Exercise Steel Knight 2014

Tomorrow, Exercise Steel Knight 2014 kicks off. From Dec. 9 through Dec. 16, our Marines and sailors will be working around the clock to conduct an amphibious landing, helibourne raids and live fire exercises. Steel Knight supports the strategic pivot to the Pacific and reinforces our role as America's force-in-readiness.

I continue to chuckle at the effort being made to make the Marine Expeditionary Brigade the centerpiece of Marine Ops when every part of its construction yells that the MEU and MEF are the premier forces.

Steel Knight is just another example of the importance of Divisions in the Marine Corps.  Attempting to move to the "Brigade" just won't happen.  The Congressional Charter is based on Marine Divisions.  The operating tempo is based on Battalion Landing Teams.  If you can't change those two things then the MEB will remain a little used capability.  The future belongs to the MEU and MEF.