Commandant of the Marine Corps, Gen. Robert B. Neller. Photo By: Staff Sgt. Gabriela Garcia
The US Marine Corps need to strengthen their forces and facilities abroad or they will be vulnerable for threats from Russia, Iran, North Korea and extremist organizations, US Marine Corps Commandant General Robert B. Neller stated before Senate Armed Services Committee on April 19.
Neller emphasized that “challenges must be addressed to remedy these problems – (1) the resilience of our posture and (2) the pace of our naval force’s availability and modernization.”
“The development and acquisition of long-range precision weapons by our Nation’s chief competitors and threats – China, Russia, North Korea, Iran, and Violent Extremist Organizations (VEO) – have placed many of our forward deployed forces within the effective range of their weapons systems, or “threat rings.”
General stated that most of Marine Corps “lack sufficient resilience” to carry out warfares.
“We need additional hardening of our facilities to include aircraft hangars and command posts, the capability to rapidly repair damage to our air stations, and counterprecision guided munitions and advanced air-defense capabilities.”
According to Neller, with the growing role of the sea control, “the Marine Corps must further develop and integrate force capabilities in support of the Navy” to accomplish three key priorities “modernization, readiness, and manpower”.
Neller stressed the ocean’s flexibility and freedom that could provide the Marine Corps to “adapt its global posture” and “enhance global deterrence”.
“We will continue to foster and strengthen our partnerships and alliances as today’s strategic environment requires strong global partners”, General Robert B. Neller concluded.
