This article is perfectly written and the "Tale of Two Cities" opening is perfection to sum up the folly and foolishness of the current CMC Gen Smith and his criminal cohorts! Their disastrous FD2030 has ruined our Corps' MAGTF capabilities and their planned transition to island missile batteries units is a proven colossal failure! The Corps has yet to stand up a single active island missile battery to supposedly deter orcounter CHICOM naval threats in the Pacific arena!
VISION2035 is a MUST to restore our MAGTF lethality, our expeditionary capabilities, and our MAGTF lethality!
The new PLAN vessels with “landing bridges” seem innovative, but recall the Allied Invasion of Normandy used the nearby port of Cherbourg and the Mulberry Bridge system to being vast amounts of war fighting logistics to the fore. So not a “new idea, just a different concept. It is also not as if the Corps has no experience with MEU/MEB/MEF ship to shore logistics. Further the Chinese system while innovative seems to presume an uncontested beach head. Okay one can guess that the proposed invasion of Taiwan will go unopposed. Maybe, maybe not. What is clear is that the 38th and 39th CMC have wasted time and resources looking for answer to a question that never really needed to be asked, namely why would we put Marines on isolated island redoubts as sitting ducks with short range fire crackers, to plink away at PLAN war ships? Why does the Corps need a new “LSM’ if it is going to stick to its knitting and meet or exceed the Title X mandate. One would presume the need is not for a new “LSM” but rather the types of vessels that currently provide amphibious lift for the ARG/MEU and can provide enough of them, to as General Van Riper suggests “heel toe, heel toe” the MEU’s as directed statutorily. Supposedly, we will see that a SecNav is confirmed by the senate on 24 March. Let’s hope they get it done. Time is wasting, China and other adversaries have no interest in the timing of the United States Senate’s confirmation process. They just want to harm America and its allies. Best response? An ARG/MEU sailing over the horizon with Marines on board prepared for whatever would come their way. Tactical Decision Games, are one way to keep the Marines engaged while afloat. Sharpening Kabar’s works as well. Iron sharpen’s iron. Time to focus on revitalizing the MAGTF and having the lift to get it to where it needs to be, when it needs to be there.
I would like to see the Plan of Action and Milestones (POA&M) and how it was approved up through the Chief of Naval Operations level for FD2030. What was the result of the audit of the MAGTAF to justify the POA&M. Was the funding requirements entered into the Five Year Defense Plan (FYDP)? Looks like a lot of pre-planning things fell through the cracks.
General Berger circumvented the long-standing combat development process and unilaterally directed actions to implement FD 2030. The fact he served under 7 Secretaries of the Navy and 5 Secretaries of Defense allowed him to avoid close oversight. Congress, which should have been watching was distracted by the pandemic and an impeachment. He and General Smith also broke apart the Marine Corps Combat Development Command envisioned and created by General Gray. It no longer functions as it did prior to their actions, which they thought were brilliant. It was an idiotic move!
Shuqiao! Reported by Helen Davidson in today’s Guardian, should sober our political leaders as much as it should cause those of us who have worn the uniform - or, still do - restless nights. We need to look at that development through Chinese eyes rather than how we would envision going ashore on Taiwanese territory. Moreover, we must realize Chinese DOMINANCE in ship building - they can knock these systems out in very quick order while we continue to debate DEI, and other very soft issues. SecDef needs to start his day by bellowing our deficiency in putting battle worthy ships in the ocean. Now, how are we to proceed? If I were PACOM for a day, I suspect I would tour my AO, speak with all CO’s from Regimental level and up, and ask how they plan to regroup, and hold on until help arrives from other U.S. forces after having suffered heavily from Chinese (& their friends). devastating attacks. I can hear this idea criticized now, to wit: wasn’t that our strategy in Dec ‘41, Jan & Feb ‘42? So, let history temper our judgments, and may we get our issue straightened out. There may be precious little time left to effect needed changes. “By the pricking of my thumb, something wicked this way comes” … William Shakespeare
This article is perfectly written and the "Tale of Two Cities" opening is perfection to sum up the folly and foolishness of the current CMC Gen Smith and his criminal cohorts! Their disastrous FD2030 has ruined our Corps' MAGTF capabilities and their planned transition to island missile batteries units is a proven colossal failure! The Corps has yet to stand up a single active island missile battery to supposedly deter orcounter CHICOM naval threats in the Pacific arena!
VISION2035 is a MUST to restore our MAGTF lethality, our expeditionary capabilities, and our MAGTF lethality!
Semper Fidelis!
The new PLAN vessels with “landing bridges” seem innovative, but recall the Allied Invasion of Normandy used the nearby port of Cherbourg and the Mulberry Bridge system to being vast amounts of war fighting logistics to the fore. So not a “new idea, just a different concept. It is also not as if the Corps has no experience with MEU/MEB/MEF ship to shore logistics. Further the Chinese system while innovative seems to presume an uncontested beach head. Okay one can guess that the proposed invasion of Taiwan will go unopposed. Maybe, maybe not. What is clear is that the 38th and 39th CMC have wasted time and resources looking for answer to a question that never really needed to be asked, namely why would we put Marines on isolated island redoubts as sitting ducks with short range fire crackers, to plink away at PLAN war ships? Why does the Corps need a new “LSM’ if it is going to stick to its knitting and meet or exceed the Title X mandate. One would presume the need is not for a new “LSM” but rather the types of vessels that currently provide amphibious lift for the ARG/MEU and can provide enough of them, to as General Van Riper suggests “heel toe, heel toe” the MEU’s as directed statutorily. Supposedly, we will see that a SecNav is confirmed by the senate on 24 March. Let’s hope they get it done. Time is wasting, China and other adversaries have no interest in the timing of the United States Senate’s confirmation process. They just want to harm America and its allies. Best response? An ARG/MEU sailing over the horizon with Marines on board prepared for whatever would come their way. Tactical Decision Games, are one way to keep the Marines engaged while afloat. Sharpening Kabar’s works as well. Iron sharpen’s iron. Time to focus on revitalizing the MAGTF and having the lift to get it to where it needs to be, when it needs to be there.
I would like to see the Plan of Action and Milestones (POA&M) and how it was approved up through the Chief of Naval Operations level for FD2030. What was the result of the audit of the MAGTAF to justify the POA&M. Was the funding requirements entered into the Five Year Defense Plan (FYDP)? Looks like a lot of pre-planning things fell through the cracks.
General Berger circumvented the long-standing combat development process and unilaterally directed actions to implement FD 2030. The fact he served under 7 Secretaries of the Navy and 5 Secretaries of Defense allowed him to avoid close oversight. Congress, which should have been watching was distracted by the pandemic and an impeachment. He and General Smith also broke apart the Marine Corps Combat Development Command envisioned and created by General Gray. It no longer functions as it did prior to their actions, which they thought were brilliant. It was an idiotic move!
General Gray was the Commandant when I was at HQMC. The last of the soldiers Generals.
One year ago today, General Al Gray died. A tremendous loss to the world and Marine Corps.
Shuqiao! Reported by Helen Davidson in today’s Guardian, should sober our political leaders as much as it should cause those of us who have worn the uniform - or, still do - restless nights. We need to look at that development through Chinese eyes rather than how we would envision going ashore on Taiwanese territory. Moreover, we must realize Chinese DOMINANCE in ship building - they can knock these systems out in very quick order while we continue to debate DEI, and other very soft issues. SecDef needs to start his day by bellowing our deficiency in putting battle worthy ships in the ocean. Now, how are we to proceed? If I were PACOM for a day, I suspect I would tour my AO, speak with all CO’s from Regimental level and up, and ask how they plan to regroup, and hold on until help arrives from other U.S. forces after having suffered heavily from Chinese (& their friends). devastating attacks. I can hear this idea criticized now, to wit: wasn’t that our strategy in Dec ‘41, Jan & Feb ‘42? So, let history temper our judgments, and may we get our issue straightened out. There may be precious little time left to effect needed changes. “By the pricking of my thumb, something wicked this way comes” … William Shakespeare