Changing World Inspires Structural Adjustments

[USMCRET6391]

by 2nd Lt. Clinton Gebke
Marine Corps News
February 07, 2005

MARINE CORPS COMBAT DEVELOPMENT COMMAND, MCB QUANTICO, Va. - In March 2004, representatives from Marine Corps combat, support and acquisitions elements came together to form the Force Structural Review Group. The purpose: To take a hard, detailed look at the Marine Corps' force structure and adapt it to meet the unified combatant commander's evolving needs in the global war on terrorism.

The 30-day conference took into account many factors, focusing on lessons learned from recent conflicts, including Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom, and developed 60 initiatives to help the Marine Corps adjust to an ever-changing world environment. These initiatives will create, disestablish and realign units throughout the occupational specialties affecting several thousand active duty and reserve Marines.

"We made some hard decisions," said Gen. Mike Hagee, commandant of the Marine Corps. "We are going to realign some force structure in order to increase our flexibility, adaptability and agility to respond to contingencies and the global war on terrorism."

High priority changes will include, but are not limited to, the addition of active duty elements such as two infantry battalions, three light armored reconnaissance companies, three reconnaissance companies, two force reconnaissance platoons, and one air and naval gunfire liaison company. Additions to the Marine Corps Reserve will include one anti-terrorism battalion, two light armored reconnaissance companies and one intelligence support battalion.

In addition to the units mentioned above, the Corps is also looking to increase the number of linguists, explosive ordinance disposal specialists, counter intelligence/human intelligence specialists, civil affairs specialists, satellite communications specialists and mortuary affairs specialists. The Corps is also looking to develop 28 psychological operational specialists to fill a unique and completely new military operational specialty.

The FSRG initiatives will involve approximately 6,000 Marines. These billets will be filled by the result of military-to-civilian conversions, increased efforts in recruiting over the next two years and the reduction and realigning of approximately 5,600 Marines from various areas of the force structure. Active duty components affected by the disestablishment and restructuring include Small Craft Company, low altitude air defense units and fabric repairman billets. Reserve components affected include two artillery battalion headquarters elements, four artillery batteries, one tank battalion headquarters, two tank companies, two air delivery platoons, regimental tube-launched, optically-tracked, wire-guided (TOW) units, low altitude air defense units, and food service specialists.

The initiatives will cost a total of $1.3 billion over the Future Years Defense Programs. Supplemental funding of $692 million was requested for fiscal year 2005 to assist with the associated cost. If supplemental funding is not provided, the FSRG initiatives will continue and the Corps will seek other funding sources.

These initiatives are anticipated to be phased in during fiscal years 2005 and 2006 with most implementations completed by 2008. Some FSRG changes will continue through 2012. This will allow for the additional training of Marines moving to new occupational specialties.

According to a written statement released by Headquarters Marine Corps, "the near-term priority of the Corps is to maintain a high state of readiness and to provide capable forces that meet the demanding needs of the unified combatant commanders to include the global war on terrorism. This restructuring and rebalancing of forces will allow the Corps to better meet its operational and support requirements against the backdrop of the global war on terrorism and asymmetrical warfare."