The U.S. Marine Corps Transformation Path: Preparing for the High-End Fight

by Robbin F. Laird

Overview

The United States Marine Corps began its modern transformation path after the introduction of the Osprey in 2007. In a series of in-depth interviews with the United States Marines, this analysis highlights the transformation strategy that has made the USMC one of the most dynamic military forces in the world today. From the land wars to dealing with peer competitor threats and engagements, this book demonstrates how the Marines are navigating the strategic shift to craft innovative solutions for the return of Great Power competition. Many coalition partners look to the USMC as a relevant benchmark for the kind of multi-domain operations which they can pursue. For many allies, their force structure approximates the size of the USMC, and they find the fit better than emulating the total force which the United States has built. It is also the case that the legacy force coming out of the land wars is not directly applicable in terms of its warfighting relevance to the approaches for combat with the peer competitors. "Only time will tell how the Marine Corps navigates this treacherous transformation journey, but it's not the equipment that will make the Corps successful on the future battlefield – it's the Marines."- Lt-Gen George Trautman, USMC (Ret).

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781667819587
Publisher:	BookBaby
Publication date:	02/02/2022
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	334
File size:	12 MB
Note:	This product may take a few minutes to download.

About the Author

Dr. Robbin F. Laird, a long-time analyst of global defense issues, has worked in the U.S. Government and several think tanks, including the Center for Naval Analysis and the Institute for Defense Analysis. He is a Columbia University alumnus, where he taught and worked for several years at the Research Institute of International Change. This think tank was founded by Dr. Zbigniew Brzezinski.

Dr. Laird is a frequent op-ed contributor to the defense press and he has written several books on international security issues. He has also taught at Queens College, Columbia University and Johns Hopkins University. He has received various academic research grants from various foundations, including the Fritz Thyssen Foundation and the United States Institute for Peace.

Dr. Laird is the editor of two websites, Second Line of Defense and Defense.info. He is a member of the Board of Contributors of Breaking Defense and publishes with the board regularly. He is a regular contributor to the Canadian Defense magazine Frontline Defense as well.
Dr. Laird is a frequent visitor to Australia, where he is a research fellow with the Williams Foundation in supporting their seminars on the transformation of the Australian Defense Force. Recently, he has become a research fellow with the Institute for Integrated Economic Research – Australia. The institute is focused on several key macro social-defense issues which revolve around establishing trusted supply chains and resiliency in dealing with the challenges posed by the 21st-century authoritarian powers.

He is also based in Paris, France, where he regularly travels throughout Europe and conducts interviews and talks with leading policymakers in the region.

Table of Contents

Foreword 1

Preface 4

Chapter 1 The Shift from the Land Wars to Preparing for the High-End Fight 8

Escalation Management 13

The C² Piece 17

The ISR Piece 21

The Basing Piece 26

The Logistics Piece 30

The Training Piece 33

The Pace of Conflict Piece 42

Shaping a Way Ahead 45

Chapter 2 The Marine Corps in the Strategic Shift 48

The Tiltrotor-Driven Transition 49

The F-35-Driven Marine Corps Transformation 62

The Next Phase: The 2020s 69

Enter Force Design 2030 71

Chapter 3 The View from MAWTS-1 81

Col Gillette, CO of MAWTS-1 82

Working Mobile Basing 89

Moving Forward with Mobile Basing 91

The Role of Heavy Lift 94

Forward Arming and Refueling Points (FARPs) 97

MAWTS-1 and the F-35 99

Expeditionary Basing and C² 103

The Evolving Amphibious Task Force 105

The Ground Combat Element in the Pacific Reset 109

Blue Water Expeditionary Operations 111

The F-35 and USMC-U.S. Navy Integration 113

Unmanned Air Systems and the USMC 116

Chapter 4 The View from II MEF and Norfolk 121

The Perspective of VADM Lewis 123

The Perspective of the Commanding General of II MEF 127

The Perspective from II MEB 135

Working II MEF Operations in Transition 138

The C² Piece 140

The ISR Piece 143

II MEF Information Group 146

The Logistics Piece 149

The Challenge of Preparing for Future Operations 152

Shaping a Way Ahead 156

Looking Back and Looking Forward for the USMC 160

Chapter 5 The View from 2nd Marine Airwing 164

Multiple Basing, Kill Webs and C²: Shaping a Way Ahead 170

Further Thoughts on the C² Piece 174

Working the Distributed Operations Piece 177

Working the Light Attack Helicopter Piece 182

The Osprey Piece 185

The Heavy Lift Piece 191

The Coming of the CH-53K 194

The Impact of the CH-53K 198

Visiting MAG-26 204

The Tactical Fighter Piece MAG-14 Preparing the Transition 208

Nordic Training 210

Visiting the Warlords 214

The Training Piece 218

Shaping a Way Ahead for the Assault Support Community 224

Chapter 6 The View from the Pacific 229

The Perspective of LtGen Rudder, the MARFORPAC Commander 238

The Perspective of LtGen Heckl, I MEF Commander 245

Three Key Weapons Systems for the Marines in the Pacific 248

The F-35 Piece 249

The Osprey Piece 251

The C² Piece 252

Seam Warfare, Exercises and Deterrence 253

Allies, Partners and Marines in the Indo-Pacific 254

Operations in the Information Environment 258

The Logistics Challenges 261

Shaping a Way Ahead for Force Design 2030 in the Pacific 265

Chapter 7 The MARSOC Case 269

MARSOF 2030 270

Shaping a Way Ahead for MARSOC 276

A Discussion with Major General James F: Glynn 281

Chapter 8 Challenges Facing the Way Ahead for the USMC 287

The Way Ahead for the U.S. Military Strategy and the Joint Force 288

Adversaries and Allies: How Will They Shape the Dynamically Evolving Strategic Environment? 290

The Configuration of the USMC Going Forward 295

Challenges Going Forward: The Perspective of LtGen (Retired) Robling 302

Afterword 307

Dr. Robbin F. Laird 312