How do you feel about the deployment of U.S. Marines aboard the ships of our European allies?

Marines will soon head to sea aboard European ships.

Starting this fall, Marines will operate aboard NATO ships as the Corps seeks to fill gaps in sea-basing options in and around Europe. First up will be an Italian ship in September, followed by a British gator in November as Marines test what's called the Allied Maritime Basing Initiative.

During testing they'll board Spanish, French and Dutch ships, said Brig. Gen. Norm Cooling, the deputy commander of Marine Forces Europe and Africa, although details are still being hashed out.

"They all have ships that could potentially carry an alert force with an Osprey," he said.

The main goal is to devise plans to better offset the Navy and Marine Corps' amphibious ship shortage that Cooling said has limited Marines' ability to quickly respond to crises in Europe and Africa.

Placing Marines aboard NATO allies' ships will not only allow them to reach flashpoints faster, but will reassure European partners that the U.S. is close at hand to counter Russian saber-rattling.

http://www.militarytimes.com/story/military/2015/06/14/marine-amphibious-force-to-operate-off-foreign-ships/28707497/