Compass Points - The Future
The Future of the US Marine Corps
Marine Corps Compass Points
Jul 07, 2026
Compass Points - The Future
The Future of the US Marine Corps
July 7, 2026
Marine Corps Compass Points
Broader Thinking, Deeper Understanding, and Better Decisions, for a Stronger Marine Corps
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As the United States wraps up the 250th anniversary celebrations, the next 250 years begin. For the Marine Corps, it is a good time to take stock of where the Corps is today and what path it should take going forward.
Over the last year, the US has deployed a massive naval fleet to the Middle East as part of the ongoing conflict with Iran. The US is also maintaining another fleet in the Caribbean. US Marine crisis response, air, ground, logistic forces are part of both fleets.
In the Caribbean, a Navy-Marine Corps Amphibious Ready Group (ARG) with an embarked Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) has been part of the Caribbean fleet for months. The Navy-Marine ARG MEU participated in Operation Absolute Resolve in January 2026. Marines were still in the Caribbean when Venezuela was struck by two devastating earthquakes on June 24, 2026.
Now, in the Caribbean, there are reports that Cuba is suffering from its third nationwide power outage. If the Cuban government collapses, US Marines may be called on for a variety of peace keeping missions.
For decades the US has been able to rely on the Marines to arrive at any crisis to deter, assist, rescue, strike, and fight. What is the future of the Marine Corps? Is the future global crisis response or is it some other more narrow mission in only one region?
Nearly seven years ago the Marine Corps began to struggle with what the Marine Corps of the future should be. Some senior Marine leaders advocated for less focus on combined arms, global crisis response, and a more narrow focus on small sensor and missile units off the coast of China.
https://marinecorpscompasspoints.substack.com/p/compass-points-the-future-75f
