{"id":32216,"date":"2022-05-16T19:22:40","date_gmt":"2022-05-16T19:22:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/marinecorpstimes\/uncategorized\/2022\/05\/16\/lethal-and-survivable-or-irrelevant-and-vulnerable-marine-corps-redesign-debate-rages\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T21:05:42","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T21:05:42","slug":"lethal-and-survivable-or-irrelevant-and-vulnerable-marine-corps-redesign-debate-rages","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/marinecorpstimes\/news\/your-marine-corps\/2022\/05\/16\/lethal-and-survivable-or-irrelevant-and-vulnerable-marine-corps-redesign-debate-rages\/","title":{"rendered":"Lethal and survivable or irrelevant and vulnerable? Marine redesign debate rages"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A group of retired <a href=\"https:\/\/www.marinecorpstimes.com\/news\/your-marine-corps\/2022\/05\/12\/dispersed-more-lethal-what-marine-infantry-battalion-experiments-have-shown-so-far\/\" target=\"_blank\">Marine <\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.marinecorpstimes.com\/news\/your-marine-corps\/2022\/05\/12\/dispersed-more-lethal-what-marine-infantry-battalion-experiments-have-shown-so-far\/\" target=\"_blank\">Corps senior leaders <\/a>are in a custody battle with the service\u2019s current leadership over <a href=\"https:\/\/www.marinecorpstimes.com\/news\/modern-day-marine\/2022\/05\/12\/marine-raiders-tackle-influencing-to-disrupt-adversaries-before-the-fight\/\" target=\"_blank\">ongoing efforts to redesign<\/a> the force for future <a href=\"https:\/\/www.marinecorpstimes.com\/news\/modern-day-marine\/2022\/05\/12\/new-war-gaming-center-will-plug-into-marine-units-with-a-more-realistic-experience\/\" target=\"_blank\">combat <\/a>much like grandparents fighting with parents over what\u2019s best for the child.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">That\u2019s the description laid out by four<a href=\"https:\/\/www.marinecorpstimes.com\/news\/your-marine-corps\/2022\/05\/10\/heres-how-marine-air-power-will-shift-with-the-corps-2022-aviation-plan\/\" target=\"_blank\"> senior defense officials <\/a>who debated the topic Monday at the Center for Strategic and International Studies event, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.csis.org\/events\/future-marine-corps-assessing-force-design-2030\" target=\"_blank\">\u201cOn the Future of the Marine Corps: Assessing Force Design 2030\u2033.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">But one of Commandant Gen. David Berger\u2019s strongest critics had more strident description.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cAnd those other retired generals who are concerned don\u2019t believe the Marine Corps will exist if (Force Design) 2030 is fully implemented. said retired Lt. Gen. Paul Van Riper, former commander of Marine Corps Combat Development Command. \u201cThat\u2019s how seriously we take it. So, not a custody fight. It\u2019s a fight for the life of the child.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\t<aside class=\"smg-interstitial-link wp-block-smg-interstitial-link\">\n\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/marinecorpstimes\/news\/your-marine-corps\/2022\/05\/06\/marine-3-star-technology-remade-combined-arms-the-corps-must-adjust\/\" class=\"smg-interstitial-link__inner\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"smg-interstitial-link__media\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"200\" src=\"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/LTG-Smith-change-of-command-IMEF.jpg.jpg?w=300\" class=\"smg-interstitial-link__image wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" \/>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"smg-interstitial-link__content\">\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"smg-interstitial-link__kicker\">Related<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"smg-interstitial-link__title\">Marine 3-star: Technology remade combined arms, the Corps must adjust<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"smg-interstitial-link__excerpt\">\u201cCombined arms is more than towed cannon artillery, tanks and aviation,\u201d Lt. Gen. Karsten Heckl said. \u201cIt\u2019s information, cyber and space.\u201d<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t<\/aside>\n\t\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In recent months former commandants, other Marine generals and high-ranking retired Marine officers along with retired Sen. Jim Webb, a Marine Vietnam veteran and former Navy secretary, have launched public criticism of Force Design 2030, divestment of key combat power such as tanks, conventional artillery and the reforming of basic Marine units such as the infantry battalions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">But force design supporters, such as former Deputy Secretary of Defense Robert Work and former Undersecretary of Defense Dov Zakheim said Monday that the critics have gotten it wrong.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cFirst of all, the commandant\u2019s primary vector for Force Design 2030 is moving into an era where almost all of the military competitors will have guided munitions, loitering munitions, C4ISR, battle networks to employ them,\u201d Work said. \u201cWe\u2019re not ready for that future.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2592\" height=\"1458\" src=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/marine-prone-rifle.jpg.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-64469\" srcset=\"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/marine-prone-rifle.jpg.jpg 2592w, https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/marine-prone-rifle.jpg.jpg?resize=300,169 300w, https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/marine-prone-rifle.jpg.jpg?resize=768,432 768w, https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/marine-prone-rifle.jpg.jpg?resize=1024,576 1024w, https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/marine-prone-rifle.jpg.jpg?resize=1536,864 1536w, https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/marine-prone-rifle.jpg.jpg?resize=2048,1152 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2592px) 100vw, 2592px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Marines with 2d Combat Engineer Battalion, 2d Marine Division, provide supporting fire during the Sapper Leaders Course on Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, May 11, 2022.(Lance Cpl. Ryan Ramsammy\/Marine Corps)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The running critique strikes at decisions to divest assets before combat power is covered and a fear that the Marine Corps may redesign itself into irrelevance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Critics aimed fire at the divestment of armor and other assets, pointing to the need for divested items such as armor, heavy engineer, helicopters and fully-manned infantry units need in certain arenas such as Europe, the Middle East and the Korean peninsula.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Retired Marine Gen. Anthony Zinni, former commander of U.S. Central Command, was the most outspoken critic on the panel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Zinni pushed hard on what he said were decisions made before the concepts that Berger pushed was validated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cAn idea is not a decision,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cDecisions were made, and then they were studied and experimented,\u201d Zinni said. \u201cNow, maybe this is old think, but I thought you tested and validated first before you made decisions.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Those are direct references to the divestments made these past two years since Berger launched force design.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Zakheim and Work pushed back that the design is not radically changing all parts of the Marine Corps. Though the Corps is adding new platforms and capabilities, much of what the I and II Marine Expeditionary Forces will look like in the coming years will be an improved version of what they are now.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Camp Lejeune, North Carolina-based II MEF will focus on Europe and have its training and capabilities leaned toward that theater. The Camp Pendleton, California-based I MEF will still work on anything in Central Command and support Pacific-based operations alongside III MEF.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">But it is III MEF that will see drastic changes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">That\u2019s because of the pacing threat faced with China, Zakheim said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cAnd it really is a challenging question, how do you deal with China?\u201d Zakheim said. \u201cWe\u2019re not going to invade the Chinese mainland. This will not be the Korean War.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">What that means for supporters is a U.S. Indo-Pacific Command tailored III MEF that looks to stand in on the first island chain inside China\u2019s bubble.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">That requires long range precision strike and small units able to maneuver quickly and undetected. That way those units can strike and move.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Zakheim supported Berger\u2019s moves but still has open questions on logistics, how the Marine Corps will support those small units bouncing around the tiny Pacific islands under threat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">That\u2019s the obstacle Berger faces, Zakheim said, building a force to take on China within the multiservice, allies and partners approach and still offer some relevant fighting capability.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cIt\u2019s not easy but it\u2019s going to require breaking glass,\u201d Zakheim said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">That\u2019s not enough of an explanation for Van Riper or Zinni.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Both noted that the changes are hollowing out the regiments that the Marine Corps has under its MEFs. That means reduced combat power for those commanders to deliver to the fight, especially if that fight isn\u2019t striking ships from small islands.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Van Riper said that none of the new platforms or capabilities provide the stealth needed for Marine units to operate undetected so close to China\u2019s weapon range.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Meaning, those small units will be seen and they will be targeted, he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cAnd Marines will die because of this flawed concept,\u201d Van Riper said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">But Work countered, saying that the Corps would continue to be the nation\u2019s 911 force and able to do all the combat tasks needed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThe commandant is not trying to make stealthy units,\u201d Work said. \u201cHe\u2019s trying to develop a force design that provides for some level of survivability in this incoming future.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>It&#8217;s &#8220;not a custody fight. It\u2019s a fight for the life of the child,&#8221; said retired. Lt. Gen. Paul Van Riper.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":64461,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_yoast_wpseo_meta-robots-noindex":"","_yoast_wpseo_meta-robots-nofollow":"","_yoast_wpseo_canonical":"","_acf":"","_yoast_wpseo_primary_category":69,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","_smg_distribution_targets":{"2":{"categories":["left-column","home","your-military","news"],"primary_category":"left-column"},"10":{"categories":["naval","land","daily-news-roundup","newsletters"],"primary_category":"naval"}}},"categories":[101,23,92,12,25,69],"tags":[],"coauthors":[3396],"class_list":["post-32216","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-daily-news-roundup","category-home","category-left-column","category-news","category-newsletters","category-your-marine-corps"],"acf":{"subheadline":"","legacy_arc_id":"GXYVQ7AOUJA7LK7QLJCNFS3FLI","arc_canonical_url":"\/news\/your-marine-corps\/2022\/05\/16\/lethal-and-survivable-or-irrelevant-and-vulnerable-marine-corps-redesign-debate-rages\/","remove_feature_photo":false,"is_sponsored":false,"subtype":"","redirect_url":"","disable_inline_ads":false,"native_logo_pretext":"Presented By:"},"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v26.0 (Yoast SEO v28.1) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Lethal and survivable or irrelevant and vulnerable? 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