The US and the UK Extend Their Carrier Cooperation Agreement

08/06/2021
In a July 13, 2021 article on the UK Ministry of Defence website, the extension of the carrier cooperation agreement was highlighted. Defence Secretary Ben Wallace and his US counterpart Lloyd Austin have extended an agreement to enhance cooperation on aircraft carrier operations as they met in Washington. The two…

Amphibiosity and Combined and Joint Battle Problem: August 2021

08/06/2021
The United States, Australia and Japan are working a modular task force built around what amphibious ships can bring to the fight. Amphibious ships can contribute significantly to sea control and sea denial. Two recent articles, one American and one Australian highlight the current effort. In an August 5, 2021…

Shaping a Way Ahead for the Assault Support Community: Visiting MAG-26

08/03/2021
By Robbin Laird I first visited Marine Aircraft Group 26 (MAG-26) in 2007 when they were beginning the MV-22B Osprey transition. Now, the Osprey is the backbone of the Marine Corps combat assault support community. And with both heavy-lift and light-attack helicopter squadrons, the Second Marine Aircraft Wing (2D MAW)…

Ways Ahead for C-2 Enabled Marines in Distributed Operations for the Peer Fight

08/02/2021
By Robbin Laird During my July 2021 visit to 2nd Marine Air Wing (2d MAW), I had a chance to visit again with Marine Air Control Group 28, the Marines who provide command and control (C2) and air defense for the distributed force.  I met with the Commanding Officer Col.…

Re-Shaping the USMC as a Crisis Management Force: Working Naval Integration

07/30/2021
By Robbin Laird The Marines are re-focusing their efforts from the Middle East land wars to shaping their way ahead to build a purpose-built force to facilitate sea denial and assured access in support of fleet and joint operations against potential adversaries. One way they are doing this is working…

An Update on 2nd Marine Air Wing: July 2021

07/29/2021
By Robbin Laird The Marines are undergoing a change with a sense of urgency associated with the strategic shift from the Middle East land wars to being effective in strategic competition. The Marine Corps exists to provide a globally deployable Naval Expeditionary Force in readiness, this means preparing for initial…