“The Marine Corps’ Radical Shift toward China”

[CatDog99]

Writing is on the wall that our military (not just USMC) is shifting focus from Counter Terrorism (CT) to the INDOPACIFIC theater....

The Marine Corps’ Radical Shift toward China

The Marine Corps is making major changes to align itself with the national defense strategy and prepare for a future conflict in the Western Pacific. But this new Marine Corps faces major risks if the future is different from that envisioned.

www.csis.org

WSJ News Exclusive | Marines Plan to Retool to Meet China Threat

The most sweeping transformation in decades will shift the focus from fighting insurgents in the Middle East to preparing for conflict in western Pacific. “If we did nothing, we would be passed,” said Marine Corps Commandant David Berger.

www.wsj.com

A Striking New Vision for the Marines, and a Wakeup Call for the Other Services - War on the Rocks

Military planning documents rarely draw more than a yawn in Washington, but the new Marine Corps Commandant’s Planning Guidance is proving an exception.

warontherocks.com

COVID-19 presents a good opportunity for me to read more at home. I imagine a few of you experiencing the same. God Bless those of you on the Front Lines of this fight!

 

[cb7893]

Not exactly sure how "radical it is". Maybe these journalists could do a little more background research.

Note the date of the article.

A U.S. Marine Base for Australia Irritates China (Published 2011)

President Obama said the move to base 2,500 Marines in Australia is not intended to isolate China, but it is an unmistakable sign that the United States has grown more wary of its intentions.

www.nytimes.com

 

[CatDog99]

Not exactly sure how "radical it is". Maybe these journalists could do a little more background research.

Note the date of the article.

A U.S. Marine Base for Australia Irritates China (Published 2011)

President Obama said the move to base 2,500 Marines in Australia is not intended to isolate China, but it is an unmistakable sign that the United States has grown more wary of its intentions.

www.nytimes.com

#cb7893 -- You are right that US military activity in the Pacific (including REF training in Australia) is nothing new. The US military has been heavily committed in the far east since the earliest days of the Cold War. Since 9-11 our Pacific presence has shrunk, but it's clearly ramping up again to counter the Chinese.

What's newsworthy about the CMC Berger's planning guidance is his resolve to return the Marine Corps to its amphibious roots and to pivot away from the last two decades of CT focus (primarily in the Middle East). According to CMC, the Corps will eliminate Armor units and may employ long-range anti-ship missile capabilities from amphibious ships.

I should have linked the CMC planning guidance in my earlier post (and I will do so below). One of the paras (bolded by CMC) that jumps off the page at me is:

The Marine Expeditionary Force (MEF) will remain our principal warfighting organization; however, our MEFs need not be identical. III MEF will become our main focus-of-effort, designed to provide U.S. Indo-Pacific Command (U.S. INDOPACOM) and the Commander, 7th Fleet with a fight-tonight, stand-in force capability to persist inside an adversary’s weapon systems threat range, create a mutually contested space, and facilitate the larger naval campaign. (CMC38 Planning Guidance, page 3)

Here is the original document:
CMC38 Planning Guidance

This is the follow on that includes more details about changes to USMC force structure (e.g., eliminating Armor and commitment to operate inside Weapons Engagement Zone (WEZ))
Force Design 2030

Finally, I realized after my Original Post that you#cb7893 had already begun this discussion in the Military News forum. Mea Culpa.

For all you Leathernecks, Jarheads and Devil Dogs

Justification for cutting funding? Returning to origin purpose after19 years of Iraqistan? Serious questions from an uninformed, but interested observer. https://news.usni.org/2020/03/23/new-marine-corps-cuts-will-slash-all-tanks-many-heavy-weapons-as-focus-shifts-to-lighter-littoral-forces

www.serviceacademyforums.com

I appreciate all the good discussion on this forum. Great source of info and lots of caring people. Cheers to you.

 

[cb7893]

Mea Culpa.

tibi ignoscitur.

Now go in peace!