Robbin F. Laird

The U.S. Marine Corps Transformation Path: Preparing for the High-End Fight Robbin F. Laird

The United States Marine Corps began its modern transformation path after the introduction of the Osprey in 2007. In a series of in-depth interviews with the United States Marines, this analysis highlights the transformation strategy that has made the USMC one of the most dynamic military forces in the world today. From the land wars to dealing with peer competitor threats and engagements, this book demonstrates how the Marines are navigating the strategic shift to craft innovative solutions for the return of Great Power competition.

Many coalition partners look to the USMC as a relevant benchmark for the kind of multi-domain operations which they can pursue. For many allies, their force structure approximates the size of the USMC, and they find the fit better than emulating the total force which the United States has built. It is also the case that the legacy force coming out of the land wars is not directly applicable in terms of its warfighting relevance to the approaches for combat with the peer competitors.

Only time will tell how the Marine Corps navigates this treacherous transformation journey, but it's not the equipment that will make the Corps successful on the future battlefield - it's the Marines.- Lt-Gen George Trautman, USMC (Ret).