{"id":1467245,"date":"2022-05-07T07:45:39","date_gmt":"2022-05-07T11:45:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=1467245"},"modified":"2022-05-07T07:46:26","modified_gmt":"2022-05-07T11:46:26","slug":"basing-u-s-marines-inside-chinas-striking-distance-key-to-deterrence","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/basing-u-s-marines-inside-chinas-striking-distance-key-to-deterrence\/","title":{"rendered":"Basing U.S. Marines Inside China\u2019s Striking Distance Key to Deterrence"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"float:left\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">20<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fbasing-u-s-marines-inside-chinas-striking-distance-key-to-deterrence%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=1467245&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><div class=\"css-itqiyo\">\n<div class=\"css-tomq47\">\n<h2 class=\"MuiTypography-root MuiTypography-h6 css-1k6vyop\">Force Design 2030 will work because it is better for Marines to be forward than to fight their way in, says Lt. Gen. Karsten Heckl.<br \/>\n<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"css-ptqbdt\"><span class=\"MuiTypography-root MuiTypography-button css-1xe71i0\">by<\/span><span class=\"MuiTypography-root MuiTypography-button css-gonh1q\"><\/span><span class=\"MuiTypography-root MuiTypography-button css-gnnxwx\">May 5, 2022 4:40 PM<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"MuiBox-root css-1k6rbu\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Marines Forward Deployed Japan China\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thedrive.com\/uploads\/2022\/05\/05\/marines-forward-deployed-japan.jpg?auto=webp?auto=webp&#038;optimize=high&#038;quality=70\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.thedrive.com\/uploads\/2022\/05\/05\/marines-forward-deployed-japan.jpg?auto=webp?auto=webp&#038;optimize=high&#038;quality=70&#038;width=640 640w, https:\/\/www.thedrive.com\/uploads\/2022\/05\/05\/marines-forward-deployed-japan.jpg?auto=webp?auto=webp&#038;optimize=high&#038;quality=70&#038;width=750 750w, https:\/\/www.thedrive.com\/uploads\/2022\/05\/05\/marines-forward-deployed-japan.jpg?auto=webp?auto=webp&#038;optimize=high&#038;quality=70&#038;width=828 828w, https:\/\/www.thedrive.com\/uploads\/2022\/05\/05\/marines-forward-deployed-japan.jpg?auto=webp?auto=webp&#038;optimize=high&#038;quality=70&#038;width=1080 1080w, https:\/\/www.thedrive.com\/uploads\/2022\/05\/05\/marines-forward-deployed-japan.jpg?auto=webp?auto=webp&#038;optimize=high&#038;quality=70&#038;width=1200 1200w, https:\/\/www.thedrive.com\/uploads\/2022\/05\/05\/marines-forward-deployed-japan.jpg?auto=webp?auto=webp&#038;optimize=high&#038;quality=70&#038;width=1920 1920w, https:\/\/www.thedrive.com\/uploads\/2022\/05\/05\/marines-forward-deployed-japan.jpg?auto=webp?auto=webp&#038;optimize=high&#038;quality=70&#038;width=2018 2048w, https:\/\/www.thedrive.com\/uploads\/2022\/05\/05\/marines-forward-deployed-japan.jpg?auto=webp?auto=webp&#038;optimize=high&#038;quality=70&#038;width=3840 3840w\" title=\"Marines Javelin\" \/><\/div>\n<div class=\"MuiBox-root css-i9gxme\">\n<div class=\"MuiGrid-root MuiGrid-container MuiGrid-spacing-xs-2 css-i0amj6\">\n<div class=\"MuiGrid-root MuiGrid-item MuiGrid-grid-xs-12 MuiGrid-grid-md-8 css-7vczw4\">\n<div class=\"MuiBox-root css-10757gk\">\n<div class=\"MuiBox-root css-1ia6l13\">\n<p class=\"MuiTypography-root MuiTypography-body1 css-crj2xj\">Not today, Xi.<\/p>\n<p class=\"MuiTypography-root MuiTypography-body1 css-htz1a0\">That was the message delivered Wednesday afternoon by Marine Corps Lt. Gen. Karsten Heckl, the officer in charge of carrying out <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thedrive.com\/the-war-zone\/29608\/marine-bosss-audacious-plan-to-transform-the-corps-by-giving-up-big-amphibious-ships\">sweeping changes to the Corps<\/a> ordered by Commandant Gen. David Berger.<\/p>\n<p class=\"MuiTypography-root MuiTypography-body1 css-htz1a0\">It was part of an effort to sell Berger\u2019s controversial <a href=\"https:\/\/www.marines.mil\/Portals\/1\/Docs\/2021%20Force%20Design%20Annual%20Update.pdf\">Marine Force Design 2030 <\/a>initiative. Heckl told a virtual panel held by the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.csis.org\/events\/maritime-security-dialogue-force-design-2030-and-marine-corps-modernization-efforts\">Center for International and Strategic Studies<\/a> and the <a href=\"https:\/\/news.usni.org\/\">U.S. Naval Institute<\/a> that the objective was to keep a stand-in force of Marines &#8211; currently the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thedrive.com\/the-war-zone\/39432\/stinger-sam-armed-marines-riding-in-rubber-rafts-were-featured-in-recent-pacific-exercise\">III Marine Expeditionary Force<\/a> headquartered in Okinawa, Japan &#8211; forward inside the range of Chinese fires. That, said Heckl, will make the communist nation think twice about taking aggressive action in the Pacific.<\/p>\n<div>\n<figure class=\"image MuiBox-root css-1pxftiy\"><span class=\"MuiTypography-root MuiTypography-caption css-k6fpix\">Marine Lt. Gen. Karsten Heckl says being there is better than getting there. (<em>U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Tia Car<\/em>r).<\/span><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"MuiTypography-root MuiTypography-body1 css-htz1a0\">Being forward inside the weapons engagement zone, with allies and partners, reassuring them every day, by walking the real estate with them, that is deterrence,\u201d Heckl said. \u201cAnd that is the true value proposition of force design- to simply make the leadership within the CCP wake up in the morning and go, \u2018today just ain&#8217;t it,\u2019 right?\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"MuiTypography-root MuiTypography-body1 css-htz1a0\">The Force Design 2030 initiative, officially <a href=\"https:\/\/www.hqmc.marines.mil\/Portals\/142\/Docs\/CMC38%20Force%20Design%202030%20Report%20Phase%20I%20and%20II.pdf?ver=2020-03-26-121328-460\">launched on March 23, 2020<\/a>, aims to fundamentally change the way Marines operate after 20 years of land-focused warfare in Afghanistan and Iraq.\u00a0<\/p>\n<div>\n<figure class=\"image MuiBox-root css-1pxftiy\"><span class=\"MuiTypography-root MuiTypography-caption css-k6fpix\">After 20 years of war in places like Iraq and Afghanistan, the Marines are looking to get their sea legs back. (<em>Photo by Robert Nickelsberg\/Getty Images<\/em>)<\/span><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"MuiTypography-root MuiTypography-body1 css-htz1a0\">It calls for addressing what the current Marine leadership says are shortfalls in a variety of increasingly important capabilities, including <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thedrive.com\/the-war-zone\/40390\/the-marines-new-unmanned-ship-killing-missile-launcher-truck-breaks-cover\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">expeditionary long-range precision fires<\/a>; medium to long-range <a href=\"https:\/\/www.29palms.marines.mil\/Articles\/Article\/2933790\/us-marines-activate-new-littoral-anti-air-battalion\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">air defense systems<\/a>; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thedrive.com\/the-war-zone\/39432\/stinger-sam-armed-marines-riding-in-rubber-rafts-were-featured-in-recent-pacific-exercise\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">short-range (point defense) air defense systems<\/a>; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/search?q=MQ-9+Marines+thedrive&#038;oq=MQ-9+Marines+thedrive&#038;aqs=chrome..69i57j0i390l4.2322j0j7&#038;sourceid=chrome&#038;ie=UTF-8\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">high-endurance, long-range unmanned systems<\/a> with intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thedrive.com\/the-war-zone\/41282\/marine-osprey-flies-with-new-radar-scrambling-intrepid-tiger-system-for-the-first-time\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">electronic warfare<\/a>, and lethal strike capabilities. In addition, the initiative seeks \u201cdisruptive and less-lethal capabilities appropriate for countering malign activity by actors pursuing maritime &#8216;gray zone&#8217; strategies.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"MuiTypography-root MuiTypography-body1 css-htz1a0\">The idea is to redesign the force to focus once again on naval expeditionary warfare \u201cand to better align itself with the National Defense Strategy, in particular, its focus on strategically competing with China and Russia,\u201d according to a <a href=\"https:\/\/crsreports.congress.gov\/product\/pdf\/IN\/IN11281#:~:text=On%20March%2023%2C%202020%2C%20the,itself%20with%20the%20National%20Defense\">2021 Congressional Research Service report<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p class=\"MuiTypography-root MuiTypography-body1 css-htz1a0\">The Force Design initiative is informed by two operational concepts: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.hqmc.marines.mil\/Portals\/160\/LOCE%20full%20size%20edition.pdf?ver=2018-06-20-095003-177\">Littoral Operations in a Contested Environment <\/a>and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mcwl.marines.mil\/TMEABO\/\">Expeditionary Advanced Base Operations (EABO)<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p class=\"MuiTypography-root MuiTypography-body1 css-htz1a0\">Littoral Operations In a Contested Environment is a concept to allow U.S. maritime forces to operate in contested areas, where the adversary operates closer to home, in a sensor-rich environment with ample long-range fires to counter U.S. naval power.<\/p>\n<p class=\"MuiTypography-root MuiTypography-body1 css-htz1a0\">At its core, EABO involves relatively small groups of Marines quickly establishing bases of operation in forward areas, especially on small islands. This concept of distributed operations also envisions them being able to then rapidly reposition themselves, as necessary. The purpose is to use these flexible, responsive ground forces to help control littoral areas, and even surrounding &#8220;seaspaces,&#8221; to deter opponents in situations short of an actual conflict, and then, if that fails, be well-positioned to engage enemy forces.<\/p>\n<div>\n<figure class=\"image MuiBox-root css-1pxftiy\"><span class=\"MuiTypography-root MuiTypography-caption css-k6fpix\">A Marine holding a Stinger missile launcher stands in front of a Combat Rubber Raiding Craft on Ukibaru Island off the coast of Okinawa during Exercise Hagatna Fury 21. <em>USMC<\/em><\/span><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"MuiTypography-root MuiTypography-body1 css-htz1a0\">To make these concepts work, the Marines intend to eliminate or reduce several types of units and their corresponding military occupational specialities, including tank, bridging and law enforcement.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p class=\"MuiTypography-root MuiTypography-body1 css-htz1a0\">The Marines have ditched tanks entirely, with the plan to rely on the Army if needed.<\/p>\n<p class=\"MuiTypography-root MuiTypography-body1 css-htz1a0\">&#8220;We have sufficient evidence to conclude that this capability, despite its long and honorable history in the wars of the past, is operationally unsuitable for our highest-priority challenges in the future,&#8221; Berger wrote in his initial Force Design document. &#8220;Heavy ground armor capability will continue to be provided by the U.S. Army.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p class=\"MuiTypography-root MuiTypography-body1 css-htz1a0\">The Marines are also looking to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thedrive.com\/the-war-zone\/39925\/marines-set-to-retire-dozens-of-ah-1z-and-uh-1y-helicopters-as-part-of-force-redesign\">deactivate several aviation squadrons &#8211; tilt rotor and rotary wing.<\/a><\/p>\n<div>\n<figure class=\"image MuiBox-root css-1pxftiy\"><span class=\"MuiTypography-root MuiTypography-caption css-k6fpix\">The Marines want to get rid of Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 264, seen here in Afghanistan Afghanistan in 2013. (<em>U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Gabriela Garcia\/Released<\/em>).<\/span><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"MuiTypography-root MuiTypography-body1 css-htz1a0\">In addition, the Marines are planning to reduce the number of F-35B and C aircraft in each squadron from 16 to 10, and replace its <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thedrive.com\/the-war-zone\/40352\/the-marines-are-ditching-their-relatively-young-rq-21-blackjack-drones\">fleet of RQ-21 Blackjack drones <\/a>with larger and smaller remotely piloted aircraft.<\/p>\n<p class=\"MuiTypography-root MuiTypography-body1 css-htz1a0\">The Marines also plan to reorganize higher echelon Marine formations and get smaller\u2014reducing forces by 12,000 personnel by 2030. That reorganization of core Marine units includes the creation of these EABO-focused formations called <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thedrive.com\/the-war-zone\/39865\/marines-test-javelin-missile-teams-in-rubber-rafts-like-somali-pirates-but-better-armed\">Marine Littoral Regiments.<\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"MuiTypography-root MuiTypography-body1 css-htz1a0\">&#8220;We\u2019ve recently stood up the 3rd Marine Littoral Regiment,&#8221; said Heckl. &#8220;It should go out to sea sometime next year. And we\u2019re looking forward to all the experimentation with that and how it\u2019s going to inform Force Design.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p class=\"MuiTypography-root MuiTypography-body1 css-htz1a0\">The plan has drawn sweeping criticism, particularly from former Marine leaders, such as this one, titled &#8220;The Marine Corps\u2019 plan to redesign the force will only end up breaking it.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p class=\"MuiTypography-root MuiTypography-body1 css-htz1a0\">\u201cAfter a detailed examination of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.hqmc.marines.mil\/Portals\/142\/Docs\/CMC38%20Force%20Design%202030%20Report%20Phase%20I%20and%20II.pdf?ver=2020-03-26-121328-460\"><em>Force Design 2030<\/em><\/a><em> <\/em>and supporting documents including the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mcwl.marines.mil\/TMEABO\/\"><em>Tentative Manual for Expeditionary Advanced Based Operations<\/em><\/a> and the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.hqmc.marines.mil\/Portals\/142\/Users\/183\/35\/4535\/211201_A%20Concept%20for%20Stand-In%20Forces.pdf?ver=MFOzu2hs_IWHZlsOAkfZsQ%3D%3D#:~:text=A%20Concept%20for%20Stand%2Din%20Forces%20deals%20with%20rivals%20who,and%20sustain%20it%20over%20time.\">concept for \u201cStand-in Forces\u201d<\/a> we can only conclude that Marine Corps leaders are moving to create a force that will be incapable of meeting the Congressional requirement to provide fleet marine forces with effective combined arms,\u201d wrote retired<strong> <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.centcom.mil\/ABOUT-US\/LEADERSHIP\/Bio-Article-View\/Article\/904782\/anthony-zinni\/\"><strong>Marine Lt. Gen. Paul K. Van Riper<\/strong><\/a> in a scathing series of editorials on the subject <a href=\"https:\/\/taskandpurpose.com\/opinion\/marine-corps-force-design-infantry\/\">published by our sister publication, <em>Task &#038; Purpose<\/em><\/a>.<\/p>\n<div>\n<figure class=\"image MuiBox-root css-1pxftiy\"><span class=\"MuiTypography-root MuiTypography-caption css-k6fpix\">A USMC M1 Abrams tank loads onto an LCAC in San Diego. After a long history of heavy armor operations, the Marines are out of the tank business in order for its force mix to align with its new strategy. U.S. Navy photo by Photographer&#8217;s Mate 1st Class Brien Aho.<\/span><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"MuiTypography-root MuiTypography-body1 css-htz1a0\">During the hour-long talk, moderated by Seth Jones, Heckl took some of the blame for the criticism.<\/p>\n<p class=\"MuiTypography-root MuiTypography-body1 css-htz1a0\">\u201cLet me start off with putting some of the responsibility for that where it belongs; probably on me for not doing an articulate enough job, which I\u2019ve been doing a lot lately, of explaining Force Design,\u201d he said.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p class=\"MuiTypography-root MuiTypography-body1 css-htz1a0\">Heckl explained that U.S. military policy, like the <a href=\"https:\/\/dod.defense.gov\/Portals\/1\/Documents\/pubs\/2018-National-Defense-Strategy-Summary.pdf\">National Defense Strategy <\/a>developed in 2018 under then-Defense Secretary James Mattis, is what is driving the Force Design initiative.<\/p>\n<p class=\"MuiTypography-root MuiTypography-body1 css-htz1a0\">\u201cWe always, always build to the worst-case scenario, which in this case clearly is China,\u201d he said, pointing out that in addition to military might, they have a great global economic influence.<\/p>\n<p class=\"MuiTypography-root MuiTypography-body1 css-htz1a0\">\u201cSo this is much worse than the 70-year Cold War with the Soviet Union,\u201d he said.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p class=\"MuiTypography-root MuiTypography-body1 css-htz1a0\">The Marine Air-Ground Task Force, or MAGTF, \u201cstill exists,\u201d he said. \u201cAll the modernization that we\u2019re doing with Force Design is going to make the rest of the MAGTF that much better.\u201d<\/p>\n<div>\n<figure class=\"image MuiBox-root css-1pxftiy\"><span class=\"MuiTypography-root MuiTypography-caption css-k6fpix\">The Marines want a smaller, more mobile force to counter China. (<em>TED ALJIBE\/AFP via Getty Images<\/em>)<\/span><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"MuiTypography-root MuiTypography-body1 css-htz1a0\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thedrive.com\/the-war-zone\/29608\/marine-bosss-audacious-plan-to-transform-the-corps-by-giving-up-big-amphibious-ships\">The MAGTF is the primary organization<\/a> Marines use to accomplish missions across the range of military operations. The most common iteration of the MAGTF is the Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) stationed afloat on board the ships of a Navy Amphibious Ready Group (ARG).<\/p>\n<p class=\"MuiTypography-root MuiTypography-body1 css-htz1a0\">&#8220;A MAGTF can be anything based on task and purpose, the mission given,&#8221; said Heckl. &#8220;The real ability of a Marine Air-Ground Task Force to project is off of amphibious ships, where we can bring the full weight of a Marine Air-Ground Task Force, flight deck, fifth-gen fighters, well deck, 2,500 bloodthirsty Marines, right?&#8221;<\/p>\n<p class=\"MuiTypography-root MuiTypography-body1 css-htz1a0\">That stand-in force &#8211; in this case, the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thedrive.com\/the-war-zone\/39432\/stinger-sam-armed-marines-riding-in-rubber-rafts-were-featured-in-recent-pacific-exercise\">III Marine Expeditionary Force<\/a> &#8211; makes all the difference, said Heckl.<\/p>\n<p class=\"MuiTypography-root MuiTypography-body1 css-htz1a0\">\u201cPresence matters,\u201d said Heckl. \u201cThey\u2019re there. They live, eat, train every day inside the PRC\u2019s [People&#8217;s Republic of China] weapons engagement zone. You can even be a JV student of history and know that if you\u2019re not there when a conflict begins or when a crisis begins, you\u2019re going to have problems, right? If you\u2019re going to have to fight your way in, that\u2019s not a good place to begin, right?\u201d<\/p>\n<div>\n<figure class=\"image MuiBox-root css-1pxftiy\"><span class=\"MuiTypography-root MuiTypography-caption css-k6fpix\">It&#8217;s better for Marines to be forward than to fight their way in, said Lt. Gen. Karsten Heckl. (<em>Photo by Lance Cpl. Justin Marty<\/em>)<\/span><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"MuiTypography-root MuiTypography-body1 css-htz1a0\">The value of a stand-in force, with \u201cvery small signature management, is in everything we do with Force Design,\u201d Heckl said, adding that \u201ca small, maneuverable, very lethal, but forward, stand-in\u201d force is the key to success.<\/p>\n<p class=\"MuiTypography-root MuiTypography-body1 css-htz1a0\">\u201cBeing there is \u2013 this is me talking \u2013 90 percent of the fight, you know,\u201d he said. \u201cSo a real challenge for me as a MEF commander in San Diego, the biggest MEF in the Marine Corps, was the 7,000-mile physics problem I had.\u201d<\/p>\n<div>\n<figure class=\"image MuiBox-root css-1pxftiy\"><span class=\"MuiTypography-root MuiTypography-caption css-k6fpix\">A model of Austal USA&#8217;s Light Amphibious Warship concept.,\u00a0<em>YouTube capture via Naval News<\/em><\/span><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"MuiTypography-root MuiTypography-body1 css-htz1a0\">To keep future Marine forces supplied and mobile, Heckl pointed to Force Design 2030&#8217;s call for <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thedrive.com\/the-war-zone\/41878\/austals-light-amphibious-warship-design-is-a-throwback-to-wwiis-tank-landing-ships\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Light Amphibious Warship (LAW)<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p class=\"MuiTypography-root MuiTypography-body1 css-htz1a0\">\u201cThe light amphibious warship is an example of what would be a major contributor to logistics,\u201d said Heckl. \u201cSo as indication and warnings are coming in, we would use the LAW to provide a quick dump of sustainment supplies and then back out as things escalate. What we should be focusing our sustainment efforts on are lethality \u2013 rearming and keeping Marines so that they can perform the missions they\u2019re there for.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"MuiTypography-root MuiTypography-body1 css-htz1a0\">Heckl also scoffed at criticism that the Marines are not purchasing enough remotely operated systems. The Corps has already ditched its fleet of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thedrive.com\/the-war-zone\/20862\/marine-rq-21-blackjack-drones-are-flying-three-times-more-than-expected-in-iraq-and-syria\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">RQ-21 Blackjack drones<\/a>\u00a0in favor of other unmanned platforms, including the MQ-9 Reaper. You can read a full report on those changes <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thedrive.com\/the-war-zone\/40352\/the-marines-are-ditching-their-relatively-young-rq-21-blackjack-drones\">here<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p class=\"MuiTypography-root MuiTypography-body1 css-htz1a0\">\u201cWe\u2019re going to have three MQ-9 squadrons,\u201d he said. \u201cWe\u2019ve got one fully up and running now doing missions all the time. We are very aggressively pursuing not just UAVs, but all things unmanned.\u201d<\/p>\n<div>\n<figure class=\"image MuiBox-root css-1pxftiy\"><span class=\"MuiTypography-root MuiTypography-caption css-k6fpix\">The Marines have three MQ-9 squadrons. <em>USMC<\/em><\/span><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"MuiTypography-root MuiTypography-body1 css-htz1a0\">That, he said, includes both on and under the waves.<\/p>\n<p class=\"MuiTypography-root MuiTypography-body1 css-htz1a0\">\u201cTo be that fleet Marine force in support of a numbered fleet and the joint force, we have to be able to sense and make sense in all domains, to include sub,\u201d he said. &#8220;So we\u2019re pursuing avenues on all of that.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"MuiTypography-root MuiTypography-body1 css-htz1a0\">But, he cautioned, with the rapid advance of technology, the Marine Corps has to \u201cbe careful of programs of record, right, because by the time you get one inked there is a new technology. So we need to stay nimble and agile so that we can maximize the technology and keep up with it.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"MuiTypography-root MuiTypography-body1 css-htz1a0\">Heckl likened the Chinese military buildup on atolls <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thedrive.com\/the-war-zone\/20616\/sams-and-anti-ship-missiles-are-now-guarding-chinas-man-made-south-china-sea-islands\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">in the South China Sea<\/a> with Russia\u2019s annexation of Crimea in 2014 as additional examples of why the Force Design initiative makes sense despite the withering complaints.<\/p>\n<div>\n<figure class=\"image MuiBox-root css-1pxftiy\"><span class=\"MuiTypography-root MuiTypography-caption css-k6fpix\">Tanks are deployed during a shore defense operation as part of a military exercise simulating the defense against the intrusion of Chinese military, amid rising tensions between Taipei and China, in Tainan, Taiwan, 11 November 2021.  (<em>Photo by Ceng Shou Yi\/NurPhoto via Getty Images<\/em>)<\/span><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"MuiTypography-root MuiTypography-body1 css-htz1a0\">Both of those situations, he said, fall under the concept of \u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/www.thedrive.com\/the-war-zone\/43360\/the-u-s-wants-south-korea-to-help-take-on-the-chinese-military-as-well-as-north-korea\">gray-zone<\/a>\u201d warfare, actions that fall below the threshold of all-out combat but which could encompass a range of activities, including\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.thedrive.com\/the-war-zone\/41243\/the-national-guard-just-simulated-a-cyberattack-that-brought-down-utilities-nationwide\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">cyberattacks<\/a>, assassinations, or occupation by unofficial militias.<\/p>\n<p class=\"MuiTypography-root MuiTypography-body1 css-htz1a0\">As a result, having a stand-in force of Marines will only be more important, he said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"MuiTypography-root MuiTypography-body1 css-htz1a0\">\u201cI would say the important thing with gray-zone activity if you have to be there,\u201d he said. \u201cIn order to counter malign activity\/coercive behavior, you have to be there \u2013 again, to the point of standing forces.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"MuiTypography-root MuiTypography-body1 css-htz1a0\">Berger\u2019s annual update is due out next week, said Heckl.<\/p>\n<p class=\"MuiTypography-root MuiTypography-body1 css-htz1a0\">It remains to be seen whether that will quiet any of the critics or just add more fuel to their fire.<\/p>\n<p class=\"MuiTypography-root MuiTypography-body1 css-htz1a0\"><em>Contact the author: howard@thewarzone.com<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Force Design 2030 will work because it is better for Marines to be forward than to fight their way in, says Lt. Gen. Karsten Heckl. byMay 5, 2022 4:40 PMNot<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":489,"featured_media":2315279,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1467245","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1467245","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/489"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1467245"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1467245\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2315279"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1467245"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1467245"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1467245"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}