Behind the cover: Commandant calls out complacent leaders, tells Marines to quit embarrassing the Corps
April 30th, 2012 | Behind the Cover Leadership The CMC | Posted by Andrew deGrandpre
This week's cover story examines the commandant's new efforts to address misconduct in the ranks and restore the notion of engaged leadership.
The Marine Corps’ top general wants an end to the monkey business that, since the start of 2012, has cast a steady, unflattering light on an institution defined in no small part by the pride it exhibits in being a disciplined, moral fighting force.
“We are allowing our standards to erode,” Gen. Jim Amos, the service’s 35th commandant, laments in an internal memo distributed to all of his generals, commanding officers and sergeants major. Known as a White Letter, the sharply worded missive comes in response to “a number of recent widely publicized incidents” involving Marines misbehaving abroad.
Complacent leadership bears some of the blame, he says.
To recap: In January, a video surfaced showing grunts in Afghanistan appearing to urinate on dead Taliban foot soldiers. A month later, Amos apologized on behalf of the entire Marine Corps for photos of deployed scout snipers posing with a flag bearing the Nazi-era SS logo. At the same time, three Hawaii-based Marines were court-martialed in connection with the war-zone hazing and subsequent suicide of Lance Cpl. Harry Lew.
Since the White Letter was circulated, five Marines were implicated in separate prostitution scandals. One in Colombia and one in Brazil.
Amos is worried the fallout from these embarrassing incidents will eclipse the progress Marines have made in securing Afghanistan’s Helmand province, though he is quick to note that, overall, Marines have fought the war “in a way that meets the high, almost lofty expectations of the American people.” He has directed leaders across the fleet to get smart on specific regional directives governing conduct abroad, and get tough in ensuring the rules are crystal clear to rank-and-file personnel. The Marine Corps’ reputation is at stake, Amos says.
Additionally, the service will hold a daylong “ethics standdown” for all Marines in the coming weeks, and the commandant has launched a tour of bases and air stations to address his frustrations — and his expectations — and to point the way forward.
To learn what Amos has in store for Marines, pick up the current issue of Marine Corps Times. It’s on newsstands now. To read it immediately, click here and subscribe.
Marine paints his way into history
January 3rd, 2012 | History and heritage The CMC Washington | Posted by Gina Cavallaro
Gen. James Amos and artist Staff Sgt. Kristopher Battles on Jan. 1, 2012 at the Home of the Commandants in Washington, D.C. (Gina Cavallaro/staff)
The Home of the Commandants at Marine Barracks Washington is a living museum where all who enter or are fortunate enough to live there are surrounded by artists’ renditions of some of the most famous faces, places and battles in the Marine Corps’ history.
Completed in 1806, the historic landmark is the oldest continuously occupied home in Washington and the names of many of the artists whose works adorn the walls have long since faded into the past.
So, when Staff Sgt. Kristopher Battles was chosen to create the home’s newest painting, he knew it would be one for the history books — and that he’d be around long enough to see it hung on the wall.
“I haven’t done anything with this level of exposure,” said Battles, a Reserve Marine who has been mobilized for five years and works in a studio aboard Marine Corps Base Quantico, Va. “I mean, it’s the commandant’s house.”
The oil painting is a faithful replica of the Home of the Commandants after a snowfall and is based on a photo taken by Amos himself in 2009. A reproduction of the work was used by Amos, and his wife Bonnie, for their 2011 Christmas card.
To show his appreciation for Battles’ superb work, and for his contribution of more than 60 studio works for the Marine Corps in the last year alone, Amos awarded Battles the Navy Marine Corps Commendation Medal following the painting’s unveiling in the home’s living room on Jan. 1.
Battles, who was invited with his wife to the traditional New Years Day “surprise” musical serenade for the commandant — a tradition that dates to the Civil War – thought he was just another invited guest and was surprised by the award. He hadn’t even met the commandant until that day.
The painting of the Home of the Commdandants, Battles said, is now one of his favorites. But there is one painting he did during a deployment to Iraq that is his favorite of all time. It’s called A Little Light Reading, Marines Enjoy the Morning.
A Little Light Reading, by Staff Sgt. Kristopher Battles
“I like it because it shows what it’s like to be in Iraq, and that’s something for future reference,” Battles said.
A Christmas message from the Commandant and Mrs. Amos
December 14th, 2011 | General officers Leadership The CMC | Posted by Gina Cavallaro
Marines, Marine families, Marine supporters and anyone who’s ever worn the Marine Corps uniform get a Christmas salute from Gen. and Mrs. Bonnie Amos in this 4:43 minute video shot at The Home of the Commandants in Washington, D.C.
With “It Came Upon a Midnight Clear” playing softly in the background, the commandant sends a “special shout out” to the “more than 30,000 Marines and sailors forward deployed and forward engaged in the defense of our nation in Helmand province, aboard ships at sea, at embassies and in detachments around the globe.”
Taking turns addressing viewers, Bonnie Amos points out the loneliness felt by Marines away from family at Christmas time and notes that she and the commandant have endured such separations over time.
The video was released by the commandant’s office on Dec. 14. Here’s a link.
Behind the Cover: The Marines draw down in Afghanistan
December 5th, 2011 | Afghanistan Behind the Cover Infantry The CMC | Posted by Dan Lamothe
Commandant Gen. Jim Amos made a big splash in the media during his Thanksgiving trip to Afghanistan, not only visiting Marines, but frankly assessing the future there.
Significantly, he acknowledged to Associated Press reporter Bob Burns that the number of troops in Helmand province would drop “markedly” next year as part of President Obama’s planned drawdown of U.S. forces in the country.
“Am I OK with that? The answer is yes,” Amos said. “We can’t stay in Afghanistan forever. Will it work? I don’t know. But I know we’ll do our part.”
In many ways, those comments raise as many questions as they answer. Marine Corps Times hashes things out in its cover story this week, outlining what options appear to be on the table for the Corps downrange and how the security situation in other parts of Afghanistan will contribute to the Marines’ future there.
There’s also the question of whether the drawdown being accelerated in southwestern Afghanistan could have a role on the future deployment of Marine units. It’s entirely possible that the deployment of Marine units could be altered over the course of the next year, Marine officials said.
The story hits newsstands today. You also can subscribe online to read it here now.
MARSOC role in Afghanistan comes into focus
December 1st, 2011 | Afghanistan Kajaki MARSOC The CMC | Posted by Dan Lamothe
Operators with Marine Corps Forces Special Operations Command are building stability in Puzeh, Afghanistan. (AP Photo/Robert Burns)
Commandant Gen. Jim Amos’ trip to Afghanistan through the Thanksgiving holiday has brought a little reported Marine Corps mission to the forefront: village stability operations.
Associated Press reporter Bob Burns was along for the trip, and outlined in some detail what operators with Marine Corps Forces Special Operations Command are doing in Puzeh, a dusty village in Helmand province about 10 miles south of the Kajaki Dam.
In September, I discussed the MARSOC village stability operations mission with Maj. Gen. John Toolan, the top U.S. commander in southwestern Afghanistan. Instead of being involved in raids or other high-profile spec-ops missions, the MARSOC Marines who perform village stability operations are called in to small villages where Marine commanders see potential for progress, even if there isn’t a full established Marine presence, he said.
“The teams are about 20 to 25 Marines, and they team up with Afghani commandos and sometimes they team up with UAE commandos,” Toolan said. “They go into these villages that are in between, in an area that we can’t necessarily cover, or they go into areas that we haven’t gone to yet. Their new areas, but we want them to go in and soften them up a bit and start building relationships with the community.”
Toolan said there are three MARSOC teams performing village stability operations. Over time, their mission may evolve.
“What you may find is that as they finish mentoring the Afghan local police forces, they may continue to serve as advisers, maybe for several village platforms, rather than just one,” Toolan said. “So, I could see maybe their [area of operations]expanding, and them taking on more of an adviser role rather than what they’re doing now, which is really partnering with the Afghan local police.”
Other MARSOC operators are based in western Afghanistan, primarily in Farah province.
Marine commandant gives miniature swords as birthday ball gift
November 17th, 2011 | History and heritage The CMC | Posted by Dan Lamothe
On Saturday night, I attended my first commandant’s Marine Corps Birthday Ball in National Harbor, Md. It was an impressive event with excellent food and music and a guest list that included more than a dozen general officers, Defense Secretary Leon Panetta and Sgt. Dakota Meyer, the Corps’ recent Medal of Honor recipient.
As is customary, the Marine Corps gave each of the estimated 3,000 guests a gift. This year’s was a 10-inch miniature Marine officer’s sword letter opener, complete with sheath and intricate detailing.
The swords were made by Weyersberg, Kirschbaum and Cie, of Soligen, Germany. It bills itself as the oldest sword factory in the world.
Video: The 236th Marine Corps Birthday Message
October 20th, 2011 | Afghanistan History and heritage Marjah The CMC The Sgt. Major of the Marine Corps Washington World War II Wounded warriors | Posted by Dan Lamothe
The Marine Corps Birthday is still a few weeks away, but the service extended one tradition tonight by posting its annual birthday video message.
Featuring narration by Commandant Gen. Jim Amos and Sgt. Maj. Mike Barrett, the Corps’ top enlisted Marine, it honors Marines everywhere, with special appreciation set aside for those who served in World War II and since the attacks on 9/11.
Watch it here:
The commandant and sergeant major filmed pieces of the message in New York City and in the Washington, D.C., area at both the World War II Memorial and the Pentagon. They also filmed part of it in Marjah, Afghanistan, on Sept. 11.
It’s a bit early yet, but happy birthday, Marines. In the meantime, check out some of these behind-the-scenes photographs the Corps released as the video was being filmed:
Commandant Gen. Jim Amos and Sgt. Maj. Mike Barrett, the Corps' top enlisted Marine, film part of the 2011 birthday message at the National War War II Memorial on July 28. (Photo by Lance Cp. Cody Fodale/Marine Corps)
Sgt. Maj. Barrett reviews birthday message remarks before filming part of the message Aug. 12 at the Pentagon. (Photo by Sgt. Christopher Green/Marine Corps)
The commandant and sergeant major prepare to be filmed on a building near Ground Zero in New York City. (Photo by Lance Cpl. Tia Dufour/Marine Corps)
Live, from today’s Modern Day Marine exposition…
September 27th, 2011 | Gear General officers The CMC | Posted by Dan Lamothe
Commandant Gen. Jim Amos and his wife, Bonnie, speak with a vendor during the opening day of the three-day Modern Day Marine exposition at Quantico, Va. (Photo by Thomas Brown/Staff)
The Modern Day Marine exposition kicked off at Quantico, Va., this morning, providing a glimpse into some of the newest developments available in military technology and equipment.
The annual event will be held through Thursday, featuring exhibits from at least 500 companies on the parade deck near Lejeune Hall.
Marine Corps Times and its sister publication, Defense News, will be blogging from the show. Check it out here.
Behind the Cover: The plan to cut the Marine Corps
August 15th, 2011 | Behind the Cover Capitol Hill Leadership Manpower The CMC The Sgt. Major of the Marine Corps | Posted by Dan Lamothe
For nearly a year, the Marine Corps’ top officials have stayed on message with two main points regarding manpower: A drawdown wouldn’t begin until after the war in Afghanistan, and it would reduce the service to 186,800 Marines.
Those points were reinforced early this year with the release of the Corps’ force-structure review recommendations. It called for a 13 percent reduction in ground combat forces, but stuck with that 186,800 end-strength figure.
It’s time for a reality check. In light of the nation’s financial trouble, that plan may not be feasible. In this week’s Marine Corps Times cover story, we outline what could happen instead, relying on interviews with top service officials, past reporting and a look at previous drawdowns.
Commandant Gen. Jim Amos acknowledges that force reductions could now begin as soon fiscal 2013, which begins next October. He and Sgt. Maj. Mike Barrett, the Corps’ top enlisted Marine, offer up their thoughts and advice to Marines, but acknowledge life in the Corps will soon be a whole lot more competitive.
To check the story out, pick up this week’s Marine Corps Times on newsstands. You also can read it online by subscribing here.
Behind the Cover: The M27 Infantry Automatic Rifle goes Corps-wide
June 20th, 2011 | Afghanistan Behind the Cover Infantry The CMC Weapons | Posted by Dan Lamothe
This week’s Marine Corps Times cover story outlines a change that has been debated for at least a decade: Dumping the M249 Squad Automatic Weapon in favor of an infantry automatic rifle.
Commandant Gen. Jim Amos recently approved the change, allowing full fielding of the M27 Infantry Automatic Rifle. It’s a possibility that has been widely discussed in the last few years, but we lay out what it will mean for infantry units, rifle qualifications and those snazzy polymer magazines that Marines love, but won’t be able to take downrange anymore.
The 5.56mm IAR will become the new standard for automatic riflemen. That means there will be one in virtually every four-man fire team, with three per squad, 28 per infantry company and 4,476 across the Corps.
For what it’s worth, senior writer Gina Cavallaro is embedded with 1st Battalion, 3rd Marines, out of Marine Corps Base Hawaii. She has details on how the unit — the first to deploy with the IAR — has adopted the weapon into its operations downrange. Expect to see those in a forthcoming Marine Corps Times, too.
Check out this week’s Marine Corps Times on newsstands for more details, or subscribe here online.