1st MARDIV Marines learn to integrate, counter drones.....past time to yank Air Defense from the Wing & put it into the Ground Combat Element

 

U.S. Marine Corps Capt. Madden Chapman, center, a low altitude air defense officer with 3rd Low Altitude Air Defense Battalion, Marine Air Control Group 38, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, teaches Marines during small unmanned aerial systems and counter-sUAS training at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, April 29, 2024. The purpose of the training is to improve the effectiveness and consistency of sUAS integration and C-sUAS tactics, techniques and procedures across 1st Marine Division. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Jaye Townsend)

I just added the caption to the first pic to show what the class was on.

That's not what I want to talk about.

What I am proposing is that Air Defense needs to be part of the Ground Combat Element and not the Wing.

It might have made sense in the past.  Hell it might make sense now, especially since the Marine Corps is no longer in the business of seizing ground.  

Maybe a force that whose reason for being is to sense and make sense doesn't need Air Defense to be part of the Ground Combat Element if the Ground Combat Element no longer maneuvers.

But I believe that this "Force Design" 2030 concept has a shelf life that is expiring as we talk.  It's days are numbered and the idea of the Marine Corps taking ground will come back in vogue.

With that in mind Air Defense needs to maneuver with the Ground Element and doesn't need the additional friction of confusing masters.

The Wing is morphing into a force that is at the beck of call of anyone and farmed out to any and all in penny packets galore. To be honest that's one of my biggest gripes with Force Design 2030.

The cohesive fighting unit that was once the Marine Air Ground Team that was zealously protected and arguments were held behind the scenes to see it fight as one is long over.

BUT when someone in Quantico gets their common sense back and sees the value of the MAGTF again and even before, Air Defense needs to be on call to protect Marine Ground.

Take the F-35s.  That's part of the reason why the Marine pushed for a "stealth" ground support platform isn't it?  Take the C-130s, use the V-22s for SOCOM, but at least have Air Defense available to protect the GCE when the rest of the Wing is playing pussy for the joint force (as in getting fucked).