(Marine Corps Times) Backtalk: Putting it all together

[unhappycamper]

Putting it all together
By Dennis M. McCarthy

A powerfully written trip report by retired Army Gen. Barry McCaffrey is circulating Washington. Taken as a whole, his report describes Afghanistan as being at a strategic and operational inflection point — what some might call a “tipping point.”

Every indication coming from Afghanistan argues for a “surge” of capability, but the type of surge that proved successful in Iraq is not what is needed, and may not even be possible. McCaffrey argues that more combat brigades are not the answer, even if they were available. Based on the nature of the conflict and the history of its people, Afghanistan needs a force that can help it solve its own problems, McCaffrey argues.

A nontraditional option is available. The Marine Corps Reserve has the immediate potential to field a cohesive, pretrained, air-ground stabilization force with muscle. While follow-on forces will undoubtedly be required, the Marine task force I propose meets McCaffrey’s initial prescription for success.

Marine Forces Reserve is organized as a near mirror image of its active component counterparts. It has a Marine division — three infantry regiments, plus a full complement of combat support units such as artillery, armor, engineer, communications and reconnaissance. It has an aircraft wing with substantial rotary wing aviation capability — transport, utility and attack helicopters — plus 40 percent of the Corps’ air refueling capability. Many of these aviation assets have served tours in mountainous Afghanistan.

The Reserve also has a robust logistics group capable of delivering substantial support to military units and a civilian populace. Marine Forces Reserve has a deep reservoir of civil affairs expertise that has served with distinction in Iraq. There are additional individual augmentees with current skills — both military and civilian — and a wealth of combat experience. This capability could expand the training cadres that Marine Forces Reserve has sent to Iraq and Afghanistan.


Rest of article at: http://www.marinecorpstimes.com/community/opinion/marine_backtalk_reserves_081808/