USMC massive reduction in force

[davidpt40]

I was really surprised to hear this.  The USMC is undergoing a massive reduction in force over the next ten years.  This includes:

Elimination of all M1 tank battalions
Elimination of all military police battalions
Elimination of 16 of 21 artillery batteries
Elimination of 3 infantry battalions (24 to 21)
Elimination of 2 amphibious vehicle companies (6 to 4)
Reduced aircraft squadron size from 16 to 10 aircraft
Deactivation of 3 tilt-rotor/helicopter squadrons
Deactivation of 2 fixed wing squadrons

The official reason is to make the USMC a more effective force in combatting China. 

[800nate800]

I was really surprised to hear this.  The USMC is undergoing a massive reduction in force over the next ten years.  This includes:

Elimination of all M1 tank battalions
Elimination of all military police battalions
Elimination of 16 of 21 artillery batteries
Elimination of 3 infantry battalions (24 to 21)
Elimination of 2 amphibious vehicle companies (6 to 4)
Reduced aircraft squadron size from 16 to 10 aircraft
Deactivation of 3 tilt-rotor/helicopter squadrons
Deactivation of 2 fixed wing squadrons

The official reason is to make the USMC a more effective force in combatting China.

i get the tanks for the island hoppin that will happen, but helicopter and fixed wing and amphibious squads?

[Easyscor]

Reminds me of the drawn-down just before Korea.

[Eagler]

Diverting funds to the new " space  force " lol

Don't worry we will continue to spend more on the military complex year after year

Eagler

[Maverick]

IMO it is a really shortsighted choice they made. After all the support the infantry units got from tanks in the sandbox, including in urban environments they are leaving their troops hanging. The Army won't station tanks just to give support to the Marines if they need them. The so called justification for the shrinkage was that they were preparing for a confrontation with China. Someone should tell the idiots in the Marine side of the puzzle palace that the Chinese have a LOT of tanks. They may not be top of the line but they are going to be more than enough for unsupported infantry. Shrinking the arty on the Marine side also won't be much help facing armor.

[Easyscor]

Had to search for article supporting the OP's post.
https://www.flightglobal.com/defence/why-the-us-marine-corps-plans-big-downsizing-including-some-f-35s-mv-22s-and-all-tanks/137513.article

Sounds to me like the direction is in autonomous or semi-autonomous weapons systems and stealth. That's fine, I like shiny new hardware too. 

[puller]

I couldn't even come up with that article to support OP....

 

[davidpt40]

I couldn't even come up with that article to support OP....

 

All it takes is a 5 second Google search.  The retired Marine tankers and artillerymen I work with told me bits and pieces.  A little searching (less than 5 minutes worth) revealed it to be much larger than I thought.

[Ramesis]

I guess the U.S. has not LEARNED from Pearl Harbor... history repeats

[Palace Cobra]

https://warontherocks.com/2019/10/a-striking-new-vision-for-the-marines-and-a-wakeup-call-for-the-other-services/

[FESS67]

I remember going through 'Options for Change' in the UK forces back in the early 90's. The world did not collapse and the UK was not invaded! The world changes and with it the composition of the military will also change.  It is not short sighted, it is not being ignorant to history it is simply doing the thing that is right for the time.  Is this right for the time?  Well, only history can tell you that and with 20/20 rear view vision everyone can tell you if you were right or wrong.  However, given the information and conditions of the time you make the decisions that are relevant for the time and let history judge you.

On an historical note, the Romans were quite unique in having a standing army.  For the most part, before and since, the professional armed forces have always been supplemented by draftees in times of increased threat / need.  Once that threat is dealt with the military contracts in size back to a small core of professionals.

[Chalenge]

The Marines always get screwed over like this. Nothing new here, especially in a world where Marines have to think twice before saying something like "Real men red meat, rare, drink Whiskey, and core potatoes with their cucumbers.

Just saying.

[davidpt40]

Remember, military decisions are not made by memembers of the military.  They are made by politicians.  As example, Robert Macnamara both screwed up the M-16 rifle and the TFX (later to be known as the F-111) jet.  Sometimes these politicians listen to military advisors, sometimes they don't (example: Gen Mattis resigning).

[Chalenge]

snip! . . . Robert Macnamara both screwed up the M-16 rifle . . . snip!

Army procurement (the name escapes me) rather than McNamara directly.

[Palace Cobra]

The Marine Corps is challenging itself to return to its core mission of amphibious assault.    Nothing wrong with a little introspection now and then.