CMC: Changes in Corps' Future Will Benefit Marines

End-Strength, Restructure to Increase Crucial Capabilities

Big changes are on the horizon for the Marine Corps.

An increase in end-strength and a shift in capabilities over the next few years will enable Marines and the Corps to better meet the demands of future conflicts, say the Corps’ top leaders.

The Marine Corps provides America the best return for its military dollar, receiving about 6.5 percent of the Department of Defense budget and in return providing about 20 percent of the U.S. forces combat power. To do this and remain the nation’s force-in-readiness, the Corps periodically re-examines its operational capabilities and adapts to the changing situations of the world.

MARINE CORPS RECRUIT DEPOT SAN DIEGO – Passage of the National Defense Authorization Act of fiscal year 2005, Oct. 8, 2004, raised the Marine Corps end-strength to 178,000, an increase of 3,000 Marines to be phased in over the next three years. Two-thirds of the boost will go toward increasing the Corps’ infantry battalions up to 100 percent of their wartime requirement.

Photo by Cpl. Jess Levens

The most recent review began in 2004 when Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps Gen. “Spider” Nyland convened a 30-day Force Structure Review Group. Its purpose was to examine the Corps’ force structure and how to rebalance it in light of emerging 21st century threats.

“We took a look at what capabilities we need (to fight the Global War on Terrorism); what capabilities does the combatant commander need. We want to provide those capabilities,” said Commandant of the Marine Corps Gen. Michael Hagee.

Future wars will increasingly be fought with asymmetrical warfare, he said in All Marine Message 018/05 signed April 18. Asymmetrical warfare, sometimes referred to as irregular warfare or fourth generation warfare, is conflict that deviates from the norm of force-on-force warfare.

In Operation Iraqi Freedom, the Corps’ enemies learned that in traditional engagements, when their units combat Marine units, “they are going to lose,” Gen. Hagee said. “They don’t want to take us on in a normal formation.

“So they are attacking us asymmetrically,” he said. Marines in Iraq and Afghanistan are combating asymmetrical warfare tactics such as improvised explosive devises and enemy propaganda. FSRG and the resulting initiatives crafted the restructure the Corps needs to combat these challenges.

“The bottom line with the FSRG is that it is necessary in helping to balance and shape our forces for future operations,” said Sgt. Maj. of the Marine Corps John Estrada.

New Units

The Corps is also standing up new units to provide capabilities that combatant commanders need for current combat operations and future conflicts.

During the next four years, the Corps is scheduled to stand up two additional active duty infantry battalions, three light armored reconnaissance companies, three reconnais-sance companies, two force reconnaissance platoons and an air and naval gunfire liaison company. On the reserve side, the Corps plans to stand up an antiterrorism battalion, two light armored reconnaissance companies and an intelligence support battalion.

“All the capabilities that we are bringing on can be used both in counter-insurgency and major combat operations,” Gen. Hagee said.

To redirect manpower to the new units, other units will be reduced.

On the active duty side, the small craft company located at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, N.C., is scheduled to be disbanded and Marines will be moved out of low-altitude air defense units.

On the reserve side, the Corps will disband two artillery battalion headquarters, four artillery batteries, one tank battalion headquarters, two tank companies, two air delivery platoons and regimental TOW units. Reserve Marines will also be moved out of low-altitude air defense units.

Foreign Training

Another capability the Corps is adding is Foreign Military Train-ing Units.

“We are going to work with Special Operations Command in this particular effort,” Gen. Hagee said. FMTUs will, “(spend) more time on cooperative security, training partner-nation armed forces so that they can better address any security issues they have.”

These units will also help foster better relations, “so that if they ask us to come in and help, we already have a working relationship with them,” he said.

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