SecDef To Decide Fate Of Special Operations Unit

[NousDefionsDoc]

MarineCorpsTimes.com
January 26, 2005

SecDef To Decide Fate Of Special Operations Unit

By Gidget Fuentes, Times staff writer

OCEANSIDE, Calif. — The fate of the Marine Corps’ first special operations detachment rests with Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, who will determine if the 18-month trial run will yield a permanent Marine place in the commando ranks.

Rumsfeld was expected to meet with Commandant Gen. Mike Hagee and Army Gen. Bryan D. Brown, commander of U.S. Special Operations Command, this week to discuss the detachment’s future.

“Their joint recommendation is that SOCOM will say that we have no requirement for another unit,” said a senior Marine officer familiar with the ongoing discussion and who asked not to be named.

Marine Corps Special Operations Command Detachment 1, an 85-member unit based at Camp Pendleton, Calif., activated in summer 2003 and deployed last year to Iraq as part of a Navy special warfare squadron that included SEAL commandos.

Created as a two-year “proof of concept” force, the detachment was developed following a fall 2001 memorandum of understanding between the Corps and SOCOM intended to foster broader cooperation.

The memorandum was signed during Gen. James Jones’ tenure as commandant; Hagee is said to be less of a fan of the idea. And a less-than-supportive view from SOCOM — a command predominantly comprised of Army forces, could all but seal that fate, the senior Marine officer said.

“They want to make sure it stays Army green,” he said, adding that Brown “does not want us around.”

As originally envisioned, Detachment 1 would have grown into at least two other units that would operate jointly for regional combatant commanders. The unique team includes Marines from the reconnaissance, intelligence and Air-Naval Gunfire Liaison Company communities, among others.

The possible tabling of the Corps’ SOCOM detachment comes amid continued high demand for special operations forces for missions in Afghanistan and Iraq, as well as in the larger hunt for terrorists worldwide. There also is strong congressional interest in growing the number of special operations troops. The Army wants to increase the number of Special Forces soldiers by as many as 10,000, according to some reports.

Members of the detachment have continued training since their return from Iraq. Their combat deployment was touted as a successful tour, but could wind up in the “so what” category if the decision is made to scrap the detachment, a prospect that frustrates members.

“No matter what we did, it was irrelevant,” the senior Marine officer said.

Gidget Fuentes is the San Diego bureau chief for Marine Corps Times.

[CPTAUSRET]

“No matter what we did, it was irrelevant,” the senior Marine officer said."



I really hope that isn't true.

Time will tell.

Terry

[Basenshukai]

I know that the "the Army doesn't like us" answer can make some folks sleep better at night since they won't have to feel "irrelevant", or otherwise not as effective as other options. But, I don't think that the reasons for the unit not being continued are that simple.

Duplication of efforts might be one issue. Is it smarter to spend more money to stand up a costly elite unit, provide it with infracstructure, etc., instead of spending that same money expanding the existing programs of units that provide the same capabilities? In light of what the SEALs do (to include their SMU), it seems that they can fit the bill for what the Marine unit was created to do. If that's the case, spend those funds expanding the SEAL programs, for instance.

The men of that "proof of concept" were, I'm pretty sure, superb operators. However, in a world where dollars are not infinite and where existing SOF units are trying to expand their own existing programs (SEALs and SF teams attempting to fill to 100% of their MTOEs and trying to stand up new battalions / teams), decision-makers have a lot to think about. I don't think, in as much as I know that inter-service rivalries exist, that high-level SOF generals are just saying: "I don't like the way those guys roll-up their BDU sleeves ... deactivate the unit."

[CPTAUSRET]

Originally Posted by Basenshukai

I know that the "the Army doesn't like us" answer can make some folks sleep better at night since they won't have to feel "irrelevant", or otherwise not as effective as other options. But, I don't think that the reasons for the unit not being continued are that simple.

Duplication of efforts might be one issue. Is it smarter to spend more money to stand up a costly elite unit, provide it with infracstructure, etc., instead of spending that same money expanding the existing programs of units that provide the same capabilities? In light of what the SEALs do (to include their SMU), it seems that they can fit the bill for what the Marine unit was created to do. If that's the case, spend those funds expanding the SEAL programs, for instance.

The men of that "proof of concept" were, I'm pretty sure, superb operators. However, in a world where dollars are not infinite and where existing SOF units are trying to expand their own existing programs (SEALs and SF teams attempting to fill to 100% of their MTOEs and trying to stand up new battalions / teams), decision-makers have a lot to think about. I don't think, in as much as I know that inter-service rivalries exist, that high-level SOF generals are just saying: "I don't like the way those guys roll-up their BDU sleeves ... deactivate the unit."

You make a lot of sense to me, and if I had to allocate sparse funding I would do as you suggest.

Terry

[Roguish Lawyer]

Originally Posted by CPTAUSRET

You make a lot of sense to me, and if I had to allocate sparse funding I would do as you suggest.

Terry

Me too.

[Jack Moroney (RIP)]

Originally Posted by Roguish Lawyer

Me too.

That was the reason why the USMC got involved with this in the first place. You have to remember that USSOCOM has its own budget and there is absolutely no doubt that this is the reason why the USMC wanted to play in this arena. I am not taking anything away from the troops-USMC is good at what they do and have great troops, however they often see themselves in direct competition with the Army when it comes to light infantry for short duration operations. Look at what they call MEU(SOC), that really has only to do with one portion of the mission and that is DA/CT and not UW.

Jack Moroney

[RAT]

IMHO...

I can see the Highers in the Corps try and position this as say to Congress that the Corps is MEU(SOC) capable...

Why expand SOCOM when we have Marines that can do the job.

I don't think it is this easy of a situation I can just see the Corps trying to pull a fast one. They (Marine Corps) have never liked SOF (To included Marine Recon). I was hoping it was going to work out but looks like it isn't.

Oh well... Back to the Corps you bunch of prima donnas HAHAHA

RAT OUT!!!