Friday, August 13, 2010

Changes Coming To The U.S. Marines?

U.S. Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates delivers the George P. Schultz lecture to the Marines' Memorial Association in San Fransisco, Calif., Aug. 12, 2010. During his speech, Gates said he has ordered a thorough force structure review of the Marine Corps to determine what the readiness of an expeditionary force should look like in the 21st century. DoD photo by Cherie Cullen

Defense Chief Gates Orders Review Of Marines' Role -- L.A. Times

Acknowledging concerns among current and former Marines that the Corps has evolved into another ground combat force, the Defense secretary aims to define the service's future path.

Reporting from San Francisco — Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates is ordering a review of the future role of the Marine Corps amid " anxiety" that the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan had turned the service into a "second land army."

The review would seek to define a 21st century combat mission for the Marines that is distinct from the Army's, because the Marines "do not want to be, nor does America need" another ground combat force, Gates said in prepared remarks for a speech at Marines' Memorial Theatre in San Francisco on Thursday to a group that included retired Marines and foreign policy experts.

Read more ....

More News On The U.S. Marines

Gates Orders Marine Corps Force Structure Review -- U.S. Department of Defense
George P. Shultz Lecture: As Delivered by Secretary of Defense Robert M. Gates, San Francisco, California, Thursday, August 12, 2010 -- U.S. Department of Defense

Gates: Time has come to re-examine future of Marine Corps -- Stars And Stripes
US Marine Corps must redefine mission: Gates -- AFP
Gates: Marine Corps Troop Levels to Decrease -- Wall Street Journal
The Future of the Marines and Forcible Entry in a Battle Network Regime -- Defense Tech

My Comment: I suspect that changes will come about because of financial considerations .... not because of strategy and/or what the Corps will decide is the future focus of the Marines. Either way .... expect a much smaller Marine Corps in the future.

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

Wrong .Once we get a Rebublicans back in control,they will strengthen our armed forces. we need to investigate, Gates. Seems with all the cuts to different military programs.and closing The joint military command in Virginia, he might be a manchurian defense secretary.God save the Rebublic from the likes of Gates ,Obama, and Gen. Wesely Clark.