stimulating Critical Thought

Instructions: Issues for discussion (IFDs) for a particular lesson are crafted to build upon the educational objectives and stimulate critical thought. In answering an IFD, remember that you must provide supporting rationale from the courseware, personal experiences, or outside resources. You will get called out and forced to defend assertions you make without proper support. You will have a minimum of two required posts each week. Provide a 1/2 page response to each of the issues listed below.

Issue 1: (1/2 page) The Marine Expeditionary Force (MEF), with its MEF Information Group, Marine Division, Marine Aircraft Wing, and Marine Logistics Group, has been described as a balanced combined-arms force with the base unit being the Marine Division. What combat, combat support (i.e., fires, engineers, reconnaissance, etc.), and combat service support capabilities (i.e., units) would be needed to form a balanced, combined-arms force with the infantry regiment being the base unit? How does your vision compare with the proposed structure of the Marine Littoral Regiment (MLR) from the Tentative Manual for Expeditionary Advanced Base Operations (EABO), 2nd Edition? What are the implications for organizing, manning, training, and equipping these forces?

Issue 2: (1/2 page) Since the establishment of the Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable) (MEU[SOC]) program in the 1980’s, ARG/MEU force structure and employment have evolved to meet both operational requirements and a variety of constraints. For instance, over the years, the ARG has reduced from five ships to three, SEAL platoons no longer deploy with MEUs, small boat raid companies are generally no longer employed by CONUS-based MEUs, and MEUs are now habitually employed in a disaggregated/distributed fashion. Given your understanding of the emerging operating environment, how should the current MEU evolve in the coming years to maintain its operational relevance? It may be useful to consider your response from a manning, organization, training, and/or employment perspective.