Redefining Greatness: Marine Corps Considering Army Methods in Force Structure Planning

In an article credited to PHC D. W. HOLMES II, US Navy, the focus of the United States Marine Corps (USMC) on modernization is highlighted. The restructuring efforts of the USMC are based on two new operational concepts: Littoral Operations in a Contested Environment (LOCE) and Expeditionary Advanced Base Operations (EABO).

The USMC's restructuring process mirrors the Army's post-Vietnam restructuring, which focused on three key areas: doctrine, equipment, and personnel policy. The Army's doctrinal modernization was based around three consecutive iterations of Field Manual (FM) 100-5, with the 1968 version, Operations of Army Forces in the Field, serving as the capstone operational doctrine for much of the 1970s. In a similar vein, the Marine Corps' restructuring is spearheaded by a revised version of FM 100-5, with the 1976 and 1982 versions marking significant shifts in the Marine Corps' operational doctrine.

In July 1976, TRADOC released a new version of its capstone operational doctrine, FM 100-5, Operations, whose overriding operating concept was Active Defense. Fast forward to August 1982, and a new version of FM 100-5 was released, instituting AirLand Battle as the doctrine of the United States Army. Similarly, the current version of FM 100-5 for the Marine Corps is yet to be defined, but it is expected to reflect the new operational concepts of LOCE and EABO.

General William E. DePuy, who took command of the Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC) in 1973, initiated a force-wide doctrine reassessment, shifting the Army's focus from infantry-airmobile war to conventional combined arms warfare in the theater of primary strategic concern. The commandant of the USMC has acknowledged that the redesign "will hinge on our ability to match it with some kind of talent management process."

The Marine Corps' restructuring efforts are not limited to operational concepts. The Corps is also investing in several key modernization and acquisition programs. These include the acquisition of 420 F-35 Lighting II jets, the beginning receipt of CH-53K King Stallion heavy-lift helicopters, and the acquisition of over six hundred Amphibious Combat Vehicles.

However, the Marine Corps' current manpower system is not optimized to support the Force Design 2030 effort. The Marine Corps' Talent Management 2030 initiative aims to reform and revise the industrial model of manpower management. The Corps should focus on modernizing personnel systems by transitioning from industrial-age models to more agile, technology-driven approaches, emphasizing distributed operations, enhanced use of unmanned systems like drones, and updating training and organizational structures to align with Force Design 2030’s priorities for a lighter, more versatile force.

A recent report from the Brookings Institution argues that the Marine Corps needs to increase retention and mature the force instead of relying on a high turnover of junior personnel to keep manpower costs low. The Marine Corps is off to a strong start on its force design efforts, but more work remains to be done, particularly in the area of personnel policy.

The USMC's restructuring initiative, Force Design 2030, is a significant undertaking, focusing on China and a potential high-intensity conflict with a peer adversary. The Marine Corps has made progress in training and education, but more work remains to be done in terms of personnel policy. The authors of the article, Walker D. Mills and Timothy Heck, with affiliations to the Marine Corps and various educational institutions, stress that the views expressed in the article do not reflect the official position of the United States Military Academy, Department of the Army, or Department of Defense.

This article was published on a specific website, but the exact name was not provided in the text. The Marine Corps' restructuring efforts are a testament to the Corps' commitment to adapt and evolve in the face of changing geopolitical landscapes and emerging threats. The success of Force Design 2030 will depend on the Corps' ability to effectively modernize its personnel systems and align them with its new operational concepts.

Redefining Greatness: Marine Corps Considering Army Methods in Force Structure Planning