{"id":33868,"date":"2019-01-29T21:55:47","date_gmt":"2019-01-29T21:55:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/marinecorpstimes\/uncategorized\/2019\/01\/29\/a-look-inside-the-work-future-of-jim-mattis-task-force-focused-on-infantry-close-combat\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T03:02:20","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T03:02:20","slug":"a-look-inside-the-work-future-of-jim-mattis-task-force-focused-on-infantry-close-combat","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/marinecorpstimes\/news\/your-marine-corps\/2019\/01\/29\/a-look-inside-the-work-future-of-jim-mattis-task-force-focused-on-infantry-close-combat\/","title":{"rendered":"A look inside the work, future of Jim Mattis&#8217; task force focused on infantry, close combat"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Nearly a year after former defense secretary Jim Mattis inked a memo to create the first task force focused solely on making <a href=\"https:\/\/www.marinecorpstimes.com\/news\/your-marine-corps\/2018\/10\/02\/how-the-marines-army-are-counting-out-the-door-now-troops-and-increasing-small-unit-readiness\/\" target=\"_blank\">close combat formations more lethal<\/a>, the group has coordinated efforts to add more than $3 billion toward that goal and now has another year to find a way to institutionalize its mission.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Despite the overwhelming sacrifice of close combat units, from <a href=\"https:\/\/www.armytimes.com\/news\/your-army\/2018\/09\/19\/this-mattis-created-task-force-wants-to-recruit-and-retain-the-best-candidates-for-the-infantry\/\" target=_blank>infantry to scouts<\/a>, combat engineers and special operations forces in America\u2019s wars, their equipping, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.marinecorpstimes.com\/news\/your-marine-corps\/2018\/07\/31\/go-four-before-grunt-the-controversial-idea-posed-by-the-head-of-mattis-task-force\/\" target=_blank>training and cohesion<\/a> has often received short shrift in funding when compared to stealth bombers, aircraft carriers and even the ground vehicle programs that support them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Mattis, influenced by his time as an infantry officer, brought together reform supporters such as retired Army Maj. Gen. Bob Scales and others to establish the Close Combat Lethality Task Force in 2018 and harmonize efforts across the Army, Marines and SOF communities for best practices and common goals.<\/p>\n\n\n\t<aside class=\"smg-interstitial-link wp-block-smg-interstitial-link\">\n\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/armytimes\/news\/your-army\/2018\/10\/09\/taking-infantry-to-the-next-level-this-task-force-is-working-to-make-it-happen\/\" 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\/AUSA-soldier-cover-1-web.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\">Taking infantry to the \u2018next level\u2019: This task force is working to make it happen<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"smg-interstitial-link__excerpt\">In less than a year, a new task force formed at the direction of the Pentagon\u2019s most senior leaders is pushing key equipment programs and putting personnel policies under a microscope \u2014 all to take close combat units to the \u201cnext level\u201d of war-fighting overmatch.<\/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\">CCLTF Director Joe L\u2019Etoile, a retired Marine infantry officer, sat down with Military Times recently to talk about some of the past year\u2019s work and added focus of the task force in the coming year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">While L\u2019Etoile gets a lot of questions from reporters about new weapons, gear and progress in improving items such as night vision, targeting and the next generation of squad weapons, the director said that there\u2019s a risk in simply looking at dollar figures and hardware.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">About three months ago, he said, the task force shifted its main line of effort to manpower policy at the squad level in the Army and Marine Corps.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Some of that is also tangible. Adding strength coaches, physical trainers and nutrition experts that were common at SOF unit headquarters to the regular infantry formations was an uncontroversial first step in better meeting the needs of that physically demanding job field.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A lot of time in the past year, L\u2019Etoile said, has been devoted to \u201csocializing\u201d ways of doing business, going after unit cohesion that produces a well-trained, stable and experienced squad ready for combat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">That has led to somewhat of a near-term mission, in L\u2019Etoile\u2019s thinking.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThis is the year we should stabilize squads,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">What that means is an overhaul of how the Army and Marines have been treating infantry squads as a catch-all working party for the needs of the higher headquarters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It also means a change in how the integral bridge to combat effectiveness \u2015 a competent, experienced and trained squad leader \u2015 remains with the unit that needs him most.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">L\u2019Etoile drew upon his own experience as a Marine infantry commander.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cYou pin on sergeant at the four-year mark in the Marine Corps. The 4-year mark is coincidentally when your enlistment is up. The four-year mark is coincidentally when the Marine Corps comes looking for you to be a recruiter or drill instructor,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">So, those most ready to lead, those who\u2019ve made the rank and likely have a deployment or two completed, are either ending their enlistment or headed out of the infantry, leaving few sergeants to lead those squads.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">And there\u2019s a ripple effect on other ranks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Base commanders call around for personnel to do a host of tasks from range duty to gate guard to lifeguard and before a company or battalion commander knows it, they\u2019re headed to unit training with six Marines in a squad that should have 12 or more.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Through new reporting methods that track the availability and readiness to the squad level in both the Army and Marine Corps and a hybrid of options such as increasing six-year enlistments, two-year extensions and early talent identification, L\u2019Etoile said the services are beating back past readiness problems.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">They\u2019ve also taken notes from prestigious SOF units such as the 75th Ranger Regiment, Army Special Forces, Marine Special Operations Command and Navy SEALs, among others to apply their methods of identifying traits and capabilities in candidates to the infantry recruitment and retention process.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"4827\" height=\"3218\" src=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/ARM-ammo-cover-4.jpg.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-67378\" srcset=\"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/ARM-ammo-cover-4.jpg.jpg 4827w, https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/ARM-ammo-cover-4.jpg.jpg?resize=300,200 300w, https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/ARM-ammo-cover-4.jpg.jpg?resize=768,512 768w, https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/ARM-ammo-cover-4.jpg.jpg?resize=1024,683 1024w, https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/ARM-ammo-cover-4.jpg.jpg?resize=1536,1024 1536w, https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/ARM-ammo-cover-4.jpg.jpg?resize=2048,1365 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 4827px) 100vw, 4827px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Troopers assigned to 2nd Squadron, 14th Calvary Regiment, 2nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division provide security during a combined arms live-fire exercise at Pohakuloa Training Area, Hawaii, May 15, 2018. (1st Lt. Ryan DeBooy\/Army)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The task force is taking input from a sample of close combat operators as part of its research and application, asking them what they need to do their job and keep their ranks healthy and ready.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cAnd I can tell you exactly what they\u2019re going to tell us \u2015 let us train, don\u2019t distract us with other things and stabilize us,\u201d L\u2019Etoile said. \u201cIt is a constant and consistent refrain from the operating forces \u2015 let us train.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">That\u2019s not to say that the funding and support the task force has coordinated toward hardware projects such as the Next Generation Combat Weapon program and the integrated visual augmentation system, or IVAS, are not increasing the lethality of small units.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The NGCW concept has been floating around the halls of the Pentagon in some form or another for more than a decade to replace the M16\/M4 rifle\/carbine platform with a better bullet and fire control system.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">And the IVAS is a leap-ahead tech project that aims to put targeting, night vision, biometrics and other inputs into a device close to the size and weight of a pair of sunglasses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The task force has also put its weight behind recent efforts and funding in urban fighting and its close cousin, subterranean fighting that troops are likely to face in the next major conflict.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">What\u2019s likely the next step is finding new ways to employ these capabilities, L\u2019Etoile said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cWe have gone out and provided the resources to have potentially game-changing capabilities. But capabilities aren\u2019t concepts,\u201d he said. \u201cIf we give everybody all of this magnificent situational awareness, (Artificial Intelligence), can\u2019t-miss rifles and every squad with loitering munitions and quadcopters, but if we still do two up, one back, squad level tactics developed in 1917, what have we changed?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The services will need to develop conceptual changes on how to fight in the next five, 10, 20 years, he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Some of that is being worked out on the strategic and operational levels with the Army\u2019s Multi-Domain Operations concept that is being jointly developed with the other services.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">But what L\u2019Etoile is talking about also brings that to the tactical level, because with new capabilities and training the role of even the smallest units such as squads will have an outsized impact on how the battle unfolds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Technology and tactics will give those units and leaders down at the sergeant level a more distributed lethality than they\u2019ve had access to in the past.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">And to support that, L\u2019Etoile\u2019s focus in the coming months is presenting the defense department\u2019s top officials ways in which the task force and its mission can become \u201cenduring.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">There have been other task forces that were created for singular purposes, such as the mine resistant, ambush protected team that found ways to speed up the building and deployment of MRAP vehicles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">There have been others that had similar focus and then became permanent entities, such as Joint Improvised-threat Defeat Agency, that formed to counter the Improvised Explosives Device threat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">There may be some parallels, but the CCLTF has both a focus and a broader mission that doesn\u2019t necessarily end.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">There is no end date in which the squad is lethal enough.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cOvermatch is a condition in space and time,\u201d he said. \u201cOne day you have it, one day you don\u2019t. if you take your eye off the ball your peer competitors are constantly adapting and improving as well.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The outgoing defense secretary put in place an order to continue the task force for at least another year.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":67370,"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":[]},"categories":[101,23,92,93,12,25,69],"tags":[],"coauthors":[3396],"class_list":["post-33868","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-daily-news-roundup","category-home","category-left-column","category-middle-column","category-news","category-newsletters","category-your-marine-corps"],"acf":{"subheadline":"","legacy_arc_id":"LNRTJVCVVBAW5L2U3ISKYWLPNU","arc_canonical_url":"\/news\/your-army\/2019\/01\/29\/a-look-inside-the-work-future-of-jim-mattis-task-force-focused-on-infantry-close-combat\/","remove_feature_photo":false,"is_sponsored":false,"subtype":"","redirect_url":"","disable_inline_ads":false,"native_logo_pretext":"Presented 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