At Marine Corps Base Hawaii, an infantry battalion with a storied World War II history deactivated Jan. 13, the same day that an aviation refueling squadron reactivated after a 64-year hiatus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Although these units are under different organizational structures, both changes are tied to Force Design 2030, the Pacific-focused restructuring of the Marine Corps. The Marine Corps is working to become more nimble and less trackable in a potential conflict, especially against the technologically sophisticated Chinese military.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Infantry unit 3rd Battalion, 3rd Marines, folded as part of a reorganization within the 3rd Marine Division, according to a division news release. In March 2022, the division\u2019s 3rd Marine Regiment became the 3rd Marine Littoral Regiment<\/a>, which will be the first unit to serve as a \u201cstand-in-force,\u201d dispersed within China\u2019s striking range.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Another infantry battalion, 2nd Battalion, 3rd Marines, was deactivated in January 2022, also because of the transition to the 3rd Marine Littoral Regiment.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron 153, abbreviated VMGR-153, was stood up in large part to provide more logistical support for the Hawaii-based 3rd Marine Littoral Regiment, according to the Marine Corps\u2019 2022 aviation plan. The squadron has two KC-130J cargo planes and plans to have 15 by fiscal year 2026, according to Stars and Stripes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n