Posted on May 20, 2021
Why the Corps’ future may sideline its ground-pounders
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Since the modern Corps emerged out of the ashes of World War I, Marine infantry has been the focus of the force.
Every Marine Expeditionary Force, air wing and logistics group has had one goal: to provide whatever it can for Marines on the lead fireteam in any fight.
But the Marine Corps is going through a time of radical change as it shapes itself to be able to fight China, adding on capabilities needed for the unique littoral fight while cutting some deemed unnecessary.
But there is still one major question the Corps has not, at least publicly, fully answered. What will Marine infantry do?
“The unanswered question in my mind is what that means for the people who have zero and three in front of their (military occupational specialty),” Jonathan Wong, a Marine infantry enlisted and officer veteran who now works as a policy researcher for RAND Corp., told Marine Corps Times.
Every Marine Expeditionary Force, air wing and logistics group has had one goal: to provide whatever it can for Marines on the lead fireteam in any fight.
But the Marine Corps is going through a time of radical change as it shapes itself to be able to fight China, adding on capabilities needed for the unique littoral fight while cutting some deemed unnecessary.
But there is still one major question the Corps has not, at least publicly, fully answered. What will Marine infantry do?
“The unanswered question in my mind is what that means for the people who have zero and three in front of their (military occupational specialty),” Jonathan Wong, a Marine infantry enlisted and officer veteran who now works as a policy researcher for RAND Corp., told Marine Corps Times.
Why the Corps’ future may sideline its ground-pounders
Posted from marinecorpstimes.com
Infantry
Combat
Marines
Posted >1 y ago
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Good morning, sir. I found the article disturbing. Here is my take away. First, I am a Marine, second I was trained as a rifleman (infantry) as my primary job then sent to school to become an accountant. Just because a Marine does a necessary job other than actually being in a rifle squad doesn't make them either less than a Marine or less than a basic rifleman. This article wants to say that the basic rifleman is no longer necessary and that is bull, period. My suggestion is that the Marine drop the word Infantry (since EVERY Marine is a basic rifleman) and forget the rest of the worry. That would, in my opinion, stop the wasting of valuable staff time and get on with the work of creating THE best fighting force for the future. Yes, I was in the National Guard, and very proud of that organization but we are a solid follow on type force but I understand that the sharp point is made up of the Frontline forces of this nation.
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SSG Samuel Kermon
I am also a former Marine. I was a 2531 Radio Operator and we could be assigned to any field unit including infantry. Sadly one of the Corps specialties was amphibious landing’s but that has pretty much evaporated. The Corps must continue to evolve to stay relevant to protect itself from being no longer needed. There has and still is many who believe the Army can do any of the missions the Corps can do. But the Corps has a dual mission of being the Navy’s ground forces and also supplying over watch to many navy special operations missions in combat zones. Being a Marine I suppose I’m a little biased because I think the Corps would do a better job then anyone else. With that being said you are correct one of a Marines primary capabilities is being a rifleman. It is what the Corps is built on and must continue to remain an elite force within our military.
I am also a former Marine. I was a 2531 Radio Operator and we could be assigned to any field unit including infantry. Sadly one of the Corps specialties was amphibious landing’s but that has pretty much evaporated. The Corps must continue to evolve to stay relevant to protect itself from being no longer needed. There has and still is many who believe the Army can do any of the missions the Corps can do. But the Corps has a dual mission of being the Navy’s ground forces and also supplying over watch to many navy special operations missions in combat zones. Being a Marine I suppose I’m a little biased because I think the Corps would do a better job then anyone else. With that being said you are correct one of a Marines primary capabilities is being a rifleman. It is what the Corps is built on and must continue to remain an elite force within our military.
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SSG Samuel Kermon
MSgt (Join to see) yes, sir. That is a good point, about being the Navy's soldiers. Another point you made was about amphibious landings. While not the current forte for them if we go to war in littoral seas (shallow waters) the Marines are going to be reaching back to WW2 for the lessons learned. The time to start getting ready is to begin reviewing the past. OOHRAH...
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Cpl Ray Fernandez
The problem is that most of the people that make predictions either have never served or they are looking at it from the past and making incorrect assumptions. When the jet age began, aviation saw guns on aircraft as an unnecessary weight as future wars would be fought at distance with missiles until the reality of Vietnam set in and the rules of engagement required visual identification and the missiles weren't as reliable as assumed and the tech specs weren't fully understood to get the right positioning to get a kill.
Decades later we found ourselves in Saudi Arabia and went to save Kuwait and the aviation war pushed Iraq to the breaking point and people assumed that ground forces were too slow to keep up with an aviation war of the future.
Then 10 years later when Afghanistan began special operations, and counter insurgency took center stage. I knew of retired Vietnam Veterans being consulted on what they learned from their experiences and helped shape tactics and training for forces in villages.
The only thing I've gained from our experiences is that often times we find ourselves relearning the lessons of the past because everyone assumes old skills are surpassed by technology despite having learned repeatedly that technology won't always work and sometimes you need to be able to navigate with a map and a compass, and often times the battle comes down to the men on the ground.
Decades later we found ourselves in Saudi Arabia and went to save Kuwait and the aviation war pushed Iraq to the breaking point and people assumed that ground forces were too slow to keep up with an aviation war of the future.
Then 10 years later when Afghanistan began special operations, and counter insurgency took center stage. I knew of retired Vietnam Veterans being consulted on what they learned from their experiences and helped shape tactics and training for forces in villages.
The only thing I've gained from our experiences is that often times we find ourselves relearning the lessons of the past because everyone assumes old skills are surpassed by technology despite having learned repeatedly that technology won't always work and sometimes you need to be able to navigate with a map and a compass, and often times the battle comes down to the men on the ground.
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The infantry will stay relevant because the marines will need to use kinetic force. What puzzles me is the marines will operate the concept called "small units". What does that mean? What would the marines do when an island is heavily fortified with several thousands of enemy troops? The greater the area of operations for the marines, the greater the risk to our navy who have to suppor the marines.
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MSgt (Join to see)
Good question, but it seems like the small unit concept is gradually being pushed by many military leaders.
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The Marine Corps is completely restructuring its MAGTF presence. It is different now than it was before and will not be publicly given the "horse and pony show" presentation until all the high friction points are laid flat. I can tell you that the implementation that is coming does not hold the same semblance to storming beaches as it had in the past. It is defined by actions developed from Vietnam on with the 3 block and guerilla tactics that have made such a defining turning point.
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