If this story from DoDBuzz is true...then the EFV is heading toward the chopping blocks.
Headquarters Marine Corps, the EFV program office and the Commandant have only one place to look when they're trying to find the
How can a service who's reason for being is Amphibious Assault have allowed this most important of weapon systems to be delayed over and over again....allowed it to go over budget over and over again...and expect it to survive?
I don't have a clue. But several factors led to this...
1. A lack of urgency.
During the day's of the Bush administration, the taps were turned on for defense spending. Of all the services, only the US Army seemed ready to exploit the opportunity this provided. The Marine Corps was caught flat footed and instead of pushing through with evolutionary capabilities chose instead to push for risky, costly revolutionary ones instead. This caused delay, delay costs time, time costs money and money is part of the reason this system got killed.
2. Marine Air screwed Marine Ground.
Our air side has lived high on the hog and got too large a share of the budget. How can I say this you ask? Because the USMC is due to receive the AH-1Z, UH-1Y, CH-53K, MV-22 and the F-35B. What new gear has the ground side received? The MTVR, LVRS, M-777, and refurbished M1 Abrams done over as Assault Breacher Vehicles. Oh and we're also due to get our hands on the IAR...a rifle that the Grunts don't want, that the Gunners love and the Infantry Community is still debating.
3. Think Tank Follies.
Every new administration has a favorite think tank. I have my own (yes Dr. Thompson, you're my hero and the Lexington Institute rocks) but even hero's sometimes get it wrong. Thompson has advocated (during the Bush administrations tenure) for an emphasis on transforming the Marine Corps into more of a Commando type force. The new administration doesn't have a plan but have harped on silly notions of Theater Entry as opposed to Amphibious Assault. A later post will cover my issues with both concepts but suffice it to say that the latter concept (in vogue now) is aimed only at the Marine Corps and has at its roots an effort to weaken the need for assault from the sea (amphibious lift) and the tools to carry it out (the EFV).
While the efforts by think tanks are mainly fodder for Congressional Aides, they do invoke discussion, debate and ultimately influence budget decisions.
4. FAILURE TO TELL THE MARINE CORPS STORY!
This is our biggest failure.
This is an indication that our culture is weakening.
This shows that we have not remembered our history...we've forgotten former (budget) battles.
Every article discussing the Marine Corps in magazines and newspapers starts off with..."after 10 years of warfare the Marine Corps has become a second Army!"
NONSENSE! And the saddest part of this is that those very words originated with our former Commandant!
Last year was a busy, almost chaotic year for Marine Forces worldwide. Action and activity in Haiti, Iraq, Afghanistan... Training local forces in Europe, Africa, Asia... Providing forces afloat in the Pacific and the Atlantic... And finally maintaining skills in Bridgeport, 29 Palms and Ft. A.P. Hill.
Second land Army my ass. But the story isn't being told and Headquarters Marine Corps is sipping coffee instead of ringing telephones.
Finally.
If the EFV is indeed on the chopping block then we've got to get a replacement for the AAV up and running with the speed of a loving husband getting his pregnant wife to the hospital while she's in the middle of labor.
General Dynamics has had its bite at the apple. They didn't get it done. Too bad so sad. Pack your bags. We might give you another chance in about 10 years...but right now, its time to ring BAE's phone...have them do to the AAV platform that they did with the CV-90 Armadillo and simply get a major upgrade on evolutionary systems.
A more hydrodynamic form. Upgraded engines. A remote weapon station (with the ATK cannon). Improved water jets....
Its all doable, and we should be able to have a fully amphibious...swift (is 15 knots possible with upgraded water jets?...not as fast as the EFV but possible), mobile (able to maintain pace with M1's cross country), hi tech and mine resistant vehicle on the drawing boards by the end of the year....ready for demonstration by the middle of next year and ready for production by the year after that.
URGENCY,
EVOLUTION NOT REVOLUTION
AND PROPER COMMUNICATION WITH THE AMERICAN PEOPLE ABOUT WHAT THE MARINE CORPS IS DOING AND WHAT THE MARINE CORPS NEEDS TO DO ITS MISSION.
That's how you win budget fights...how did we forget that?
Required Reading...The History Of Marine Corps Aviation 1912-1985 emphasis on the acquisition of the Harrier AV-8A and the 'warfare' necessary to make it happen...
