Its time to think about the unthinkable.
Should the US Navy release the USMC from its carrier obligation?
I don't mean it to say that Marine pilots and crews won't be part of the carrier compliment...just that they'll fly and work on NAVY aircraft.
Why even contemplate this?
Well its simple. The Navy is migrating away from the EA-6B toward the EA-18G. The USMC is not. The Navy is flying the FA-18E/F. The USMC is not. The USMC is all in on the F-35B/C. The US Navy is not.
Quite honestly the Navy might benefit from the pilots and the maintenance personnel that comes with the attached squadrons but they see diminished returns once you factor in dissimilar aircraft and their supply needs.
Fewer aircraft carriers plays a role too.
Not as many flat tops need to be filled.
Does the USMC get anything out of this? Not sure. I do know that if we have designated squadrons to go aboard carrier and everyone else isn't that our pilots will be able to focus more closely on the close air support mission....fleet defense will be an add on to the their training syllabus, not something that is primary.
We'll see. One thing is certain. If the Wing is going to become "primary" in the USMC then we need to twist it, turn it and bend it toward the needs of the USMC.
If they want to be a "joint" enabler then they need to detach from the Marines and become part of the USAF.
