Developing areas of expertise in specific geographical regions, including languages and culture, will enhance Marine readiness.
As reflected in our National Defense Strategy, uncertainty is a defining feature of our dynamic and complex global environment. The most likely threats to our country will result from the chronic instability that continues to spread in much of the developing world. According to the Marine Corps Mid-Range Threat Assessment 2005 - 2015 , several "drivers of instability," including transnational extremism, constitute the greatest threats to our national interests abroad (see MCIA-1586-001-05, Marine Corps Midrange Threat Estimate: 2005-2015 [Quantico, Va.: Marine Corps Intelligence Activity, August 2005], p. vi). We can choose to react—or we can take proactive measures.
