Put the Special Operations Capable back into the BLT.

WHITE BEACH, OKINAWA, Japan-Lance Cpl. Alejandro Carbajal, scout swimmer and rifleman with Company A, Battalion Landing Team 1st Battalion, 4th Marines, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, scouts ahead before the primary raid force lands on the shoreline during a small boat raid here, March 17. The raid was conducted during the MEU’s Certification Exercise, which upon completion certifies that the MEU is capable to respond to any scenario that may arise. The 31st MEU is the only continuously forward-deployed MEU and is the nation’s force in readiness in the Asia-Pacific region., Lance Cpl. Michael S. Oxton, 3/16/2012 1:53 PM

I've been watching the 31st MEU from a distance while they've been going through certification.

My main question is why the reliance on the Maritime Raid Force?

Why has the BLT been relegated to providing support for such a small subsection of the MEU?

The BLT which was once the muscle of the MEU with Force Recon and Amphibious Recon in support has suddenly been relegated to step child.

This is unsat.

A dynamic Marine Corps need dynamic BLT's.

Relevant BLT's. 

And don't feel picked on 31st MEU...its a Marine Corps wide problem.  And it stems from Rummy's edict which wasn't fought by General Pace and is affecting Marine ops to this very day.

What makes Special Ops special?

Is it mission set?  Why?  Rangers have tasked themselves with airfield seizure.  Did you know that was once an 82nd mission?  SEALs have taken beach recon.  Did you know that was once a Recon mission and before that a Scout Swimmer mission?

What is raiding except an Infantry skill that needs to be practiced?

What is recon except an Infantry skill that needs to be practiced?

What is training of foreign militaries except a skill that needs to be practiced?

You get the point.

The Marine Corps needs to get hard again and part of that is to put the Special Operations Capable back into the MEU in general and the Battalion Landing Team in particular.  If need be we can return Force Recon to SOCOM and get it done with our BLT's.  We just need to train them to a higher standard.

Scout Swimmers should be able to do beach recon.  With additional training, recon further inland should not be difficult.

The only thing that's lacking is institutional will.  The current trend of bending knee to everything SOCOM goes against Marine Corps tradition and ethos.  We are an elite force and have no need for an elite inside an elite.

How leadership forgot that is beyond me, but it can still be corrected.

All it takes is a little bravery and conviction.