FD 2030 - Marine Corps Forces are Becoming Less Relevant
Combatant Commanders want and need flexible and balanced Marine forces.
The article by Colonel Baird and Colonel Well (see link below) addresses an issue too often overlooked. Marine Corps Forces are rapidly becoming irrelevant to the Combatant Commanders, especially to those outside the Indo-Pacific region. The traditional Marine Expeditionary Force (MEF) and Marine Expeditionary Brigade (MEB) no longer possess the “punch” and sustainment necessary to deter, fight, and win across the spectrum of conflict.
Marine Expeditionary Units (MEU) no longer maintain a global 3.0 presence. The scaled-down MEU is more likely to be configured for naval integration and embarked aboard two amphibious ships and could soon be embarked aboard only one.
Current senior Marine Corps leadership has a myopic focus on sinking Chinese warships. So much so, they are willing to divest proven and necessary combat capabilities. The result is hollowed out operating forces. Marine Corps forces are becoming a shell of their former selves, and less and less relevant to the Combatant Commanders.
The Hill (thehill.com)
Why Marine Corps Forces are Becoming Less Relevant to Combantant Commanders
. . . The Marine Corps has unwisely elected to cut structure and capability to achieve Force Design 2030 (FD2030) targets at a time when the demand signal from combatant commanders for flexible, balanced forces is increasing. Commanders need more forces to execute tasks across the spectrum of competition . . .
. . . The Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) has been the force of choice for combatant commanders for nearly 40 years because of its utility, flexibility, agility and offensive “punch.” It is arguably the Corps’ most successful innovation; yet its future viability is uncertain . . . .