Jane's Defence Weekly Ready and able: post-war US Marine Corps takes shape [Content preview Subscribe to IHS Jane s Defence Weekly for full article] As 2014 draws to a close the US Marine Corps is proceeding with efforts to reshape the force for new missions after the multiple wars that have dominated its operations since 2001. Jim Dorschner reports A significant milestone in the US Marine Corps (USMC) withdrawal from Afghanistan occurred on 18 August when 1st Marine Regiment cased colours at Camp Bastion in Helmand Province. Since February the regiment has led more than 3,000 US and coalition forces in safeguarding the dwindling International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) effort in Regional Command-Southwest (RC-SW). That responsibility now belongs to the final marine infantry unit to serve in Afghanistan: 1st Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment. Elsewhere, innovative new marine crisis response and training formations are already operational and engaged in theatres as far afield as Africa and Latin America, with more planned - even as the overall USMC focus shifts to strengthening joint and combined force projection in the Pacific region, including a return to core amphibious warfare capabilities. The corps is also making progress with replacing old weapon systems with a line of new models after years of controversial procurement mis-steps. A significant milestone in the USMC withdrawal from Afghanistan occurred on 18 August when the 1st Marine Regiment cased colors at Camp Bastion in Helmand Province. (USMC) 1568271 Page 1 of 7
New commandant On 23 July Boston native General Joe Dunford was confirmed unanimously by the US Senate as the 36th Commandant of the USMC. Current Commandant General Jim Amos praised the move, saying: "Joe is one of the most talented leaders and strategic thinkers in the military today." A graduate of Army Ranger School and the Army War College, and the holder of masters degrees from Georgetown University and the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy, in 2008 then Brigadier General Dunford was promoted to permanent major general, then 'frocked' to lieutenant general. During the invasion of Iraq in 2003 he earned the sobriquet 'Fighting Joe' while commanding 5th Marines and was recently named one of the 50 greatest contemporary world leaders by Fortune Magazine. Gen Dunford commanded ISAF from 10 February 2013 to 26 August 2014. He also served as General Amos' assistant commandant from 2010 to 2013. A career infantryman, Gen Dunford's reputation and leadership should produce unity of purpose within the senior ranks of the USMC and the Department of the Navy. US marines with 1st Battalion, 24th Marines, move down a road while covered by an M1A1 Abrams tank during assault training at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, on 17 August. (USMC) 1568269 Page 2 of 7
He will also inherit quite a few promising programmes and initiatives that now place the USMC in an enviable position vis-à-vis the other services as the demanding post-war period begins in earnest next year. Rather than offering some respite, 2015 and beyond promise a wide range of global challenges, from Islamic extremist insurgencies and failing states to energy and natural resources competition, the effects of global warming, and increasing security concerns in the Pacific. New missions Emerging requirements are affecting evolving post-war doctrine and force structure, hence the return to amphibious warfare capability after more than a decade devoted to counter-insurgency (COIN). Today's environment requires the ability to mount complex, brigade-level, forced-entry amphibious assaults from further offshore in the face of long-range precision threats, while operating in close co-ordination with other US services and allied forces in joint and combined operations. While renewing the USML's amphibious assault capability is primarily aimed at the Pacific, including the prospect of possible hostilities in the Korean peninsula or tensions arising from regional territorial disputes, any number of potential scenarios in other areas of the world could similarly require the same capability. Other vital post-war mission sets include crisis response and engagement or training missions that build the capacity of friendly forces in places like Africa and Central America. Crisis response is a traditional marine mission that has taken on new urgency in recent years. In 2013 the first Special Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force - Crisis Response (SPMAGTF-CR) was established at Morón Airbase in Spain as an element of Africa Command (AFRICOM), with others planned to support Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) in Latin America and Central Command (CENTCOM) in the Gulf. As a model force structure, the 500-strong SPMAGTF-CR for Africa consists of an infantry company as the ground combat element (GCE); a logistics combat element (LCE); and an aviation combat element (ACE) with six MV-22B Ospreys and four KC-130J Hercules. So far the SPMAGTF-CR has deployed to help secure the US Embassy and conduct non-combatant evacuation operations (NEO) during factional fighting in South Sudan and to cover the overland evacuation of the US embassy in Tripoli to Tunisia in July as more factional fighting erupted there. Both crisis response and engagement or training missions are linked to continuing US global counterterrorism (CT) efforts. Indeed, the latter are considered vital for reducing direct US military involvement, known as 'boots on the ground'. AFRICOM's other marine force, Special-Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force Africa (SPMAGTF-Africa), based at Naval Air Station Sigonella in Sicily, was established in 2011 to support theatre security co-operation requirements, strengthen the defence capabilities of partner states and regional organisations to deter and defeat transnational threats, and strengthen the ability to conduct good governance and development. As the SP-MAGTF Africa 14 commander, Lieutenant Colonel Trevor Hall, stated in January: "Our goal is to enhance the defence capabilities of African nations, leading to better regional stability. In addition, it's imperative that we seek to strengthen our working relationships with partner-nation militaries to ensure enduring partnerships." SP-MAGTF Africa 14 was the first iteration to be sourced by an active-duty unit: 3rd Battalion, 8th Marines from Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. Previously, the task force was built from various marine corps reserve units. Among the missions undertaken was deploying a team of 15 marines and sailors in June to train Gabonese counterparts Page 3 of 7
from the national parks agency, the Gendarmerie, and the armed forces in tactics and techniques applicable to countering various illicit activities such as narcotics trafficking and elephant poaching. Training evolutions included marksmanship, combat lifesaving and casualty evacuation, along with mission planning, basic infantry skills and patrolling. In April and May Senegalese Commandos from the Compagnie de Fusilier Marine Commandos took part in a six-week-long training mission with SPMAGTF-Africa marines that was designed to enable the commandos to train their own forces in infantry and amphibious tactics. Building on two weeks of cadre training in February, the deployment began with two weeks focused on maritime security drills, marksmanship exercises, patrolling techniques and small-boat tactics and skills. The marines then shifted from training to advising as Senegalese cadre ran their own programme over the next four weeks. Meanwhile, in SOUTHCOM, the 300 marines of SPMAGTF-South embarked in July aboard the brand new assault ship USS America (LHA 6) for its maiden voyage, dubbed ' America visits the Americas' a transit around South America to the ship's homeport in California. During America 's transit the SPMAGTF conducted combined training, key leader engagements and security co-operation activities in Brazil, Chile, Colombia and Peru. Along with an infantry company as the GCE and an LCE, the ACE consisted of several MV-22B Ospreys from Marine Operational Test and Evaluation Squadron 22 (VMX-22), augmented by America 's MH-60S Knighthawk detachment from Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 21 (HSC-21). MARSOC raiders After nearly a decade of prevarication the USMC finally joined US Special Operations Command (SOCOM) as a component in 2006, with the establishment of Marine Corps Forces Special Operations Command (MARSOC). Having overcome considerable teething troubles early on, MARSOC has grown into a respected member of the community and is developing niche capabilities that bridge those of other elements such as army rangers, special forces and Navy SEALs. In the vernacular of special forces doctrine, MARSOC teams are trained for direct-action (DA) strike or assault missions; special reconnaissance (SR); and foreign internal defence (FID), or the training of friendly forces. Post-war, increasingly mature MARSOC capabilities will be in high demand. The Pacific While increasingly side-tracked by numerous crises and security developments elsewhere, the stated post-war priority of US strategy is to focus predominately on the Asia-Pacific region, with the USMC playing a central role. As was the case during the Second World War, the corps' inherent flexibility and mobility provide US commanders with capability options well suited to the vast maritime reaches of the Pacific during a historical moment that poses great risks. As a rising superpower China is manoeuvring for regional economic and political advantages with the potential to directly Page 4 of 7
threaten rivals Japan, Taiwan and other countries, while an unpredictable, nuclear-armed North Korea makes everyone in the region nervous. In practical terms the USMC, with the USN in direct support, is shifting assets and units into and within United States Pacific Command (PACOM), while establishing new and improved bases able to serve as training locations and operational lily pads from which marine forces can reach out across the region to engage with allies or to conduct joint and combined operations as required. Hawaii remains a key rear base area and stepping stone to the US West Coast and is home to HQ Marine Corps Forces Pacific (MARFORPAC): the 3rd Marine Regiment and the helicopter-equipped Marine Air Group 24 (MAG 24). However, important initiatives are under way to increase and improve capabilities in the Western Pacific (WESTPAC). Aircraft and armour In terms of aircraft procurement programmes the USMC is relatively well positioned. The service made history on 20 November 2013 when Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 121 (VMFA-121) at MCAS Yuma, Arizona was officially established as the world's first operational Joint Strike Fighter squadron, equipped with the Lockheed Martin F-35B short take-off/vertical landing (STOVL) version. Following an extended work-up period at Yuma, VMFA-121 is slated to deploy to MCAS Iwakuni, Japan, later in 2015. There, the squadron will go to sea aboard the Wasp-class LHD USS Makin Island, now undergoing modifications to handle the F-35B. The USMC requires 340 F-35Bs to replace the Boeing AV-8B Harrier fleet and also plans to acquire 80 F-35C carrier-capable variants to replace Boeing F/A- 18 Hornets. Meanwhile, other aircraft procurement programmes are proceeding apace. Within a few years the USMC should complete the acquisition of new fleets of Bell MV-22B Osprey tiltrotors (300+); Lockheed Martin multirole KC-130J Hercules tankers (100); Bell UH-1Y Venom tactical helicopters (100+); and AH-1Z Viper attack helicopters (150+). The all-new Sikorsky CH-53K King Stallion heavylift helicopter is expected to fly for the first time later this year, with plans calling for the achievement of initial operational capability (IOC) in 2019. The USMC requires around 200 King Stallions. Page 5 of 7
A USMC CH-53E Super Stallion from 22nd MEU prepares to land aboard the amphibious transport dock USS Mesa Verde (LPD 19) on 4 August. 22nd MEU is deployed with the Bataan Amphibious Ready Group as a theatre reserve and crisis response force in the US Central Command area of responsibility. (USMC) 1568272 Budget woes Like the other services, budget woes exacerbated by government policy dysfunction have the USMC coping with significant uncertainty as well as the direct effects of reduced funding, with no relief in sight. One significant effect is an anticipated reduction of 8,000 active-duty marines, leaving an end strength of 182,000. However, if Congress and President Barack Obama cannot reach a sequestration agreement by next year, Gen Amos has stated USMC end-strength cuts could continue down to 175,000. Two procurement programmes are also in jeopardy: the F-35 and the ACV. While the former appears to be on a healthy trajectory at last, the minimalist ACV programme outlined in March is also likely to survive more or less intact in the current environment, depending on how the new ACV 2 is ultimately defined. Page 6 of 7
Copyright IHS Global Limited, 2014 For the full version and more content: IHS Jane's Defence Industry and Markets Intelligence Centre This analysis is taken from IHS Jane s Defence Industry & Markets Intelligence Centre, which provides world-leading analysis of commercial, industrial and technological defence developments, budget and programme forecasts, and insight into new and emerging defence markets around the world. IHS defence industry and markets news and analysis is also available within IHS Jane s Defence Weekly. To learn more and to subscribe to IHS Jane s Defence Weekly online, offline or print visit http://magazines.ihs.com/. For advertising solutions contact the IHS Jane s Advertising team Page 7 of 7