The Few. The Proud. The New Marines? -- Andrea Stone, AOL NewsWASHINGTON (Aug. 13) -- Declaring "the maritime soul of the Marine Corps" is at stake, Defense Secretary Robert Gates has ordered a review of the seaborne service that since 9/11 has functioned more like a "second land army."
In a speech in San Francisco, Gates spoke of "anxiety" over the future role of the service after nearly a decade of fighting on land in Afghanistan and Iraq. He said some feel the Corps has "become too heavy, too removed from their expeditionary, amphibious roots and the unique skill sets those missions require." Though many Marines are battle-tested, some "may never have stepped aboard a ship."
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My Comment: One rule that should always be followed is .... if it is not broken, do not fix it.
The U.S. Marine Corps is not broken .... but unfortunately for the Corps, Secretary of Defense Gates wants to fix it, with his eye on costs and the bottom line.