The United States Marine Corps is unwisely divesting nearly 30 percent of its new, state-of-the-art helicopter, tilt rotor, and fifth generation fighter/strike aircraft. These divestments, part of the Force Design 2030 concept, will cripple Marine Corps aviation and limit the operational reach of Marines today and in the future. The planned dispersion of “stand-in forces” in Force Design 2030 will require more lift and air support, not less, making these divestments especially dangerous.

Over a year ago, the Congressional Research Service (CRS) published the “New U.S. Marine Corps Force Design Initiative: Force Design 2030 Updated March 7, 2022.” The CRS report described the risks associated with redesigning and restructuring the Marine Corps as essentially a coastal defense force in the southwest Pacific, and posed several questions.

A key question relates to operational reach. How does the elimination of significant numbers of aircraft affect the deployment, sustainment, and close air support of Marines?

[I feel a little ill… ~ Beege]