Eight Commandants, One Message
it reads better if you are at parade rest
CDR Salamander
Apr 09, 2025
Yes, you could dismiss this as parochial on their and my part—but that would be a mistake.
There remains to this day no better way to project power ashore on a global scale than the self-contained capabilities that only the United States has…and we are on the knife’s edge on having enough of it to allow this comparative advantage to be there when the nation needs it.
Every Commandant of the Marine Corps since 1995 signed a letter posted over at RealClearDefense that is worth your time as it covers an unbroken three decades of professional experience at the very highest levels.
Of all the services, one could safely argue that the Marines have done better than most in their choices of top leadership. Not perfect, but on average, superb. They stick together on the important things.
As such, when they all get together to make a point, you should pause and give it a listen.
…our Nation needs a force to deter aggression, contain conflicts, evacuate noncombatants, and respond quickly and effectively to other crises and contingencies. Without this capability, bullies thrive, crises become conflicts, our citizens abroad are at risk, and our National Command Authority lacks a full range of options to deter and respond.
Correct. Next question is, “How do we do that?”
Context matters. Geography matters. Comparative advantage matters. We are a maritime and aerospace power, so…
https://cdrsalamander.substack.com/p/eight-commandants-one-message
