Vision 2035 - Delay in Publication
Jump into the Bear Pit
Readers of Compass Points will recall that a schedule has been laid out detailing the publication in the online pages of the Gazette of the four articles introducing an alternative way forward for the Marine Corps, Vision 2035.
The four articles introducing Vision 2035 are:
The Preface - Who is Chowder II? Nov 29
The Concerns - Fatal Flaws in FD 2030. Nov 30
The Choice - Retreat to defense or retake the offense? Dec 1
The Vision - Global response, today and tomorrow. Dec 2
Unfortunately, the schedule has been delayed during discussions with the editor. The Gazette is the Marine Corps’ professional journal, and is always the preferred location for a more rigorous debate on the future operating concepts of the Marine Corps. No doubt the Gazette feels the same. The Preface article was published in the online Gazette on 29 November as planned. The other three Vision 2035 articles do not have new publication dates, yet.
Years ago, Compass Points had the chance to participate in a bear pit competition. A bear pit, for those who have not had the pleasure, is a large, circular hole in the ground, 6 feet deep, and 20 feet across, with a foot of muddy water at the bottom. Into the bear pit go two squads of Marines, shirts off, boots and utes. The object is for one squad to throw the other squad out of the pit. The squad with the last Marine standing in the bear pit wins.
This is a muddy, messy, chaotic competition. For what reason, would we ever have two Marine squads fighting against each other in the bear pit? The answer is the squads were not fighting against each other, they were fighting along side each other. The struggle made each Marine stronger, made each squad stronger, and made the Marine Corps stronger. The only way to win that strength, though, is to get in the bear pit.
Professional discussion and debate on contentious issues is the method that uncovers the best way forward for the Marine Corps. Some might argue young leaders of Marines should not be exposed to contrary points of view. Nonsense. The Marine Corps needs Marine leaders who are both doers and thinkers. They cannot grow strong in thinking unless they tussle with contrary ideas. The Marine Corps Gazette is the premeir venue for this professional discussion and debate. Just as the discussions over maneuver warfare, battled for many years in the pages of the Gazette, the Gazette today can help make the Marine Corps stronger by facilitating discussion and debate about both Force Design 2030 and Chowder II's Vision 2035.
We are hopeful the Gazette will begin publishing the remaining three Vision 2035 articles next week. In the interim, Compass Points will continue to provide an independent voice for a stronger Marine Corps. Let there be no doubt, now or in the future, whenever the bear pit is ready, Compass Points is ready.
Any bets someone will want a computer gamification version of "the bear pit" so no one will actually have to get in a muddy, messy, chaotic hole with others
Is it possible to have a combined arms capability without a specific weapons system?