Marine Corps’ Vision of Future Conflicts Will Require Improved Amphibious Forces (From RealClearDefense)

In an era of great power conflict, U.S. amphibious warfare forces are the Nation’s first line of defense. But many senior military leaders, including the new Commandant of the Marine Corps, General David Berger, believe that large-scale, multi-brigade opposed landing operations of the kind conducted in the last century are no longer possible due to the proliferation of anti-access/area denial (A2/AD) systems. As a result, the Marine Corps is reconsidering both the size and composition of its amphibious warfare fleet. Before the Navy and Marine Corps make irrevocable decisions regarding force structure and critical enablers that could weaken the Nation’s premier 911 capability, they need to consider the full range of missions amphibious warfare forces can perform. There is an argument for more, not fewer, amphibious warfare ships and for the acceleration of acquisition of the most modern of these vessels. I have written a commentary on this subject here.