Looking
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to 2016
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By Michael S. Darnell
Stars and Stripes
Published: December 29, 2015
All eyes are on the Marine Corps as a new commandant looks to navigate through challenges that will shape the future of the Marines. From integrating women into infantry battalions to planning the future of Marine Corps Air Station Futenma, the Marines have a busy year ahead.
Manning and end strength concerns
The Marine Corps continues to shrink, but not as quickly as previously announced by the Defense Department.
During the Iraq troop surge, there were roughly 202,000 Marines – a number that was supposed to dwindle to some 174,000 as part of sequestration.
Then in March 2015, the numbers were readjusted to 182,000, and revised again to 184,000 in the Navy’s Fiscal Year 2016 budget.
These fluctuating numbers have created some uncertainty among the troops. Will there still be room for them in the Marine Corps? Will force-shaping measures, such as the voluntary enlisted early release program, continue past 2016?
The changing numbers have also caused a dearth of qualified noncommissioned and senior noncommissioned officers, according to the 2015 Commandant’s Planning Guidance.
"We will address the current gaps in NCO and SNCO leadership by revamping our current manpower management and readiness reporting models, systems, policies and processes," the guidance stated.
What policies will be affected and when remains to be seen.
Photo courtesy Dalton Precht/U.S. Marine Corps
Women in the infantry
Earlier this month, Defense Secretary Ash Carter opened all military jobs to women, and while the ruling applies to every branch of service, none has opposed the move more than the Marine Corps.
In September, the Marine Corps released a summary of a $36 million study looking into the effectiveness of women in combat arms roles. The report concluded that women were at significantly higher risk for injury, were less accurate when firing weapons and less capable of lifting heavy objects.
While that report has since come under fire for its methodology it has remained a lightning rod for detractors of the move to integrate women into modern infantry units.
This move will open more than 30,000 individual positions within the Marine Corps to women.
Regardless, top Marine officials say the Corps has received its marching orders and will spend much of 2016 integrating the once male-only job fields.
"We have a decision. It’s time to move out," new Marine Corps Commandant Gen. Robert B. Neller said Dec. 4 during a video address to the troops.
A plan to integrate women into these new roles is expected on Carter’s desk in early January.
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