Proceedings - April 2024 Vol. 150/4/1,454

Expeditionary Warfare: Answers For Today’s Hard Problems

April 2024

We dedicate the April issue to expeditionary topics, which include amphibious operations, naval special warfare, littoral combat, and the Seabees.

CEO Notes

April 2024

In February, we launched a USNI News member-only newsletter—“Sea Scroll”—arriving in your email every Thursday.

An MH-60T Jayhawk hovers over the flight deck of the USCGC Alex Haley (WMEC-39) while training for vertical replenishment in the Bering Sea.

Comment & Discussion

April 2024

Readers respond to articles on Naval Special Warfare, Maritime Strategy, and more.

Marine UAVs Taking Flight

By Brian O'Rourke

April 2024

The Marine Corps is deadly serious about unmanned aerial vehicles.

The USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN-78) and Bataan (LHD-5) sail in the Mediterranean. U.S. security strategy and policy require forward-deployed naval forces that can defend the global order and maintain command of the sea. It is the fundamental importance of these two functions that the Navy must deal with in crafting any new strategy document.

Maritime Strategy Must Follow and Support U.S. Security Strategy

By Captain Robert C. Rubel, U.S. Navy (Retired)

April 2024

Since the onset of the global age, there have been two kinds of nations: those that can determine the nature of the global order and those that cannot.

Coast Guard officer candidates receive their orders at billet night, which usually occurs in the first week of senior phase. The next six weeks of OCS focus on tailored course work to prepare them for their assignments, but hands-on experience in the fleet would be more beneficial.

Overhaul Coast Guard Officer Candidate School

By Lieutenant (j.g.) Daniel W. Ludlam, U.S. Coast Guard

April 2024

The Coast Guard has an opportunity to improve manning with a relatively easy fix.

The USS North Carolina (SSN-777) arrives at Fleet Base West, Rockingham, Western Australia.

The RAN, SSNs, and Nuclear-Trained Wardrooms

By Lieutenant Commander Travis Bean, U.S. Navy

April 2024

Should the RAN adopt the U.S. model for submarine officer manning, it would result in a more persistent and effective deterrent force in the Pacific.

A discussion aloft on the USCGC Eagle’s (WIX-327) pilothouse in April 2023. Leaders must work to connect with their people on a personal level. Service members deserve to feel valued and supported.

Intrusive Leadership Saved the Life Closest to Me

By Chief Petty Officer Jason Kuzik, U.S. Coast Guard

April 2024

Our service members deserve to feel valued and supported.

The Space Entertainment Laboratory Hamadori uncrewed seaplane.

How Uncrewed Seaplanes Can Support EABO

By Matthew Cosner

April 2024

Small, uncrewed seaplanes could help the Marine Corps remain mobile, survivable, and lethal in the littorals.

An inflatable M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket System decoy that generates a radar and infrared as well as optical signature. As battlefields become increasing transparent and targetable, deception will be essential to the Marine air-ground task force’s survival.

Deception in All that You Do

By Major Dilan Swift, U.S. Marine Corps

April 2024

Deception is essential to the Marine air-ground task force’s survival.

An antitank missileman with 1st Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, 2d Marine Division, during a Marine Corps Combat Readiness Evaluation on Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, in October 2022.

Force Design Is Still Too Heavy

By Gunnery Sergeant Jesse Davis, U.S. Marine Corps

April 2024

The Marine Corps needs a small, logistically independent light infantry force.

An MV-22 Osprey prepares to land on board the expeditionary sea base USS Lewis B. Puller (ESB-3) in the Persian Gulf. The ESBs have expansive flight decks and the capacity to deliver several hundred Marines and their associated cargo and weapons at transoceanic distances.

Solve Amphibious Shipping Shortfall with ESDs and ESBs

By Major Carl Forsling, U.S. Marine Corps (Retired)

April 2024

Building more ESDs and ESBs would be a quicker way to provide a more capable and versatile fleet.

Landing Craft Utility 1650 disembarks Marines during an amphibious exercise. The success of EABO will depend on the Marine Corps' ability to land Marines and their equipment quickly and replenish them as needed.

An Island Too Far: Lessons from Guadalcanal for EABO

By Lieutenant Commander Fujii Yu, Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force

April 2024

Transportation and continuous logistics are critical for getting Marine forces ashore and sustaining them once there.

Seabees complete a road construction project on Tinian. The Naval Construction Force contributes significantly to the fight by building infrastructure.

The Seabees Hurtling Back to the Future

By Lieutenant Jeong Soo Kim, U.S. Navy

April 2024

The Navy’s construction force stands ready to enable fleet maneuver.

A Tomahawk missile is launched from an attack submarine in the Pacific Missile Test Center range.

A Better Case for SLCM-N

By Lieutenant Commander Alan Cummings, U.S. Navy Reserve

April 2024

There are stronger arguments for a nuclear-armed sea-launched cruise missile than just firepower.

The USS Ronald Reagan (CVN-76), a Los Angeles–class fast-attack submarine, and Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force destroyer Asahi steam in formation in waters east of the Korean Peninsula.

Enhance Naval Deterrence, Near and Far

By Vice Admiral Frank Pandolfe, U.S. Navy (Retired)

April 2024

A four-campaign construct could deter conflict with China inside the first island chain.

One Nation’s Fishing Fleet, Another Nation’s Pirates: Countering China’s Maritime Militia

By Cadet Jeffrey W. Jaeger, U.S. Merchant Marine

April 2024

Under international law, China’s maritime militia fleet cannot be considered warships—unless they can.

Build Your Command Brand

By Captain Brandon Booher, U.S. Navy

April 2024

Connectedness and trust are integral to mission success—branding is one method to increase both.

Meet the Medical Demands of EABO

By Lieutenant Daniel Keller, U.S. Navy

April 2024

Sustaining the fight from remote locations requires proper and expeditionary medical care.

Marines Need Medium-Range Air Defense

By First Lieutenant Steven H. Ni, U.S. Marine Corps Reserve

April 2024

The Marine Corps’ ground combat element needs a medium-range air-defense system that can maneuver alongside the rest of its combat power.

Mental Health Wellness for First Responders

By Captain Eva Van Camp, U.S. Coast Guard

April 2024

The Coast Guard should establish more awareness training about both short- and long-term stress associated with search-and-rescue operations.

Book Reviews

April 2024

Experts review The Guarded Age and Questioning the Carrier.

Where We Were

April 2024

A look back at the April issues of Proceedings from 1924, 1974, and 1999.

From Our Archive

April 2024

Some of the Huskies going on the Navy’s 1947 Antarctic Expedition on the fantail of the USS Mount Olympus (AGC-8), shown with dog team drivers.

The Marine Corps has several programs of record that—combined with Navy and joint programs—comprise a “capability portfolio.” It contributes directly to service-level and joint integrated air and missile defense, including the suite of ground-based air-defense systems such as the Light Marine Air Defense Integrated System shown here.

Equipping the Marine Corps Expeditionary Force

By Stephen J. Bowdren

April 2024

Rapidly equipping the Marine Corps with emerging modernized capabilities—both minimum viable capabilities and full-fledged programs of record—remains the “north star” for its acquisition professionals.

The Marado is pictured here with two Super Lynx and three Seahawk helicopters on the flight deck.

South Korea’s Dokdo-class Amphibious Warfare Helicopter Carriers

By Eric Wertheim

April 2024

These two “big-deck” amphibious assault ships are the largest and among the most flexible surface ships in the South Korean Navy.

Serving on the flag staff ashore in Manila when the Japanese attacked then-Yeoman Cecil King made his way to Corregidor, and in late December boarded the four-stack destroyer USS Peary (DD-226) for a hair-raising escape to Port Darwin.

Yeoman Through the Ranks

By A. Denis Clift

April 2024

An excerpt from the Naval Intitute oral history of Future Chief Warrant Officer Cecil S. King Jr.

Asked & Answered

April 2024

Which U.S. or foreign expeditionary warfare littoral, delta, or river combat action provides the best lessons for 21st-century expeditionary warfare and why?

Network lines crossing over Earth from space.

Using Large Language Models to Protect Satellites from Attack

April 2024

Defense organizations may soon have the ability to equip their satellites with an advanced level of intelligence.

Rotterdam, NL, is considered the world’s smartest port because of the efficiencies and optimization it has achieved through digital transformation.

Smart Shipyards Are Essential to Navy SIOP Transformation: A Digital Backbone Is Critical to Force Generation and On-Time Deployment of Ships

April 2024

The Navy currently has committed $21 billion to SIOP. Many national security experts are concerned that not enough effort and resources are being dedicated to an equally crucial component of a successful modernization program.

It's a Complex and Dangerous World Out There. DOCA Has Been Providing Clarity Since 1952

April 2024

The idea of a civil-military divide is not new to American society. This increasing gap, however, has potentially catastrophic implications for our capability to act decisively anytime and anywhere our interests require it.