Although the Marines’ Hymn proclaims that Leathernecks will “fight our country’s battles in the air, on land, and sea,” the image that most likely comes to mind for the average American is of Marines racing across the beach from landing craft, often while under heavy enemy fire. This image has been reinforced in popular culture through films from Sands of Iwo Jima to the more recent Flags of Our Fathers.
But the Corps, as with all the services, finds its access capabilities coming under increasing budget scrutiny these days. Senior leadership will need to demonstrate the continuing value of the Marines’ platforms, whether air or sea, in a tight fiscal environment.
To lead off this month, Lieutenant General Terry G. Robling, Marine Corps Deputy Commandant for Aviation, does just that. In “Osprey in the Catbird Seat,” he tells us why ground commanders and their Marines are saying “We want more” of the newest warbird—the MV-22B. Not only has the tiltrotor aircraft proved safe and survivable despite a troubled early developmental history, it gives the air-ground team a broader array of mission capabilities and command flexibility.
But what of the Corps’ bread and butter—amphibious assault? Beyond its clearly evident value from a military/tactical standpoint, U.S. amphibious capability also might be considered a far-reaching arm of American diplomatic and political imperatives, as retired Marine Colonel Douglas M. King and Lieutenant Colonel John Berry demonstrate in “National Policy and Reaching the Beach.” As American geostrategic considerations have evolved over time, so too has our amphibious doctrine as a vital component in realizing those goals.
In “Amphibious, Now More than Ever,” Navy Captain Samuel C. Howard teams with Marine Colonel Michael S. Groen to make the case for not only maintaining the amphibious capability of the Navy-Marine Corps team, but actually strengthening it. After all, amphibs landed the first wave of conventional ground troops in Afghanistan ten years ago, and they’ve been called on for 84 operations since then, including support of Operation Odyssey Dawn, the NATO strikes on Libya.
The art and science of hitting the beach has been in a continuous state of refinement, and will continue to be so in the face of ever-more sophisticated adversarial measures. As retired Marine Lieutenant Colonel J. Noel Williams depicts in “The Next Wave: Assault Operations for a New Era,” the amphibious zone of the 2020s will reflect a multilayered approach, ranging from water to air to unmanned to cyber. It’s an insightful, and convincing, glimpse into the future.
Along with the anniversary of the Marine Corps, this month marks another milestone in the annals of the Sea Services. In “Happy Birthday ‘Big E,’” former CNO Admiral James L. Holloway III celebrates the 50th anniversary of the first nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, the USS Enterprise (CVN-65), with a retrospective look at her record over the past five decades, including her early deployments to Vietnam, when then-Captain Holloway was the ship’s skipper.
On 19 October USNI held its Honors Night ceremony, and Proceedings presented its General Prize Award for Author of the Year. First prize went to Professor Milan Vego of the Naval War College for three articles he published in the past year: “Technological Superiority is NOT a Panacea” (October 2010), “China’s Naval Challenge” (April 2011), and “AirSea Battle Must Not Work Alone” (July 2011). Second prize went to Commander Matthew Harper for “Chinese Missiles and the Walmart Factor” (July 2011). Our two third-prize winners were retired Navy Captain Kevin Eyer for “How Are the Mighty Fallen” (January 2011) and Commander In H. Ha, for “Away All . . . Hovercraft!” (August 2011). Each of these authors contributed to the Open Forum by writing pieces that advanced the professional discussion of a topic, challenged the conventional wisdom and offered thoughtful alternatives, or tackled a tough subject that others might shy away from. All accepted the dare to read, think, speak, and write. Bravo Zulu to all our winners!