Marine Corps Leadership

Words: 1237
Pages: 5

The United States Marine Corps has served in nearly every conflict in US history since its inception in 1775. After ending our participation in twenty years of counterinsurgency operations, we find ourselves asking, what's next? And how do we prepare for it? As many of us were preparing for or returning from war, the world was rapidly developing at a rate never seen before and, to some, went unnoticed. We are the most vulnerable during times of transition as we refocus, problem-frame, and engage in the "return to competition" phase of the conflict continuum. Our future competitors have concentrated on their military advancements and observed our operations while we were occupied by another adversary. These lessons learned, coupled with digital …show more content…
Additionally, the Marine Corps should consider providing opportunities for qualified Marines to homestead in an area for longer than the typical PCS rotation cycle. This could provide stability for the family, service members, and unit. The Marine Corps would save a considerable amount of money on undesired or untimely PCS moves that could be used to improve billeting, chow halls, or recreation areas aboard the installations. Senior leadership should consider the opportunity for Marines to provide feedback on their direct leadership and chain of command outside of unit-driven volunteer surveys without fear of retaliation or retribution. The results shall be evaluated by other commanders outside of the area without prior knowledge of the unit's identification. Additionally, as Gen. James Mattis, USMC, stated, "Engage your brain before you engage your weapon." We must incentivize our Marines to pursue higher education. This would expand their horizons, offer alternative perspectives, and foster a thinking mind. Furthermore, the Marine Corps must create and implement training plans with a focus on amphibious …show more content…
This relationship would benefit EABO operations, as the tentative instruction was created in line with the Joint Warfighting Concept and sequenced with the Navy's concept for Distributed Maritime Operations. The first time Marines hear of these concepts and materials should not be while on-ship or during pre-deployment briefs. The integration with the Navy would facilitate sea control and denial operations within the littorals and forward sustainment. This integration would give the Marines a larger sense of purpose and allow them the opportunity to prove themselves outside of day-to-day tasks within stateside units. Understandably, there has been a lot of controversy surrounding amphibious ship shortages and the ability to get Marines to shore for amphibious operations. Lt. Gen Karsten Heckl, USMC, Deputy Commandant for Combat Development and Integration, called this shortage the "single biggest existential threat" to the Marine Corps. Marines can adapt to the resources available on existing ships and identify ways to conduct amphibious operations successfully through in-depth training with the