Marine Commandant Outlines Budget-based Priority Shifts

SSG Norman Lihou — Thu, 05 Mar 2015 17:04:37 -0500

Marine Corps Commandant Gen. Joseph F. Dunford Jr. told the Senate Appropriations Committee’s defense subcommittee that amid budget uncertainty, the Marine Corps will strive to meet America’s expectations to successfully operate forward, engage with partners, deter potential adversaries and respond to crises, with 31,000 Marines currently forward deployed and engaged.

Recent Marine Corps missions, Dunford reported, include support to U.S. citizen evacuations in Sudan, Libya and Yemen, ongoing strikes in Syria and Iraq, Iraqi army training and U.S. Embassy protection in Baghdad.

Concurrently, 22,500 Marines remain west of the International Date Line in support of the U.S. rebalance to the Pacific region, the general said.

Read more:
http://www.defense.gov/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=128300

The Marine Corps has adjusted to budget constraints by prioritizing the readiness of forward deployed forces, the service’s top officer told Congress.

Response by CW5 Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 7 at 2015 7:20 AM

CW5 Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 07 Mar 2015 07:20:10 -0500

Thanks for posting this story, SSG Norman Lihou. It seems I only read about GEN Dunford here on RallyPoint, but every time I do read something about him, I'm more and more impressed. From this article, I take the USMC "mentality" on things, which probably translates to other Services as well, but seems to be strongest in the Marine Corps. And that is to get things done - no matter what the obstacles. I enjoyed these quotes from the General:

“I can assure that your forward-deployed Marines are well-trained, well-led and well-equipped,” he told the senators, “but we’ve had to make tough choices to deal with the effects of two wars, sequestration in 2013, and reduced budgets in 2014 and 2015.”

“Funding below the president’s budget level will require we develop a new strategy,” the general told the Senate panel.

In other words, we may have to make adjustments, even develop new strategies, if the budget continues to shrink, but the USMC will remain relevant and mission ready.