via the USMC.
Commandant calls Marine Corps' future 'frugal'
2/9/2011
By
Gunnery Sgt. Bill Lisbon
,
Marine Corps Air Station Yuma
MARINE CORPS AIR STATION YUMA, Ariz.
— The Corps’ commandant gave a glimpse at the future of
a frugal Marine Corps returning to an expeditionary mindset Feb. 9
during a speech in San Francisco’s Marine Memorial Club.
Six months before Gen. James F. Amos took the stage, the Secretary of
the Defense stood at the same podium, asking the Corps to define its
place in the future of the American military.
“When the boss challenges you to do something, you probably ought to take it seriously,” said Amos.
Amos’ response was outlined in his October 2010 planning guidance,
calling the Marine Corps a middleweight force – “light enough to get
there quickly, but heavy enough to carry the day upon arrival.”
Yet, over the past six years, the Corps has grown accustom to large
budgets linked to virtually limitless funds to fight the wars in Iraq
and Afghanistan.
Those days are over, said the commandant.
“In today’s fiscally constrained environment, we must continue to
improve our efficiency. Marines have historically been known as ‘the
Penny Pinchers,’” said Amos. “At the end of the day, Congress and the
American people know that the Marine Corps is a value and that we only
ask for what we truly need.”
In fiscal year 2010, the Marine Corps consumed only 8.5 percent of
the defense budget, yet provided 31 percent of the nation’s ground
operating forces, 12 percent of its fighter and attack jets and 19
percent of its attack helicopters.
On Feb. 7, Amos briefed Defense Secretary Robert Gates on the results
of a comprehensive review of the Corps’ force structure and his plans
to craft a post-Afghanistan Marine Corps.
Among the changes in store, the Corps would “right-size” for a
post-Afghanistan world. While Amos didn’t detail what that size would
be, it’s likely to be between 15,000 and 20,000 fewer Marines, according
to Gates.
The commandant also plans to eliminate unnecessary headquarters and
flatten the Marine Corps command structure “where it makes sense to do
so” and transition 7 percent of non-operational forces to operational
billets.
A vital part of building capabilities to support a middleweight expeditionary force is the Joint Strike Fighter, said Amos.
Despite the Marine version of the JSF being put on a two-year
probation, Amos said the Marine Corps is committed to working closely
with industry to get this platform back on track in terms of cost,
performance and schedule.
“I am personally tracking the progress of the F-35B on a daily/weekly/monthly basis,” he said.
The
capability inherent in the F-35B, a short take-off and vertical landing
jet similar to the AV-8B Harrier, facilitates the Corps’ doctrinal form
of maneuver warfare and its need for close air support in the many
austere conditions and locations where it will likely operate in the
future, said Amos.
“When evaluating runways around the globe,
there are 10 times as many 3,000-foot runways capable of handling the
STOVL JSF variant as there are 8,000-foot runways required for
conventional fighter aircraft,” said Amos.
Additionally, the
efficiency gained in training, maintenance, and support realized when
the Marine Corps is operating a single aircraft, instead of three, will
save the nation more than $1 billion a year, said Amos.
Ok Sir.
If you're serious about frugality then lets get real. Here are a few modest proposals.
1. Kill the IAR. Its not needed, not necessary and to be honest is just a twinkle in the Gunner's eyes.
2. Stop production of the MV-22. Speed up development of the CH-53K. The MV-22 is a great airplane but is too niche driven for the USMC. The CH-53K will be a capable, full spectrum jack of all trades. If we are going to be frugal then we must realize that specialization is for insects!
3. Stop purchases of new snivel gear. The Grunts have had a heyday. Time to put an end to the good times. Upgrades to equipment carriers, boots, etc...are unnecessary. Not only is manpower diverted to these efforts when we can simply have a small staff in place with Army development teams, but it also has our supply chain in turmoil. Change and upgrades are good. Too much and its not so good.
4. Officially withdraw from the JLTV program. Nice to have but too expensive. Capsulize the HUMVEE, upgrade its engines and suspension and be done with it. Continued upgrades will give us adequate if not great vehicles.
5. Kill the MPC program. Controversial I know but lets face some facts. The Marine Corps hasn't been fully motorized in its history. If another desert war occurs then we've already shown that we can make do. MTVR's and AAVs along with HUMVEEs should carry the weight of our infantry mobility for a few years. Risky but manageable.
6. Speed up the AAV Replacement Program. You want the Marine Corps to retain its Amphibious roots? Then this vehicle replacement is necessary. Also get those upgrades on legacy vehicles going ASAP!
7. Dump the term "Expeditionary"...Marine Expeditionary Units should revert to their historical (Vietnam era) name of Marine Amphibious Units....Marine Amphibious Brigades...Marine Amphibious Force.
Words mean things and the word expeditionary has been bastardized. Its lost its luster and doesn't suit the Force in Readiness from the Sea that the Marine Corps is. Amphibious is the term that most matches the Marine Corps mission.
8. Cut General Officer positions by 25%, Headquarters Staffs should be consolidated or eliminated..extraneous missions should be given to the other services and the Marine Corps should once again be a place of warfighters, not technicians. I realize that it already is but this image should be burnished, polished and brightly shown. Cuts in the General Officer Corps and slashing of Commands/Headquarters Staffs would go a long way to doing this.
9. Revisit the proposal to not allow married first term Marines to enlist or remain in the Marine Corps. The modern family is strangling the Marine Corps. Its no good for the Marine or his family. How many PFCs have you seen with a wife, two kids, a dog and a cat living in base housing, barely making ends meet and consuming not only command time but requiring an enormous amount of base services.
Be bold. Make this happen.
