Feature Article
By: LtCol Joe “Pappy” Papay, USMC (Ret)
A blueprint for the Marine Corps of 2035 Executive Summary The MEU of 2035 must evolve to remain relevant in the face of precision-strike threats, ubiquitous surveillance, and rapid technological change. This essay proposes the Floating Forward Operating Base MEU...
A Message from the Commandant of the Marine Corps 10 November 2025 Two hundred and fifty years ago, before our Nation declared its independence, a small group of men gathered in Philadelphia and formed a Corps of Marines. From that...
By: the Staff of the Deputy Commandant for Plans, Policies, and Operations
Today’s Amphibious Ready Group/Marine Expeditionary Unit Since its inception, the MEU has embarked on an Amphibious Ready Group (ARG) and continues to serve as the preeminent example of the contribution of the Navy-Marine Corps Team to national security. An inherently...
On 1 March the Marine Corps Association sponsored a PME session on the role of the Marine Corps in the Gulf War. The Association assembled a team of officers that had held key billets at the theater, division, wing, force...
By: Maj Norman L. Cooling
A Tactical Action Turned Strategic Defeat >Originally published in the Marine Corps Gazette, September 2001. The authors biography is available in the original edition. ‘Me and Somalia against the World, me and my clan against Somalia, me and my family...
By: Col James L. Jones
Humanitarian and Security Assistance in Northern Iraq >Originally published in the Marine Corps Gazette, November 1991. The multinational relief effort to aid Kurdish refugees in southern Turkey and northern Iraq was a “joint” operation in every sense of the word....
By: LtCol Douglas Toulette
Why the Service is incapable of repeating June 1950 When the Korea People’s Army stormed across the 38th parallel on 25 June 1950, the Republic of Korea Army and the U.S. Far East Command were caught off guard. The Marine...
By: LtCol Howard Christy, USMC (Ret)
A company grade officer’s memoir of duty in Vietnam and his reflections on how the Corps adjusted and responded to battlefield challenges quite different from those for which it was specifically organized and trained. >Originally published in the Marine Corps...
By: Col Ryan Murata and Maj Jason Ryu
Deploying all elements of national defense Vignette On 1 August 2027—the 100th anniversary of the People’s Liberation Army—the Chinese Communist Party launches a preplanned invasion of Taiwan. The operation begins with covert special forces infiltrating Taipei, paralyzing communications, and severing...
By: Col Lawrence G. Karch (Ret.)
Why so little Japanese resistance? During the months after Japan attacked Pearl Harbor and other Asian targets, the United States was driven from the Philippines, the British surrendered Malaya, Singapore, and Hong Kong, French Indochina fell, and the Dutch lost...
By: Maj Mark Thomas and Maj Erin Malapit
Civilian contractors in combat at Wake Island To compete globally in the 21st century, the U.S. military must rely on civilian contractors to manage vital logistical systems. However, war does not discriminate between uniformed combatants and civilians. This tragic fact...
By: Maj Adam Fountain
Morals, ethics, and self-assessment Whom Shall I Send? “All around our society, you see immoral behavior ... lying, cheating, stealing, drug and alcohol abuse, prejudice, and a lack of respect for human dignity and the law. In the not-too distant...
By: SES Stephen J. Bowdren
Equipping Marines better and faster: a proactive approach The new administration’s call for a revitalized military demands a fresh look at defense acquisition reform. The DOD has wrestled with the complexities of acquiring and fielding advanced military capabilities for decades,...
By: LCDR Toby P. Keeney-Bonthrone, CDR Bhavini Jaiswal, CDR Christopher S. Ibikunle, & CAPT Gerald T. Delk
Logistical operations in a contested environment Operational forces in future wars must be small, agile, and have a low signature to survive the Miniaturized Sensor and Precision Weapons Revolution in Military Affairs (RMA). This will have transformational effects on both...
By: Capt Jeremy M. Fisher
Legislative action to speed innovation Under constraints in current programming and budgeting processes, the Marine Corps cannot match adversaries’ speed of innovation in today’s rapidly changing, technologically advancing environment. Many complain that the biggest problem with the Corps’ budget is...
Feature Articles
By: LtCol Joe “Pappy” Papay, USMC (Ret)
A blueprint for the Marine Corps of 2035 Executive Summary The MEU of 2035 must evolve to remain relevant in the face of precision-strike threats,...
A Message from the Commandant of the Marine Corps 10 November 2025 Two hundred and fifty years ago, before our Nation declared its independence, a...
By: the Staff of the Deputy Commandant for Plans, Policies, and Operations
Today’s Amphibious Ready Group/Marine Expeditionary Unit Since its inception, the MEU has embarked on an Amphibious Ready Group (ARG) and continues to serve as the...
By: Maj Mathew K. Lesnowicz
Success at ground level Marjah, Afghanistan, was the financial base and perceived Taliban “heart of darkness” prior to Operation MOSHTARAK in early 2010.1 After a...
By: Ms. Erica Schwendeman
The case for Marine Corps ISR enterprise transformation The Marine Corps stands at a pivotal crossroads, a moment of profound transformation that will define its...
By: Col Michael C. Howard, USMCR(Ret)
Marine Corps combat D9 dozers in the Iraq War Marines have always emphasized high-speed mobility. We place a premium on acquiring equipment that is lighter...
By: Sgt Kyle G. McCue
Integrating autonomous and human intelligence for decision superiority in the Pacific Modernizing Intelligence for Distributed Littoral Operations In April 2023, in response to former U.S....
On 1 March the Marine Corps Association sponsored a PME session on the role of the Marine Corps in the Gulf War. The Association assembled...
By: Maj Norman L. Cooling
A Tactical Action Turned Strategic Defeat >Originally published in the Marine Corps Gazette, September 2001. The authors biography is available in the original edition. ‘Me...
By: Col James L. Jones
Humanitarian and Security Assistance in Northern Iraq >Originally published in the Marine Corps Gazette, November 1991. The multinational relief effort to aid Kurdish refugees in...
By: LtCol Douglas Toulette
Why the Service is incapable of repeating June 1950 When the Korea People’s Army stormed across the 38th parallel on 25 June 1950, the Republic...
By: LtCol Howard Christy, USMC (Ret)
A company grade officer’s memoir of duty in Vietnam and his reflections on how the Corps adjusted and responded to battlefield challenges quite different from...
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