Marine Corps Pros And Cons

The U.S. Marine Corps has been fighting the nation’s conflicts since their founding in 1775. Their agile structure and unique capabilities make them the primary go to force for military operations and activities. Marines have currently and/or have been previously involved in several joint operational environments from stability operations in Haiti with the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH), to peace operations in Liberia with the United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL), to counterinsurgency (COIN) operations in the aftermath of the war in Afghanistan, and counterterrorism operations in the Philippines with Operation Freedom Eagle. These military operations and activities are different in scope, nature, and presumed

All other conditions are secondary.” provides a basis for the argument of why the Marine Corps should continue to prepare for all forms of military operations and activities and not just focus on one, a few, or none. Although, Gen Gray’s statement does not literally mean every Marine is a rifleman it does mean that from a Private to the Commandant of the Marine Corps every Marine has received rifleman training. Since inception, the Marine Corps has been built with a specific purpose in mind – to train and support the Marine Corps’ Infantry Rifleman. Infantry Riflemen, the primary military occupational specialty code in the Marine Corps, are the foundation of the Marine Corps infantry organization. As such, Infantry Rifleman are the nucleus of the fire team in in a rifle squad, the scout team in a light armored reconnaissance squad, scout snipers in an infantry battalion, and reconnaissance/assault team in a reconnaissance

Again, the Marine Corps is already providing training for, conducting exercises in support of, and deploying Marines into active military operations and activities. So as I see it, the Marine Corps would just need to maintain the status quo – Jack of all trades, master of none is oftentimes better than master of