asia. Senior Marine Corps leadership, ignored points 1 and 2, and as opined by General Van Riper driven the Corps in to a ditch. Now if we had some blade tanks with towing gear….
The future does not make the demand. Tha nation does. My assessment: the nation, leaderless as it is at the moment, does not know what it wants the Marine Corps to do. Thus the Marine Corps has created a relevant and viable force that the nation can use. Thankful that we have USMC leadership that knows how to drive.
It seems to me warfare/combat ops with a significant competitor is a manpower intensive endeavor. BZ to MGen Jenkins for reminding us of that point. Semper Fi!
That is a good point, Bud. We also can't forget that the First MarDiv was reinforced from the Second Division and Marines from the Reserves before they went to Korea in 1950. The divisions were only Cadre strength.
On a side note Bud, we're you a Plt Commander at OCS in the Summer and Fall of 1977?
Military.com | By Drew F. Lawrence and Konstantin Toropin
Published February 09, 2024 at 2:26pm ET
The Pentagon has officially extended the deployment of the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit and a Navy amphibious ready group headed by the USS Bataan in the Mediterranean Sea amid growing regional turmoil, according to a defense official.
The extension was being mulled by the department following a U.S. military buildup late last year aimed at stopping the Israel-Hamas War from spilling over. A Navy spokesperson said Wednesday that Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin directed the ships and Marines to remain in the region. Note SecDef Austin is currently in Intensive Care Walter Reed, Who is acting Sec Def?
The point being well articulated is twofold. The Amphibious forces feinted a potential amphibious assault. That tied down Iraqi forces that might have been better deployed in the defenses elsewhere. Iraqi Stand In Forces were next to useless in the defense, in fact worse since they were tied down awaiting possible attack. The second that the structure of the MAGTF was articulate enough to build out a capable fighting force, abet with some early logistical difficulties (over come over time and clever use of ALL assets) to potentially assault the Iraqi flank, and was task organized for the mission. The sort of conflict described has been the rule for decades, and the rapid response is a matter of history and the successes which were achieved, are clear, the exception has been in the last 20 plus years. But any planning based on long protracted nation building efforts are not the norm. Many said after Viet Nam, never again, yet that is exactly what the 20:years war were, long protracted nation building efforts and the outcomes equally bad or worse than in Southeast Asia. Senior Marine Corps leadership, ignored points 1 and 2, and as opined by General Van Riper driven the Corps in to a ditch. Now if we had some blade tanks with towing gear….
The future does not make the demand. Tha nation does. My assessment: the nation, leaderless as it is at the moment, does not know what it wants the Marine Corps to do. Thus the Marine Corps has created a relevant and viable force that the nation can use. Thankful that we have USMC leadership that knows how to drive.
USMC leadership that drove the Corps into the ditch.
We will need another 100,000, currently we have 167,000 on Active Duty.
It seems to me warfare/combat ops with a significant competitor is a manpower intensive endeavor. BZ to MGen Jenkins for reminding us of that point. Semper Fi!
That is a good point, Bud. We also can't forget that the First MarDiv was reinforced from the Second Division and Marines from the Reserves before they went to Korea in 1950. The divisions were only Cadre strength.
On a side note Bud, we're you a Plt Commander at OCS in the Summer and Fall of 1977?
Military.com | By Drew F. Lawrence and Konstantin Toropin
Published February 09, 2024 at 2:26pm ET
The Pentagon has officially extended the deployment of the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit and a Navy amphibious ready group headed by the USS Bataan in the Mediterranean Sea amid growing regional turmoil, according to a defense official.
The extension was being mulled by the department following a U.S. military buildup late last year aimed at stopping the Israel-Hamas War from spilling over. A Navy spokesperson said Wednesday that Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin directed the ships and Marines to remain in the region. Note SecDef Austin is currently in Intensive Care Walter Reed, Who is acting Sec Def?
Continue to march, young Marine! Stay up on the net. Semper Fi!
Yes, sir! That was me at Quantico in ‘77. Fantastic tour of duty!
Well sir, you were my Plt Commander at OCS! Fourth Plt.
Thank you, Sir!
Semper Fi!
Bud, were you the Company Commander of India 3/2 circa spring summer of 1979?