Many Members have recently spoken to me about the particularly important moment in which we find ourselves. Without getting too philosophical, there is a pervasive sentiment that now that our direct ground-combat role in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan has ended, this is the right time for some serious thinking. We need to reflect upon and analyze the lessons from these efforts to determine how those lessons inform our future. The early 1930s—a time of economic depression and relatively low military spending—proved to be a fertile environment for new thinking. From the Army’s maneuver warfare to naval aviation to amphibious warfare, great thinking and active experimentation prepared the services for what would come next. There are parallels to today.
The Naval Institute played a very important role in the professional discussion 85 years ago and many such others, before and since. The Institute can and should play strongly in such a reflective dialogue today. I always was impressed by Major General John Henry Russell Jr.’s actions in 1933 as Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps and in 1934 as Commandant. He ordered the cessation of normal coursework at all Marine Corps schools. Instead, he directed the students to work out how we would fight and told them to remain “at school” until they were complete! Their efforts produced the Tentative Manual for Landing Operations. On 1 August 1934, the title changed to Manual for Naval Overseas Operations, with some changes to the text. A few months later, this publication, now retitled Tentative Landing Operations Manual, became the blueprint for the Pacific theater’s amphibious campaigns during World War II. It is sometimes called the Magna Carta of the Marine Corps. It drove subsequent conceptual development, design, and procurement.
Where is that type of thinking occurring today?
I encourage all Members and contributors to dare to read, think, speak, and write on the lessons since 9/11 regarding force employment, force design, personnel development, and how we fight. As we receive more input, we are going to increase the number of submissions we publish and offer online-only Proceedings articles.
To encourage and reward such thinking, the Naval Institute sponsors a broad range of essay contests. These contests have been a part of our fabric since 1878 when a Member proposed sponsoring what has become the General Prize Essay Contest.
Over the years, the Naval Institute has sponsored some 25 distinct essay contests. Currently, the Institute is running eight essay contests—most with sponsorship support from corporations, foundations, or associations—with real recognition for the winning authors’ ideas and prize money.
In addition to the General Prize Essay Contest, in the spirit of General Russell’s intent, I commend the Innovation & Risk: Striking the Right Balance Essay Contest to potential authors. For more details about this opportunity to introduce innovative ideas, sponsored by Engility, click here.
The U.S. Naval Institute and the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) are bringing you the next two segments of our Maritime Security Dialogue series in August at CSIS’s headquarters in downtown Washington, D.C. The series is intended to highlight the particular challenges facing the Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard, from national-level policies to specific programs.
On 5 August at 1000, Vice Admiral Joe Aucoin, USN, Deputy Chief of Naval Operations for Warfare Systems (N9), and Rear Admiral Matt Winter, USN, Chief of Naval Research, will address “The Future of Naval Capabilities.” We hope that many of you will join us for what promises to be a great discussion. On 12 August, starting at 0900, Lieutenant General Jon Davis, USMC, Deputy Commandant for Aviation, and Vice Admiral Troy Shoemaker, USN, Commander Naval Air Forces, will discuss their vision for naval aviation.
This year’s series is sponsored by Lockheed Martin. Sign up at www.usni.org/events.
Peter H. Daly, VADM, USN (Ret.)
Life Member and Member since 1978