Commandant Pushes Traditional Marine Force Projection

PAUL’S DEFENSE BRIEF (PDB) – The Amphibious Ready Group and Marine Expeditionary Unit — the ARG/MEU — is America’s most flexible and effective formation for projecting power from the sea. Three ships, carrying a 2,200-Marine combined arms team, can respond in hours, not weeks.

They can put Marines ashore without ports, airfields, or permission from another country. The nation needs three of them, says Marine Commandant General Eric Smith.

Despite the MEU’s proven value in warfighting and deterrence — and its growing combat power under our Force Design initiative — our nation’s maritime expeditionary capability has steadily eroded.

Today, we sit at 32 amphibious ships, barely meeting the congressionally mandated floor. With amphibious-ship readiness below 50%, we are well short of what’s needed to support three consistently forward-deployed ARG/MEUs.

We are now moving with urgency to stabilize the fleet and drive investment in the industrial base for military shipbuilding.

As commandant, I am addressing this amphibious capability shortfall through two initiatives outlined in my Planning Guidance. First, we must return to a 3 ARG/MEU presence: three forward-postured MEUs, each with three amphibious warships, persistently positioned around the globe. 

Second, we are modernizing the MEU through Force Design, ensuring it evolves with changing character of war. 

Just as our Marine Littoral Regiments are receiving long-range fires, resilient command and control, unmanned systems, and advanced sensing networks, those same capabilities are being fielded across the MEUs, advancing their role as a flexible, multi-domain force from the sea.

FOR YOUR EYES ONLY – Here’s a roundup of today’s other top defense news from conservative national security expert PAUL CRESPO.

Not the President’s Daily Brief, but almost as good – PAUL’S DEFENSE BRIEFING – the PDB:    

NATIONAL SECURITY

Energy Department and Air Force successfully carried out first tests dropping unarmed B61-12 nuclear gravity bombs from an F-35A fighter.

New Pentagon task force established to counter threats posed by small drones announced creation of Amazon-style portal and hub for agencies to purchase counter-drone equipment and ways to improve how these systems work together.

SECWAR Hegseth laid out new Cyber Force Generation plan, meant to give Cyber Command more authority over the employment, training, and equipping of troops preparing for and waging cyber war. This, to fix longstanding problems bedeviling our military’s cyberspace efforts—and head off growing calls for an entirely new cyber military service.

HOMELAND SECURITY & DEFENSE

Coast Guard detected and monitored a Russian military vessel operating near U.S. territorial waters approximately 15 nautical miles south of Oahu, Hawaii.

Hundreds of federalized National Guard troops will begin leaving Portland and Chicago in coming days, weeks after they were ordered to the cities to aid law enforcement with rampant crime and chaos.

DEFENSE POLITICS

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth fastened final screw into new Department of War plaque at Pentagon’s main entrance for visiting VIPs, the latest effort to cement name change that still requires congressional backing.

Shutdown deal adds $850 million for B-21 Raider and Sentinel nuke ICBM missile programs.

US POWER OVERSEAS

Our nation’s most advanced aircraft carrier arrived in Caribbean Sea, raising questions about what new influx of troops and weaponry could signal for Trump administration’s intentions in South America.

Marines from 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit launched several days of training today in Trinidad and Tobago, the Caribbean island nation only miles from Venezuela.

The day after: What successful regime change in Venezuela would really take. What if “counternarcotics” strikes against boats moving drugs aren’t just about cocaine, but also about toppling Venezuelan strongman Nicolás Maduro?

Suspected Haitian criminal gang members exchanged fire with U.S. Marines protecting U.S. Embassy in Port-au-Prince.

U.S. Marines have deployed a unit equipped with MQ-9A Reaper drones to South China Sea to support Philippine forces there amid series of clashes with Chinese vessels. The drones arrived unarmed but can be armed.

More than 450 U.S. service members are assisting the Philippines with disaster relief after two powerful back-to-back storms killed hundreds and forced millions to move this month.

Freedom-variant littoral combat ship USS St. Louis (LCS 19), operating under Northern Command in Gulf of America, returned to Naval Station Mayport with attached aircraft and Coast Guard Law enforcement detachment, after completing a surge deployment.

Navy has begun efforts to salvage crashed fighter jet and helicopter from South China Sea.

CHINA THREAT

China began sea trials of its most advanced amphibious assault ship a week after commissioning its latest aircraft carrier.

China’s militarized coast guard entered Japanese waters around Senkaku Islands, less than 10 days after Japan’s prime minister warned Tokyo would use military force if China attacked Taiwan.

RUSSIA THREAT

During podcast, UK’s Lord West warns UK now ‘effectively at war with Russia,’ in an undeclared conflict.

Ukraine to buy up to 100 Rafale warplanes from France.

Officials from Europe’s five largest military spenders reaffirm their commitment to Ukraine’s defense with more U.S. weapons, and measures to strengthen Europe’s eastern flank, especially from Russian drones.

Ukraine military technology exports, drawing on technological battlefield innovation, will spur post-war reconstruction and can become key source of revenue.

Ukraine presented first-time footage showing its extended-range Long Neptune cruise missile in action.

Ukraine is working to resume prisoner exchanges with Russia that could bring home 1,200 Ukrainian prisoners, Volodymyr Zelenskyy said.

MIDDLE EAST THREATS

U.S. planning for long-term division of Gaza into “green zone” under Israeli and international military control, where reconstruction would start, and “red zone” to be left in ruins.

Israel’s AIM-9M Sidewinder air-to-air missiles now more effective against long-range kamikaze drones like Iran’s Shahed-136, thanks to changes to their seekers. These and other similar attack drones present particular challenges for aerial interception, given their relatively small size, minimal signature, slow speed, and low-altitude flight profiles.

Israel and Gulf states should form U.S.-backed multinational rapid-response force. Earlier, the idea seemed ahead of its time. Abraham Accords were still fresh, and notion of Arab and Israeli troops training and operating side by side seemed politically remote. It now makes more sense.

SPACE THREATS

Blue Origin’s successful second launch of New Glenn heavy lifter rocket — including first landing of reusable booster at sea — clears second to last hurdle to begin launching critical national security payloads.

Finland’s ICEYE satellite fleet has a “very big role to play” in giving Europe sovereign access to satellite intelligence, without having to rely on U.S.

Poland sets up first-ever military satellite launch. In bid to secure Earth observation system for country’s armed forces, Poland is advancing project to have its first three military satellites launched this month.

INTERNATIONAL SECURITY

UK Royal Navy’s HMS Prince of Wales aircraft carrier has reached full operating capability and is now under NATO command.

UK to announce sweeping changes to asylum system.

Iran faces unprecedented drought as water crisis hits Tehran.

Last month, three drones rigged with explosives detonated outside prosecutor’s office in Tijuana, Mexico. The attack was orchestrated by a cartel and targeted anti-kidnapping unit of Baja state attorney general’s office. These first-person view drones being used by cartels replicate military tactics being used in Ukraine.

Sudan army is holding on to last stronghold in West Kordofan as paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) pushes to take control of the province east of Darfur.

Colombia to buy 17 Swedish Gripen E/F fighter jets, worth $3.6 billion.

US MILITARY

25th Infantry Division gives glimpse of the future of Army warfare with leaner, more mobile formation during large-scale drills in Hawaii.

Navy commissions USS Pierre, 19th and final Independence-class littoral combat ship as Navy seeks to scrap or repurpose these vessels.

END of PDB

The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the positions of American Liberty News.

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