The FY 2021 budget is an interim step as the Marine Corps seeks to implement a major restructuring. The restructuring has been criticized for focusing too much on a maritime campaign in the Western Pacific, ignoring other global conflicts, and relying on unproven operational concepts.The trade-off is that, because of the LAWs small size, they will not be able to support the customary level of global forward deployments, which may decline as a result. These will provide more distributed capabilities that can implement the Marine Corps’ intention to be a “stand in” force that can operate inside an adversary’s defensive bubble. The amphibious fleet will include large numbers of light amphibious warships (LAWs).UAVs would increase in number, but the Marine Corps is far behind the Air Force in this regard and the Marine Corps’ UAV development program is in disarray. Most artillery would convert from cannon to missile units Ground forces would gain long-range precision fires but give up three infantry battalions, tanks, and some counterinsurgency capabilities.Despite a continuing high operational tempo, the Marine Corps is pursuing modernization over expanding force structure.To pay for this, the Marine Corps’ active-duty end strength begins a decline to about 172,000, the level before the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.General Berger’s new guidance aims to restore the Marine Corps to its naval roots after two decades of operations ashore, invest in capabilities focused on great power conflict in the Pacific, and divest unneeded forces. However, many commentators worry that the restructuring will make the Marine Corps too narrowly focused. The budget cuts units and personnel to pay for these new capabilities. Military Forces in FY 2021. The Marine Corps begins a major restructuring to develop capabilities for great power conflict after two decades of conducting counterinsurgency ashore.
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