bobdina
08-15-2010, 12:04 PM
U.S. Marine Corps Must Redefine Mission: Gates
AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE
WASHINGTON - The U.S. Marine Corps has become too accustomed to fighting land battles and must redefine its mission in the context of traditional maritime role, Defense Secretary Robert Gates said Aug. 12.
The roughly 202,000 members of the Marine Corps have been called upon in recent years to fight predominantly in ground wars, in Iraq and Afghanistan, prompting "anxiety in some circles," Gates said at a speech in San Francisco.
The force has air, infantry and armored divisions, but is primarily intended to operate as a rapid-deployment expeditionary force capable of moving into areas much more quickly than an Army deploying with heavy equipment.
Gates acknowledged fears that deployments in Iraq and Afghanistan have forced the Marines to function "as a so-called second land army."
"The perception being that they have become too heavy, too removed from their expeditionary, amphibious roots and the unique skill sets those missions require," he said.
"Yet fundamentally, the Marines do not want to be, nor does America need, another land army. Nor do they want to be, nor does America need, a 'U.S. Navy police force,'" he added.
Gates said America would continue to need a force with the ability "to project combat forces from the sea under uncertain conditions," and that he had ordered Navy and Marine Corps reviews to better determine the future of maritime military forces.
"Ultimately, the maritime soul of the Marine Corps needs to be preserved, notwithstanding the imperatives of today's wars," he said.
AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE
WASHINGTON - The U.S. Marine Corps has become too accustomed to fighting land battles and must redefine its mission in the context of traditional maritime role, Defense Secretary Robert Gates said Aug. 12.
The roughly 202,000 members of the Marine Corps have been called upon in recent years to fight predominantly in ground wars, in Iraq and Afghanistan, prompting "anxiety in some circles," Gates said at a speech in San Francisco.
The force has air, infantry and armored divisions, but is primarily intended to operate as a rapid-deployment expeditionary force capable of moving into areas much more quickly than an Army deploying with heavy equipment.
Gates acknowledged fears that deployments in Iraq and Afghanistan have forced the Marines to function "as a so-called second land army."
"The perception being that they have become too heavy, too removed from their expeditionary, amphibious roots and the unique skill sets those missions require," he said.
"Yet fundamentally, the Marines do not want to be, nor does America need, another land army. Nor do they want to be, nor does America need, a 'U.S. Navy police force,'" he added.
Gates said America would continue to need a force with the ability "to project combat forces from the sea under uncertain conditions," and that he had ordered Navy and Marine Corps reviews to better determine the future of maritime military forces.
"Ultimately, the maritime soul of the Marine Corps needs to be preserved, notwithstanding the imperatives of today's wars," he said.