MarSoc Update:
Yesterday Defense Tech reported a little-noticed line in Vice Adm. Eric Olsons written testimony regarding the career path for Marines in special operations forces.
DT readers will remember that one of the main selling points particularly for opponents of the new MarSoc force within the Corps with the services entry into the spec ops world was that once Marines finish with a stint in the snake eater world, theyd return to the regular Corps with new knowledge, tactics and specialized skills that could help make mainstream grunts better.
But Olsons answer to lawmakers that he wants a spec ops for life career path for Marines like the other services flies in the face of that logic.
MarSoc officials have backed away from that earlier argument, saying instead that, although Marines assigned to MarSoc may serve in the command for longer than the usual three-year assignment because of the training investment, the service wants to make sure Marines who do a stint there are competitive for promotion; meaning they still need to do Marine things to advance in the Marines.
Heres a statement from MarSoc spokesman, Maj. Cliff Gilmore:
MARSOC is working with Marine Corps Manpower to determine the best model for personnel assignment and career paths within MARSOC and the SOF community. Our intent is to balance three factors: First, we must ensure we build and maintain our SOF capabilities; Second, we must ensure a good return on time and money invested to train SOF personnel; Third, we must ensure our Marines remain competitive for promotion within the Corps.
Because it was given such short shrift in Olsons testimony, maybe the issue wont come to any kind of conflict. But there is a lingering doubt within the legacy SOF that the Corps special operators are immature and inexperienced. One thing the old SOF has been proud of is the maturity and experience of its personnel, the kind of expertise that comes only from spending an entire career in the community.
Will the Corps be willing to give up its best leathernecks forever? Ill bet that will be a tough sell.
{ 8 comments… read them below or add one }
What’s the matter, Christian?
No stories about the way your loser neo-clown buddies shit-canned General Casey after he opposed their latest brilliant “surge” strategy? Nothing on how your loser neo-clown buddies shit-canned Shinseki when he TOLD their deluded asses BEFORE the war, what it was actually going to take to secure the PEACE after the initial conflict? Or how about the way your loser new-clown buddies just ‘retired’ Peter Pace’s ass? What about General White? Or General Eaton? Or General Batiste? Nothing? Not even a mention?
OK, what about when Bush claimed again and again that we didn’t need more troops in Iraq (coincidentally during the 2004 Presidential campaign when John Kerry was calling for more troops
sorry. I haven’t yet learned to control my anger, obviously… It’s not your fault. But I wish someone would start talking some truth. and I see none of it.
Anyway….
It’s a long-standing tenet of SOCOM’s that SOF cannot be mass-produced and take years to reach maturity. Despite VADM Olson’s assurance that MarSOC is developing ahead of schedule, a rotation plan will effectively stunt development of MarSOC to a certain stage with limited growth after the first cadre of Marines are replaced.
The AF does rotate some of its SOF personnel in and out of AFSOC (ex. C-130 pilots rotating in and out to “slick” units from AFSOC sqds), but it is limited and only for those selected for long-term development by their performance. It’s not a normal track nor a long-term one. Eventually, they (AFSOC) pull you back in, to quote M. Corleone.
All in all, that’s necessary (imo). SOF skills take time to develop and then must be constantly refined, sharpened and practiced. That’s not because the skills themselves can’t be learned by GPF. It’s because those skills must be second nature when implemented so that SOF can use the best weapon they have (i.e. 10-lb brain) to win hearts and minds or direct precision firepower (and usually both) in ways that GPF aren’t accustomed to.
It seems to me what the Marine Corps wants to do with their “special forces ” Marines sounds right and looks good. But and this is a big but , after 3 years in this capacity, a real SOF operator is just finishing their training! to send them back to the Fleet would be a waste of time and training!
I was in the Corps for 6 years, I can understand the Corps reluctance to lose quality warriors, but what is the tradeoff in the long run? It sounds to me like their SOF forces will always be filled with young Marines always in a state of training.Certainly this will lead to a “poor” quality sof force.
The Marine Corps needs to understand that these Marines are going to be an elite force within an elite force wether the Corps accepts this is something else all together. { note: if they were not an elite force within an elite force , then all Marines should be able to make it thru this extensive training, this is something I rather doubt though,}.
All the other services is angry because they can not be a Marines so they do want the Marines to have anything that would make them more better than what they are now. I know false pride when I see it-go Marines get all you can get. What you can not get then steal it!
Hey, these Marsoc operators aren’t some kids who signed up to be Spec op’s. They are the most seasoned men to come out of Force Recon.
There is not a fast path to Marsoc. You have to be in Force Recon for at least two years before you are eligible to try out for Marsoc, and it ain’t that easy to get into Recon in the first place. All of these men have been in Recon and then gone through selection for Marsoc. which almost all of them have been in for more than three years before thay start operating for Marsoc. Calling them immature is as childish of the Army as it was for them to kick Marsoc out of A-stan on false charges just to preserve there coveted status as “special”.
Sharp-tongued SSG? More like foul-mouthed dolt… Perhaps you could make a point instead of half-baked insinuations, red-herrings and spewing Daily Kos nonsense. As for propaganda, “war czar?” Gee, how crypto-leninist can one get. I guess we neeeded to toss our toys out of the crib and did we get busted in a piss test, perhaps? Is this why we’re a bit cranky? As for “some of our best Americans are getting cut to pieces every damned day
Actually lane, you don't have to come from recon. It's open to all MOSs now to try out to be an operator. Two years of service, 225 pft, class 4 swim qual.