The Commandant of the United States Marine Corps, General James F. Amos, gives his thoughts in a wide ranging interview.
As the process of rebalancing its forces to the Asia-Pacific begins to gain further traction, the U.S. Marine Corps (USMC) sees itself returning to a familiar region of the world. In this context, the Commandant of the USMC, General James F. Amos, spoke to Sergei DeSilva-Ranasinghe about the Corps’ transformation and modernization, the impact of successive deployments in Iraq and Afghanistan, the status of Marine Corps activities in Africa and South America, the strategic realignment to the Asia-Pacific, the likely future battlefield, and defense budget cuts.
How has the USMC transformed and modernized since 9/11?
General Amos: As America's expeditionary crisis response force, the United States Marine Corps, has always responded to our Nation's call to arms. No two fights are the same, so we've historically maintained a service culture of mental flexibility, adaptability and operational agility. For example, shortly after 9/11, the Marine Corps conducted the longest amphibious-launched raid in history by deploying Task Force 58 deep into Afghanistan to strike Al Qaeda and topple the Taliban.
During Operation Iraqi Freedom, we assaulted from Kuwait to Baghdad as part of a coalition force and removed Saddam Hussein from power. We then transitioned to counterinsurgency operations both in Iraq and Afghanistan. While we were heavily invested in Iraq and Afghanistan, we also supported counterterrorism in the southern Philippines, provided disaster relief in the Indian Ocean basin after the Boxing Day tsunami in 2004, conducted humanitarian relief operations in Pakistan and Haiti, evacuated U.S. citizens from Lebanon, assisted our Japanese allies during the 2011 earthquake and nuclear crisis, took down the pirated MV Magellan Star, and rescued a downed U.S. Air Force pilot in Libya – just to name a few.
So we're in the process of restructuring our force with capabilities optimized for forward-presence, engagement, and rapid crisis response. We've reshaped our internal organization to increase flexibility and utility across the range of military operations, and have also enhanced our support to U.S. Special Operations and Cyber Commands. We've also increased our ability to conduct distributed operations, and operationalized our reserve component capability.
As for modernization, this last decade has seen the combat debut of the MV-22 Osprey and the Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicles, and the establishment of our first operational F-35B squadron. We've upgraded our C-130s and UH and AH-1 helicopters. We're leaning into upgrading our CH-53s with the K variant. We've embarked our Marines on San Antonio class landing platform/docks (LPDs) and are developing the next variants of the America class Landing Helicopter Assault (LHAs) ships. We cancelled the Expeditionary Fighting Vehicle and are refining the requirements for the next amphibious combat vehicle. We've also made some great strides in employing what we call ‘expeditionary energy’ on the battlefield – which has reduced our logistical demands and saved lives by reducing convoy hours on improvised explosive device (IED) laced roads. We've also captured the lessons of the last decade at war and incorporated them into our training and education programs.
Photo Credit: U.S. Marine Corps
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lewis cook
the real us military went covert in 1964 us navy and usmc and the us army went covert in 1973 they saw what 1954 communist 666 hollywood was doing
lewis cook
the post cold war us govt and us military of us army draft dodger british agent antichrist clinton is the enemy of cold war military of king davids
Dayra
Great interview. I looked up the ch 53k and found a mad animation showing what it will do, how its constructed and some of the features etc. Over the next 15 years with the arrival of the America Class, the F35b, the ch 53K, dry docks, Littoral Classes, more Virginia Class Subs, the Ford Class and Zumwalt Destroyers, and maybe some other futuristic stuff like the rail guns, the future bombers, etc it will be a difficult job for any enemy to prevent incursions and all the other non combat missions will be conducted in a manner and time frame not experienced in the History of mankind. There is no doubt about it its a really good period to be a marine and its going to get better.
I just also wanted to say ' China', but for no reason other than my post might not make it otherwise.
Nguyen Noi Noi
Is t_co and Schminner the same person? I hope not. But by courtesy I will answer you both.
I am much smaller than you physically
I am much poorer than you economically
I am much lesser than you technologically
In many aspects I am lesser than you and don't have what you have. To you going out for a McDonald meal is a cheap thing but to me it is a dream but I won't be jealous with you.
I can stand and engage when someone threaten and attempt to humiliate me before my history. I will not run when problem arise because I don't have that emotional callousness. At the end I have this courage to make reconciliation and respect you for who you are. I care when I heard bad news like that happen in Connecticut. My heart went out for those who lost their child through senselessness, and Christmas come, these parents will face emptiness and much tears.
I care that make me a Vietnamese.
Your turn.
Schminner
I thought I had already answered your question by saying "I don't know what make me American." Anyways, I'm not here to argue, but was just joking about burgers and fries. Enjoy…..
Schminner
Without the Chinese, Americans would have to settle for burgers and pizzas all the time at fast food joints.
Nguyen noi noi
@t_co
What make you an American?
Schminner
I don't know what make me American. What make you Vietnamese?
t_co
…because I'm an American citizen? And you still haven't answered the key question–why should we Americans be paying for your (Vietnam's or the Philippine's) claims on disputed islands? How does it matter to us? And if we do spend American blood defending them, would your government give us the oil and gas under the islands for free?
I would support a US defense of those islands if Vietnam and the Philippines offered the US 50 year exploration and drilling rights over all the islands. Otherwise, I think the US has no reason to be there.
John Chan
Let’s cross the t’s and dot the i’s. Vietnamese are shameless and they will not hesitate promising US 50 years exploration rights over the areas that do not belong them, and put the US in direct confrontation with all parties that are claiming over those areas. Therefore US must ask Vietnamese to buy CDS for all the loss incurred by the USA due to Vietnamese irresponsible actions and negligence.
Nguyen Noi Noi
t_co
I don't work for the government, I am an ordinary man struggle to meet the end need just like many ordinary Americans. Those questions you asked are beyond the sphere of ordinary citizen like me, I am not an imposter and pretend I know and can give you that answer. It belongs to the two governments and their departments to form policies. I am sure they have people with greater minds in their positions and within their expertise to solve the problem. What we know is only on the surface and we totally rely upon the media and media are superficial.
General Amos and many strategists see life and the world different to you, perhaps the two of you are totally opposite world view and that is American way of life, I respect that. What I commented was my assumption, and I may be wrong.
Do we Vietnamese invite the US to protect our land, our water? You must be joking. We haven't relied on foreign forces to protect our land for several millenniums, and we still exit and stand tall defiant to all forces and I don't think we would change that status. Where was America before the seventh-teen century? We normalize the relationship between two nations that had once locked horn to test our staminas, and you know the history. We do so because it is a right thing to do, we need each other, therefore, we can function properly in the world, and be a normal human on this planet. Do we Vietnamese need China? Yes we do, because China is our neighbor, whether good or bad, we must accept this fact and remain co-exist and feel annoyance.
No, t_co you don't have to support the US force as there are many Americans opposite it. But you also remember this, there are as many American support, President Obama policies and General Amos as you, may be more than you think, because they see life and national security, their places in history further than you.
Even if you can have the power (which you never will) to call all American forces over seas home to the US and become a hermit state, and spend no single cent on military budget, you still have to face more problems, maybe civil war. We live in the world that laden with problems, so let together face it.
Schminner
Why stop at CD's?
Have them purchase DVD's and Blue-Rays as well ….
Errol
Hear hear. I would agree that we would have to pay for what we get. Maybe America's hesitation in putting forces in this area (because of no clear gain) will be enough to get our Congress to ramp up our ridiculous defense budget. 0.8% of GDP? What a joke.
Lnrds
John Chan, If nation A has war with nation B and A is the victor, you can impose what you want to whom you want. It's called the spoils of war in simple terms.. That's the price of defeat so if a country is not prepared for defeat then don't start or get involved in wars. Unfortunately human nature by majority of its citizens of a nation will just not simply stand down without a fight. If you know your history well then you would know how Carthaginian Empire felt after the critical battle of Zama (Carthage and Rome, Punic Wars rings a bell to you? No? then look it up!). I would also think the Japanese would prefer American Hegemony than Chinese Hegemony.
John Chan
@Lnrds,
Sorry, I cannot agree with you, the victor dictates all is a regressive medieval European dark age idea. Humanity should have progressed to the state better than “eye for eye, tooth of tooth.” After reining in the perpetrator, we should proceed to re-educate the perpetrator to be a better man; humiliation and destruction are not the way to re-educate the perpetrator.
Errol
The analogy you use is that of a criminal. It's possible to do that to an indvidual person. You can NOT do that on a nation. For you to do so would be to occupy that nation first and then reset the very foundation of the perpetrator-nation's culture.
Is your China prepared for that? Despite your claims that China's rise is harmonious and will never emulate the evil imperialistic USA? Is that what Chinese nationalists want with Japan? To subjugate small Japan who had the nerve to attack big China 80 years ago? I did ask you earlier what you wanted but you never replied.
The way you decry and condemn the West's bloody past, you forget your most recent history, that the PRC was also born in blood and fire. Have you forgotten the struggles between the CPC and the KMT? That's just one among many.
John Chan
@Errol,
Historically Japan always follows China nearly in all aspects of life without China occupying it militarily; it proves your western thinking is one dimensional. Japan should return to Asia as a peaceful member of Asia, not as a lackey to serve the alien that aims to enslave the Asians. It is time for the Asians to show the world that they are independent and equal to all of them; they can manage their businesses on their own.
BTW China is aware of its past, so it didn’t claim moral high ground and lecture others shamelessly non-stop like the West. Why can’t the West behaves like China, knowing its past and behave appropriately?
Jean-Paul
@ John Chan
Japanese know the wisdom of bygone is bygone, so even if Japan had followed China for many years, that was several hundred years ago. The Japanese today have no interest in being friends with China, that's why they are stealing all your islands and countering your geopolitical moves.
Trying to seduce Japan into your commie pollution wasteland is very sad, it seems the saying "misery enjoys company" is very true with the Chinese. They are jealous of Japan's clean cities and first world benefits and resent them for it. They want Japan to become commies and to lose touch with their western brothers.
John Chan
@Jean-Paul,
You are a lost cause.
Errol
@JC, You wrote that historically Japan followed China. One gets the impression that this is something China is trying to fix. Bring Japan back to the fold instead of its own way.
shizzoyoshinaka
how much does john chan earn for being a commie mouth piece or should i say
how much did you sell your soul john?
John Chan
@shizzoyoshinaka,
I am a Chinese, if I do not defend China, who will? Definitely I cannot count on the unapologetic war criminal Japanese, or the predatory imperialist westerners.
I have the soul and courage to defend China’s integrity, how about the Japanese? Do they have the soul and courage to kick out their westerner alien military occupier and reclaim their independence or do they have the soul and courage to treat their country fellow victims live near the Fukushima nuclear plant not as toxic plague?
Jean-Paul
@ the 50 cent brigade (John Chan)
I wonder if you guys get paid double your usual rate if you say the words "unapologetic war criminal" and "predatory imperialist" in all your posts. John Chan must be one of the highest paid Wumao in all of China, he's not only sold his soul but he's sold the reputation of his fellow Chinese down the drain for 50 cents per post.
John Chan you do not understand the situation that China is in, it is in a very bad one in fact. The west has many of the Asian nations allied to it such as Japan as you can see in this comment section. The Japanese posters, Indian posters (look to the problem from hell article), Mongolian posters ( look to Mongolians economic challenge article) are all agreeing with me and my fellow westerners posts. They are all very annoyed by the constant CCP Wumao propaganda on this site and I am here to show them the light……that the westerners will protect them from the dirty commies.
50 cent brigade you are only playing into the hands of the westerners by being so obnoxious and misleading with your constant propaganda and the fact that your CCP is paying you to create more enemies is really a hilarious spectacle to observe.
John Chan
@Jean-Paul,
Labelling baseless is a trait of uneducated skinheads, they lack the capability of reasoning so they foul mouthing non-stop; you surly show us what an uneducated look like.
The world says China is on the rise; meanwhile the USA is on the verge of falling off a financial cliff; its lackey fascist Japan is continue on the path of lost decades particular its current balance has gone negative; and the EU is in deep recession and soon their living standard will be on par with the Africans.
The USA is a black cat that brings bad luck, destruction, misery and atrocity. As uneducated as you are, nobody shouldn’t touch you with a ten foot barge pole. Anybody take your racist rant as advice they deserve to be recolonized and abused by the hubris and abusive westerners.
Pease get an education so that you can win those mentally colonized with pervasive snakeoil sales talk.
Jaques666
Be fair to him. He is doing an ok job of distracting, “what aboutisms” and annoying people and all for very low pay… it’s not easy arguing against otherwise universally accepted history and logic all the time. Also it could well be more than person, which explains the sudden changes in english level.
John Chan
@Jaques666,
Practice makes perfect; I have to show my gratitude to the Diplomat and all the anti-China bigots for their effort to sharpen my English.
The same principle applies to China too; the more hostility the West shows towards China for their greedy gains, the more China will strive to be stronger and self-reliant.
Jean-Paul
@ John Chan
"soon their living standard will be on par with the Africans." Ranting against the EU only shows your resentment, hostility and jealousy towards European first world lifestyle. In fact the EU as a whole is not in a deep recession like you say it is, just a minor setback that is all. Maybe you should get a proper education on what a recession is before spewing ignorant statements like you do on a regular basis. In fact while you are at it get a basic English education on spelling and grammar, you sorely need one John Chan.
I am merely here to show the posters at the diplomat how evil the Chinese really are. While their GDP may be growing the rest of their society is decaying at a very rapid pace. Look at the WHO country rankings for healthcare, you will notice China is not even in the top 100 http://www.photius.com/rankings/healthranks.html. Guess which country is at the top John Chan? Thats right it is France, followed by other EU countries such as Italy and Austria. Your rants do not change the fact that the EU has the best quality of life in the world.
Poor John Chan, no wonder you are so angry and hostile all the time, according to the WHO China has an air pollution index of 98…..compared to France it is over triple air pollution. Why doesn't China do something about the health of its citizens first, then complain and cry about the west and Japan? Here is the link so you Chinese can see how filthy and disgusting your country is http://apps.who.int/gho/data/?vid=710#
John Chan
@Jean-Paul,
The westerners are the most selfish and greedy lot, in order to support their way of life that they cannot afford themselves, they loot, steal and destroy around the world for their healthcare and clean air benefits. You just prove the westerners have not change a bit from their ugly past.
The West is all about talk and no show, the talk about benevolence and superiority of western culture, yet history shows that they are the most destructive lot in the existence of human beings.
Errol
Right. We should look up to the CPC. Instead of looting and pillaging other countries to support our way of life, we should loot and pillage our own common people. After doing that, then maybe we can think of doing it to other countries.
China’s Gutter Oil
@john chan….
I have to give to it to you dude, you're really a piece or art! the terracotta army creator would really lick and kiss your ass for your patriotism! kudos to all 50-cents minion! hallelujah!
i know you hate americans and japanese alike, but would you please give me one-half good reason why your 'princelings' and noveau-rich compatriots are flocking to the united states in seek of the 'american dream'?
if you revere your china so much and hate the americans, then could you please explain to me why the off-springs of your beloved Mao Zedong, Xi Mingze the beloved daughter of your Xi Jinping and your fallen princeling Bo Xilai's son LOVE AMERICA SO MUCH THAT THEY DON'T WANNA GO BACK TO YOU BELOVED CHINA ANYMORE?!
AND YES I'M MAKING A STATEMENT HERE…;)