I’ve written before of the direction Gen. David Berger is taking the US Marine Corps. But perhaps, two Marine officers, both recipients of the Medal of Honor, have said it best.
Under Berger’s alleged leadership, the “Unites States Marines increasingly are irrelevant to the National Command Authority…”
Wow. Pretty strong language, wouldn’t you say?
So, who are these two who are actually calling out the Commandant of the Marine Corps?
As noted by the MarineCorpsTimes.com (civilian owned despite the name);
Marine Corps Maj. Gen. James Livingston (retired) is a career infantry officer. He was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor while serving as the commanding officer, Company E, 2nd Battalion, 4th Marines during the Battle of Dai Do in Vietnam.
Marine Corps Col. Jay Vargas (retired) is a career infantry officer. He was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor while serving as the commanding officer, Company G, 2nd Battalion, 4th Marines during the Battle of Dai Do in Vietnam.
In spite of the Marine Corps Times having no official ties with the actual Marine Corps, it’s still pretty much the paper of record for Marines.
That’s why I was shocked to see that they were the paper that gave Gen. Livingston and Col. Vargas a well-deserved soapbox to speak from.
Just a few bits of the opinion piece co-authored by these two legitimate war heroes;
The United States Marine Corps is facing irreparable damage from two well intended but ill-conceived concept documents.
One already has devastated its offensive spirit and capabilities. The other is destined to erode the ethos and undermine the special identity of its Marines.
Force Design 2030 and Talent Management 2030 will change how Marines fight and how they see themselves. They will dim the pride that once characterized the Marine Corps in the eyes of the American people. They will erode confidence inside and outside the Corps that United States Marines can locate, close with and destroy the enemy today and in the future.
The American people always have seen their Marines as something special – young and energetic, characterized by selfless service, raw courage and dependability.
During a developing crisis or contingency, the question frequently asked by decision-makers is, “Where are the aircraft carriers and where are the Marines?”
They know Marines can be depended upon to fight and win if called upon.
But ethos is fragile.
Unlike force structure and equipment, which can be rebuilt if lost, ethos, once extinguished, is gone forever.
Ethos is a state of mind that allows Marines to boast with pride, “The difficult we do right away, the impossible takes a little longer.”
The co-authors also note that under Berger’s watch;
The elimination of all:
- Armor [Tanks]
- Scout sniper platoons in infantry battalions
- Bridging [Companies]
Coupled with drastic cuts in:
- Infantry
- Cannon artillery
- Assault amphibious vehicles
- Aviation
- Military police
- Assault beaching
- Combat service support
Far from done;
“Every Marine a rifleman” is at best an empty slogan, as infantry skills are devalued to make way for computer and other technical skills.
To be blunt, Unites States Marines increasingly are irrelevant to the National Command Authority and to the combatant commanders.
Here’s the quote that really stunned me. For two Marine career infantry officers to publicly state the following, then things are exceedingly FUBAR at Headquarters, Marine Corps (emphasis mine);
It seems the Army’s 18th Airborne Corps has replaced Marines as the nation’s premier 9-1-1 force.
Not that I could ever note anything as powerful and profound as Gen. Livingston and Col. Vargas, but here are just a few of the articles I’ve penned concerning Berger single-handedly destroying the Marine Corps;
Commandant of the Marine Corps Defends Woke Training
Biden’s Marine Corps; Welcome to the Age of Video Game Marines
The Death of the Corps; Commandant Fundamentally Changes the Entire Purpose of the Marine Corps
Gutless Commandant of the Marine Corps; $2 Million University Recommends Dropping ‘Sir’ and ‘Ma’am’
