Compass Points - What is Next?
New challenges are looming.
Compass Points - What is Next?
New challenges are looming.
October 3, 2024
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For two different medium sized military forces, four years have made a dangerous difference. There are two medium sized air, ground, sea military forces of less than 200,000 active duty that are facing extraordinary challenges. Back before 2020, both forces enjoyed relative peace. Four years later, with a world on fire, both forces must be on the alert, ready to respond at a moment's notice. What will happen next? No one knows for sure.
One of these medium sized military forces is the Israeli military, the IDF. This week Israel had to defend itself from a 181 ballistic missile attack by Iran. This is the second direct attack on Israel this year by Iran. Iran and Israel have fought for years through Iran's Hamas, Houthi, and Hezbollah proxy forces. Now, Iran's recent direct attacks change everything.
Before the 181 ballistic missile attack, the Israeli military was already fighting on three fronts. Now the IDF must decide how and where to respond to Iran's most recent attack. Over the last 12 months, Israel has been forced to respond to a series of unexpected attacks from military forces of Hamas, Houthi, Hezbollah, and now Iran. The IDF has not had the luxury of focusing on one narrow capability or on one narrow region. The IDF has never known where the next attack might come. The IDF has had to build a powerful, flexible military prepared to respond to any type of attack from any direction.
If the IDF or any military force wants to improve their ability to be flexible, be powerful, and be ready for any challenge, all military leaders could learn from the wisdom compiled in the latest Index of Articles focused on the US Marine Corps.
The Chowder II Society has issued its latest index of prominent articles that urge the US Marine Corps to upgrade itself to be more flexible, more powerful, and more ready for any challenge. The latest version of the index is version 6.8 of 1 Oct 2024. Articles are hyperlinked to titles. The primary index (topic areas A-J) consists of 159 articles, authored or coauthored by 87 different writers, and published in 47 different media outlets. The index of supporting articles (topic area K) consists of an additional 82 articles, authored or coauthored by 76 different writers, and published in 39 different media outlets.
For two different medium sized military forces, four years have made a dangerous difference. Back before 2020, both forces enjoyed relative peace. Four years later, with a world on fire, both forces must be on the alert, ready to respond at a moment's notice. What will happen next? No one knows for sure.
One of these medium sized military forces is the Israeli military, the IDF. The other is the US Marine Corps. Both military forces have about 170,000 on active duty. While both forces work very hard the IDF seems to understand that it must prepare for battle against a variety of foes using a variety of attacks. The IDF is facing drone and missile attacks but is also facing ground assaults.
The IDF is prepared to respond to any attack. Is the same true for the Marine Corps? At one time it was true that the Marine Corps was prepared for anything, prepared to fight in any clime and place. Unfortunately, the Marine Corps has spent the last several years focusing mostly on one foe, in one region, using only one type of weapon for attack: missiles.
Compass Points salutes the IDF as they fight on four fronts and also salutes the Chowder II Society for their articles index resource. The authors of the articles in the index come from a variety of backgrounds and experience but virtually all advocate that it is time for the US Marine Corps to change its current narrow, regional focus and prepare instead to be ready for whatever comes next.
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Index of Articles Focused on the US Marine Corps
Version 6.8 of 1 Oct 2024
https://mega.nz/file/omIgzIKA#Gpl_3XNz5b8RJVNti3qt-Q_Ll5KFrSolrnbom4irF9E
The Battle of Mogadishu, Black Hawk Down, was between a small force of Rangers without support. No artillery, tanks, or air support beyond helicopters. It was decided by a president, who never served, that that type of support wasn't needed. Are we headed for another disaster like that. A small unit, without support, and in a remote location? Another Wake Island, Guam, or Bataan.
The time to rebuild is now, not after the next war starts. Otherwise when it does start the will be other small units of Marines fighting without support, enough ammo, or even food. There'll be no cavalry this time, no horses to eat.
History repeats itself. We should learn from it.
It was reported in the Dispatch that the Marine Corps has a two or three-man assessing the lessons from Ukraine. It would seem to me that a couple of teams in Ukraine evaluating the drone and counterdrone activities as well as the use of artillery and armor as a means to justify the bringing back tube artlliery, engineering resources, and armor. I feel we are wasting a "Lessons Learned" opportunity.