Posted on Mar 23, 2019
Marine Raiders Fire Back After Call to Disband MARSOC
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"Dakota Wood, who worked as a strategist at Marine Corps Forces Special Operations Command from 2012-2013, released a 60-page report on Thursday titled "Rebuilding America's Military: The United States Marine Corps." It was published by the Heritage Foundation, a conservative Washington think tank where Wood serves as senior research fellow for defense programs.
Facing relentless operational tempo and ongoing budget woes, the Marine Corps should reevaluate where it's spending resources, Wood writes. As part of that effort, he said service leaders should "strongly consider disestablishing [MARSOC]."
"It's a great outfit and they're doing great things, so this is not to disparage MARSOC," Wood told Military.com. "It's stepping back and saying, 'OK, Marine Corps, what are you supposed to be doing? And how are you using the resources that you have?'"
Wood's call to disband the command comes after the Marine Corps released its 2020 budget request, revealing plans to increase the number of MARSOC billets. But the 2,700 Marines already assigned to MARSOC do more to benefit U.S. Special Operations Command than they do the Marine Corps, Wood wrote.
"The Corps' commitment to MARSOC, while a boon to SOCOM and the good work it does for the country, is an opportunity cost for the Corps and the work that only it can do, as opposed to SOCOM's role and the contributions long made to its mission by the Army, Navy and Air Force," he said.
In a statement, MARSOC spokesman Maj. Nicholas Mannweiler said the command was aware of the Heritage report and its recommendations.
"The recommendations made in the paper are one aspect of a much broader conversation on Marine Corps and joint operations in response to our evolving national security challenges," he said. "MARSOC will continue to partner with our fellow Marines in enhancing lethality, interoperability, integration and interdependence as well as with our rich network of [special operations forces] and interagency partners."
For Marine Raiders who fought for a place within U.S. Special Operations Command over the past 13 years, Wood's suggestion falls flat."
Facing relentless operational tempo and ongoing budget woes, the Marine Corps should reevaluate where it's spending resources, Wood writes. As part of that effort, he said service leaders should "strongly consider disestablishing [MARSOC]."
"It's a great outfit and they're doing great things, so this is not to disparage MARSOC," Wood told Military.com. "It's stepping back and saying, 'OK, Marine Corps, what are you supposed to be doing? And how are you using the resources that you have?'"
Wood's call to disband the command comes after the Marine Corps released its 2020 budget request, revealing plans to increase the number of MARSOC billets. But the 2,700 Marines already assigned to MARSOC do more to benefit U.S. Special Operations Command than they do the Marine Corps, Wood wrote.
"The Corps' commitment to MARSOC, while a boon to SOCOM and the good work it does for the country, is an opportunity cost for the Corps and the work that only it can do, as opposed to SOCOM's role and the contributions long made to its mission by the Army, Navy and Air Force," he said.
In a statement, MARSOC spokesman Maj. Nicholas Mannweiler said the command was aware of the Heritage report and its recommendations.
"The recommendations made in the paper are one aspect of a much broader conversation on Marine Corps and joint operations in response to our evolving national security challenges," he said. "MARSOC will continue to partner with our fellow Marines in enhancing lethality, interoperability, integration and interdependence as well as with our rich network of [special operations forces] and interagency partners."
For Marine Raiders who fought for a place within U.S. Special Operations Command over the past 13 years, Wood's suggestion falls flat."
Marine Raiders Fire Back After Call to Disband MARSOC
Posted from military.com
Marines
Special Operations (SO)
Combat
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 11
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I guess I'm the lone naysayer here - but I completely disagree. I've worked and instructed Recon and MARSOC. Since I first worked with recon Marines 20 years ago I realized they needed an avenue into USSOCOM and that USSOCOM would benefit from their talents, experience, and drive. Every single branch needs a top tier organization to funnel their talent to. I would argue the same for the coast guard as well.
In my humble opinion, the only problem with MARSOC is that they lack an identity. They'd be better off modeling themselves off the 75th as an elite raider force. But they're trying to be the Marine version of SF by sending their people to language school right now.
There's nothing wrong with contributing to SOCOM, as the article indicates. Joint operations are our future and it benefits the Corps and every other branch to invest in that
In my humble opinion, the only problem with MARSOC is that they lack an identity. They'd be better off modeling themselves off the 75th as an elite raider force. But they're trying to be the Marine version of SF by sending their people to language school right now.
There's nothing wrong with contributing to SOCOM, as the article indicates. Joint operations are our future and it benefits the Corps and every other branch to invest in that
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MSG Frank Kapaun
If you think a rock is hard to open, try a closed mind, which most USMC higher ups have.
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