Robert Work
Former Deputy Secretary of Defense
Colonel, U.S. Marine Corps (Retired)
No contest—the triangular rifle squad. Adopted in 1944, the squad introduced the fire team, which improved squad command and control and intrateam communications. With three teams, it inculcated the idea of fire and maneuver at the lowest tactical level and was a natural innovation incubator for platoon sergeants. And the squad was large enough to absorb casualties and remain tactically effective. It remains the best squad organization in the world.
Lieutenant General Robert S. Walsh
U.S. Marine Corps (Retired)
The Higgins boat development led by Marine Corps innovator Captain Victor H. “Brute” Krulak during the 1930s. This changed the Marine Corps from a World War I trench warfare force to an amphibious force and returned it to its traditional role with the Navy. It was a key innovation supporting the successful World War II Pacific naval campaign. Who is the contemporary “Brute” Krulak that General Berger and Admiral Gilday need to answer today’s operational challenges?
Mark Folse
USNA 1957, Marine Corps infantry veteran, and post-doctoral research fellow
John A. Lejeune’s consolidation of Marine Corps schools in Quantico, Virginia, in 1920. During the interwar period, the schools created an intellectual environment that produced two formal doctrines that decisively altered the Corps’ historical trajectory: Tentative Manual for Landing Operations and Small Wars Manual. As the central hub of Marine professional military education, doctrine development, and research, Quantico has become indispensable to Marine combat readiness.
Colonel Richard Camp
U.S. Marine Corps (Retired)
The development of amphibious warfare in the interwar period and its application in World War II and Korea is the most important innovation ever adopted by the Marine Corps—hands down. It also helped the Corps survive postwar interservice squabbles and threats to its existence and remains the focus of preparations for future hostile threats.
Captain John F. McCourt
U.S. Marine Corps
The 13-Marine rifle squad has allowed maneuver warfare methodology to be implemented at the small-unit level. When compared with previous small-unit task-organization models, the 13-Marine rifle squad allows tactical units to conduct command and control more effectively, mass combat power, and create a combined-arms dilemma for the enemy.
Theodore Kuhlmeier
USNA 1974, former captain, U.S. Marine Corps
Amphibious warfare—specifically the art and science of conducting assaults from the sea against hostile, fortified beaches. It became the trademark of the Corps and its shield against efforts to merge it with the Army. Can anyone imagine the Army successfully landing at Tarawa or Inchon?
Mike Hegarty
Social Studies teacher
Helicopters are the most important innovation ever adopted by the Marine Corps. Their versatility in vertical envelopment, logistics, medical evacuation, close air support, and C4ISR has served the Corps well since the first squadron was activated in 1947.
Sergeant Major Tom Eggerling
U.S. Marine Corps
Culture always trumps process and technology, and the Marine Corps has never veered from its warrior culture. Their greatest innovation is never forgetting who they are, when so many other organizations seem to lose their way in a high-technology world. From the yellow footprints of Marine Corps Recruit Depot to the parade deck at The Basic School, toughness, resolve, and resiliency are infused in Marines early and often. The Marine Corps’ recruiting effort still seeks Americans who will fit that mold.
Colonel Douglas Douds
U.S. Marine Corps (Retired)
Innovation is delivering an idea to impact. In 1779, the USS Providence Marines sought “a few good men” to join them. Adopting that idea ever since, the Corps seeks a few good leaders who think, act, and communicate. For a culture-centric service, selecting the right, steely-eyed few to translate that culture into winning our nation’s battles and developing citizens of character and consequence is the impact that makes subsequent innovation possible and our nation's enemies tremble.
Sergeant Major Mike Burke
U.S. Marine Corps (Retired)
The Marine Corps’ institutional self-awareness of its unique cultural and historical legacy. Marines are made cognizant of the mantle of their inheritance and their contribution to the continuing saga of the Corps. It is a perspective not shared by other service branches.
Major Bruce Brahe
U.S. Marine Corps (Retired)
Aside from developing amphibious doctrine, embracing vertical-lift technologies, or espousing maneuver warfare, the Marine Corps’ most important innovation may be concept development, experimentation, and implementation. As a learning organization, the service has historically fostered an innovative culture to the entire joint force’s benefit. Looking forward, force structure changes that support naval operating concepts may be the most significant innovation yet to come.
Next Month’s Question:
Where is the most austere or arduous place you spent the holidays while deployed?
Send your 50-word (max.) answer to [email protected] no later than 8 November. We’ll feature some answers in the December issue and the remainder online.
