[Salon] Marines Are Getting Ready to Fight in the Skies Over the Pacific | The National Interest

[Todd Pierce <tepierce@outlook.com>]

Consider this another in the Project for the Study of American Militarism’s series of “Reclaiming the truth of history, as against Conservative revisionism” (should be room for one token former Conservative, now anti-Conservative/Militarist, on this List :-)

As a Marine Corps Rifleman (0311) (once a Marine, always . . . ) who not long ago had the honor of slicing the cake on the USMC’s birthday cake as the oldest Marine present in our joint-force office, I found it offensive when uninformed journalists blared while Trump was in office that the Marines were “leaving the fight,” in the Mideast. Without including as necessary context, “and going to the Pacific to fight China,” per the Trump/Bannon Plan to pursue war on China. Perhaps that was concealed to maintain the fiction that Trump was “ending the endless wars?” In any case, here’s the true state of the Marine Corps, and its force posture, and at the link below, USMC Commandant Berger’s own explanation of his “Plan” to have the Marine’s in China’s own backyard, “prepared to fight.” 

https://www.marines.mil/Portals/1/Docs/2021%20Force%20Design%20Annual%20Update.pdf

BLUF: "To design a force purpose-built to compete with China and otherwise prepared to respond globally to emerging crises or contingencies, we must organize, train, equip, and posture capabilities for actions across the spectrum of competition in multiple theaters. Further, it requires that we remain capable of operationally maneuvering Stand-in forces from one theater to another, “plugging in to” Naval and Joint C2 arrangements, logistics support organizations and systems, and C5ISRT networks in a fluid manner."

That sounds more like enriching the so-called “Blob,” than “fighting it.” Just as Trump did and the Republicans do in Congress by always demanding more military funding than even right-wing militarist Democrats do. Which isn’t easy to beat, but they do, even to naming the current NDAA after the “Traditional Conservative” who looks  toward the following “Tradtional Conservatives” as named below for inspiration for massively expanding the military budgets every year to keep the Warfighting Machine “greased,” in the Traditional Conservative’s “tradition.”  

"Popular among his constituents because of his conservative positions on “God, guns, and gays.” Inhofe said he was most inspired by Barry Goldwater and Ronald Reagan, heroes of the New Right, who sought to cut government social programs while ramping up military spending in the Cold War (both Goldwater and Reagan were superhawks on Vietnam)."

So what "wisdom” does that give us? The most bloated military budget in US history, though it has tough competition from past Republican military budgets and proposed budgets clamored for by the earlier iterations of the “New Right,” from its CIA affiliated founders, as I’ve shared previously. But this takes the “cake:" https://covertactionmagazine.com/2022/08/11/the-most-bloated-military-budget-in-u-s-history-is-being-specially-named-to-honor-an-87-year-old-disciple-of-barry-goldwater-and-ronald-reagan/

And don’t think the Marine Corps Rifleman’s preparation for war with China is being neglected: 

https://news.usni.org/2021/05/06/marines-retooling-infantry-training-for-complex-warfare-in-pacific

Marines Retooling Infantry Training for Complex Warfare in Pacific

https://nationalinterest.org/blog/buzz/marines-are-getting-ready-fight-skies-over-pacific-204191?utm_source=sailthru&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=mil-ebb

Marines Are Getting Ready to Fight in the Skies Over the Pacific

China is currently the Marine Corps’ pacing challenge, a threat that has prompted some of the most significant changes in the Corps in over a generation.

With China being the United States’ pacing threat, the Marine Corps is gearing up for a war in the maritime domain.

Marines and Sailors with the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing “refined warfighting tactics and command and control capabilities for future conflicts during Exercise Summer Fury 22,” a U.S. Marine Corps statement explained.

The Corps explained that Marine Air Control Group 38 acted as a hub and “established a Tactical Air Command Center aboard Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, San Diego, California. With the TACC fully operational, MACG-38, in conjunction with 3rd MAW key leaders, facilitated command and control of aviation assets throughout the battlespace.”

“Marines at the TACC demonstrated flexibility and versatility through simultaneous focus on real world and simulated operations,” the statement added. And “while battle tracking personnel and aircraft in support of the exercise, 3rd MAW staff also conducted planning based on an Indo-Pacific maritime conflict scenario.”

China is currently the Marine Corps’ pacing challenge and a threat that has prompted some of the most significant changes in the Corps in over a generation.

While the Marine Corps acted as a kind of second Army, fighting long protracted battles during the United States' involvement in Iraq and Afghanistan, the Corps is now returning to its maritime heritage.

Under the Marine Corps Commandant’s direction, the Corps has divested all its tank battalions, and much of its tube mortars and artillery. It has also renamed several battalions to highlight their littoral nature.

“At the various nodes, MAG-39 conducted operations such as air-delivered ground refueling, forward arming and refueling, and close air support,” the Marine Corps explained. “The exercise culminated in an air assault with participation from MV-22B Ospreys, CH-53E Super Stallions, AH-1Z Vipers and UH-1Y Venoms in support of a company of infantry Marines from 2nd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment.”

The Indo-Pacific region is the U.S. military’s largest combat command, stretching from the American west coast and Hawaii to the Indian ocean. Given the long distances involved in the region, establishing refueling depots and a robust aerial refueling capability will be a top priority for the Marine Corps—and one that is certainly worth perfecting.

“Third MAW's warfighting skills were sharpened this week during the Summer Fury Exercise. Command and control, flight operations, and expeditionary airfield operations fused with virtual training refined the MAW's preparedness to provide lethal effects in all domains,” said Brigadier General Robert B. Brodie, the 3rd MAW assistant wing commander.

“Ultimately, this exercise proved the Wing's readiness to support I Marine Expeditionary Force from competition to conflict. Any clime, any time!”

Caleb Larson is a multimedia journalist and defense writer with the National Interest. A graduate of UCLA, he also holds a Master of Public Policy and lives in Berlin. He covers the intersection of conflict, security, and technology, focusing on American foreign policy, European security, and German society for both print and radio. Follow him on Twitter @calebmlarson

Image: U.S. Navy Flickr.