Compass Points - Time to Shine
New Task Force for Philippines
Compass Points - Time to Shine
New Task Force for Philippines
November 26, 2024
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After years of preparation, the time to shine for the Marine Littoral Regiment (MLR) has finally arrived. The Pentagon has announced Task Force-Ayumgin to help defend the Philippines. At last, the MLR can step up in a genuine operational role. USNI News described the new task force in their article, "U.S. Supporting Philippine Operations in South China Sea with Forward-Deployed Task Force."
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The Pentagon has revealed the existence of a forward-deployed task force in the Philippines focused on supporting Manila’s maritime operations in the South China Sea.
Task Force-Ayungin, composed of American service members and named after the Philippine designation for Second Thomas Shoal, was seen for the first time on Wednesday during Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin’s visit to U.S. and Philippine troops in Palawan.
“The task force is comprised of U.S. forces providing our Philippines allies with enhanced cooperation and interoperability for their maritime operations,” reads a Monday statement from Pentagon spokesman Maj. Pete Nguyen provided to USNI News.
-- USNI News
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A forward deployed task force is what the Marine Corps is all about. Even better, the Marine Corps has an entire Marine Expeditionary Force, traditionally some 40,000 Marines, on Okinawa, Japan, just north of Manila.
The Pentagon announcement went on to discuss the US units participating in Task Force-Ayungin.
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While it’s unclear when the U.S. and the Philippines created the task force, American intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance assets have been deployed to the Philippines within the last year to bolster Manila’s efforts in the region. These efforts include the deployment of Marine Corps MQ-9A Reaper and Army Grey Eagle drones and the presence of Navy P-8A Poseidon patrol aircraft and Army Grey Eagle drones over resupply missions to Second Thomas Shoal. Forces across U.S. Indo-Pacific Command have also been affected by the spats around the disputed South China Sea maritime feature. Stars and Stripes reported that forward-deployed Marines in Australia were given a warning order following one incident over the summer.
-- USNI News
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While it is good that a US Marine MQ-9A Reaper drone has been used to help the task force, the Pentagon announcement raises more questions than it answers. Where is the mention of the MLR? The MLR was designed for Philippine islands. If the MLR is flexible and powerful as often claimed, where is the MLR? Why is an MLR not a crucial part of Task Force-Ayungin?
A related question is why was the US Marine rotational force in Darwin Australia put on alert? The rotational force is only a small unit of Marines and Darwin is nearly 2,000 miles from Manila. Why not just use Marines from the huge III MEF located on Okinawa less than 1,000 miles from Manila? Or better yet, when there is trouble off the Philippine coast why not call on the Marine MAGTF that should be always in or near the Port of Manila?
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Need US Marines?
-- Darwin to Manila - nearly 2,000 miles
-- Okinawa to Manila - less than 1,000 miles
-- US Marine MAGTF to Manila - as little as 1 mile.
-- MLR to Manila - ????
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Finally, the US and Philippine officials were careful to stress that, "Task Force Ayungin only supports Manila’s efforts in the South China Sea, stating that resupply to Second Thomas Shoal 'is always a pure Filipino operation.'" Is the US so frightened of China in the South China Sea that it must carefully make clear that the US will never ever Door Dash MREs to Second Thomas Shoal? The US should reserve the right to supply allies and friends at any time, at any location.
Sadly, for the US Marine Corps, Task Force Ayungin is exposing three uncomfortable truths.
First, the missing Marine MLR is more theory than reality. Instead of a time to shine for the MLR, it is a time to find the MLR.
Second, the Marine MAGTF that should be permanently sailing in and around the South China Sea is not always nearby because the US has too few amphibious ships.
Third, Task Force Ayungin is also revealing that what should be a massive Marine Corps combined arms force on Okinawa has been stripped of nearly all of its combined arms infantry and is no longer the reservoir of combat power it is supposed to be.
Compass Points salutes all those in uniform from both the US and from the Philippines who are working every day as part of Task Force Ayungin. The Philippine nation is awake to the dangers from China and is updating its military, including updating the Philippine Marines. In a similar way, the US Marines in the Pacific and around the world need to be restored and enhanced today.
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USNI News - 11/21/2024
U.S. Supporting Philippine Operations in South China Sea with Forward-Deployed Task Force
By Aaron-Matthew Lariosa
Almost six years later: no T/E, no T/O, no ships, no doctrine, no weaponry, no concept of employment. We used to call this “on a wing and a prayer.” No garbage barge sunk, no position defended and no displacement or resupply. Please show me a demo on San Clemente Island. Insert, set up, shoot, defend, resupply and displace. Repeat. Until that can be demonstrated this is vapor ware. At its best it is amateurish. At its worst it is professional incompetence bordering on a crime. When will someone step up and put this long running farce to an end?
It is not enough to bury this delusional travesty. I would like to see accountability via trials.
Let’s keep our heads buried in the proverbial damn sand. How the hell does this bode well for the MC??? Both, the MC and Navy leadership have taken their eyes of the target and will soon, if not leeway, be rudderless!
https://www.military.com/daily-news/2024/11/26/marine-corps-worried-about-how-move-and-supply-troops-after-navy-sidelines-17-support-ships.html