From Small Wars Journal
http://www.nationaldefensemagazine.o...marines_to.htm
April 2005
Marines to Take Over Responsibilities For Training Foreign Forces
by Sandra I. Erwin
The Marine Corps will set up a specialized unit dedicated to training foreign troops. The unit—scheduled to begin operations on October 1—will be staffed by up to 400 Marines. It will supplement the training program that had been solely the responsibility of the U.S. Special Operations Command.
By creating this unit, the Marine Corps assumes a permanent role in the training of foreign troops. Previously, Marines had done this on an ad hoc basis. They helped train, for example, military forces in Georgia, Chad and Niger, noted Gen. Michael W. Hagee, commandant of the Marine Corps.
SOCOM sought help from the Marine Corps in this area, Hagee told reporters. The decision to invest in a permanent training unit further recognizes that U.S. forces ultimately benefit from working more closely with foreign troops, Hagee said.
“We believe that this is one of the most important things to do,” he said. “People usually think of special operations forces as the ‘high-end’ operations.” But improving the training of friendly foreign troops eventually could pay off by preventing U.S. military involvement, Hagee suggested. “If we can do much better in ‘phase zero,’ better prepare foreign militaries to handle their own situations, maybe we won’t have to do phases one, two and three.”
The Marines in the training unit will serve in rotations, with the expectation that they will spread their knowledge throughout the Corps when they return to the operational force, Hagee said.
“We never had a unit stood up and devoted to this,” he said. “We think it will help throughout the Marine Corps. Individuals will rotate in and out, and will increase intelligence and knowledge of foreign cultures throughout the Marine Corps.”
The training unit will be based on the East Coast, although the specific location has not yet been determined.
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