Heard an active duty senior leader speak just last month of the open and public debate they experienced as a young Lt when FMFM-1 was introduced. Granted, Maneuver Warfare was an additive philosophy, not a reorganization, repurposing, and divestment, but this article makes it seem possible that we might have that kind of debate again, without NDAs. Hopefully Gary Anderson and LtGen Van Riper can team up and present a real, thinking enemy, like the one MCDP-1 references.
The gross lack of integrity across various high levels of the USMC leadership spectrum are not confined to the manipulations of simulations. They extend to the F-35, MV-22, ship to shore assault vehicles, the amphibious connectors, recruit training standards, the value of armor, tube artillery, combat engineer assets and sadly, even to the alleged successes of recruiting. Each of the above, to one degree or another involve deception, deceit by omission and “spin” so widespread in message manipulation. This erosion of truth has a severe impact on the Corps’ ethos, institutional synergy and trust.
Some things never change. As example the conflict between Russian and Ukraine has devolved into a war of industrial attrition. Battlefield success to loss ratios should have gone in the favor of the Germans at the Battle of Kursk, but the reality of the overwhelming mass of the Soviet forces arrayed and their willingness to suffer more losses, but gain the military and industrial advantage over time prevailed. The king of battle in the current conflict in Ukraine is consuming 3000, to 6,000 to as much as 12,000 rounds of various artillery shells a day. But, “war games” told Marine Corps leaders we didn’t need artillery. Russian armor and infantry using fire and maneuver are very slowly changing the tempo of the war in the east of Ukraine. The Russian industrial base is now making more basic fighting equipment, the west is trying to play catch up. But according to war games the Corps did not need tanks or existing levels of infantry. Amphibious lift was unnecessary, yet the 26th MEU is still on station with no relief in sight, literally they have been told that the puzzle palace can’t say when they will be relieved. From roughly 1898 to 1940 the Marines engaged in multiple missions in the Caribbean Basin, “Banana Wars” in which task organized Marine units carried out all manner of military and civil missions. Yet, senior leadership could only focus on war games that left key assumptions if not facts of potential conflict out of the game, to justify divest to invest and the folly of FD2030. One can not be sure when this bunch became corrupted, but it is clear they were corrupted, the remaining question is “why?” One can only General Berger has the time and courage of his convictions to show up and take on General Van Riper and Gary Anderson in a real simulation. The proof will be in the outcome. My money is on Task Force Riper Anderson.
Heard an active duty senior leader speak just last month of the open and public debate they experienced as a young Lt when FMFM-1 was introduced. Granted, Maneuver Warfare was an additive philosophy, not a reorganization, repurposing, and divestment, but this article makes it seem possible that we might have that kind of debate again, without NDAs. Hopefully Gary Anderson and LtGen Van Riper can team up and present a real, thinking enemy, like the one MCDP-1 references.
The gross lack of integrity across various high levels of the USMC leadership spectrum are not confined to the manipulations of simulations. They extend to the F-35, MV-22, ship to shore assault vehicles, the amphibious connectors, recruit training standards, the value of armor, tube artillery, combat engineer assets and sadly, even to the alleged successes of recruiting. Each of the above, to one degree or another involve deception, deceit by omission and “spin” so widespread in message manipulation. This erosion of truth has a severe impact on the Corps’ ethos, institutional synergy and trust.
Some things never change. As example the conflict between Russian and Ukraine has devolved into a war of industrial attrition. Battlefield success to loss ratios should have gone in the favor of the Germans at the Battle of Kursk, but the reality of the overwhelming mass of the Soviet forces arrayed and their willingness to suffer more losses, but gain the military and industrial advantage over time prevailed. The king of battle in the current conflict in Ukraine is consuming 3000, to 6,000 to as much as 12,000 rounds of various artillery shells a day. But, “war games” told Marine Corps leaders we didn’t need artillery. Russian armor and infantry using fire and maneuver are very slowly changing the tempo of the war in the east of Ukraine. The Russian industrial base is now making more basic fighting equipment, the west is trying to play catch up. But according to war games the Corps did not need tanks or existing levels of infantry. Amphibious lift was unnecessary, yet the 26th MEU is still on station with no relief in sight, literally they have been told that the puzzle palace can’t say when they will be relieved. From roughly 1898 to 1940 the Marines engaged in multiple missions in the Caribbean Basin, “Banana Wars” in which task organized Marine units carried out all manner of military and civil missions. Yet, senior leadership could only focus on war games that left key assumptions if not facts of potential conflict out of the game, to justify divest to invest and the folly of FD2030. One can not be sure when this bunch became corrupted, but it is clear they were corrupted, the remaining question is “why?” One can only General Berger has the time and courage of his convictions to show up and take on General Van Riper and Gary Anderson in a real simulation. The proof will be in the outcome. My money is on Task Force Riper Anderson.
Yes, but when is that Congressional report due??? I originally thought it was 90 days after tasking....I think that date has come and gone.