The Marine Corps has been involved in irregular warfare for the last 10 plus years of counter-terrorism and counterinsurgency in Iraq, Afghanistan, and several other countries as part of the Global War on Terror. The Marine Corps is still involved in irregular warfare on several fronts; albeit at a significantly lower level compared to the era of the Iraq and Afghanistan plus ups. Considering our more modern military campaigns and the current global situation, it is more likely that the U.S. Marine Corps will continue to be involved in irregular warfare in the future vice large-scale conventional warfare. As the future senior enlisted leadership of the Marine Corps we must ensure we prepare our Marines – the future non-commissioned officers
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The Marine Corps must win over the populace if they are to be successful in current and future irregular warfare. However, the Marine Corps continues to apply a cookie cutter approach to the actual execution. The Marine Corps has made advances in the more recent past with emphasis on regional, cultural, and language familiarization resources, but training continues to be conducted from a “check in the box” approach. We can take action to ensure that our Marines are prepared for upcoming deployments and operations by ensuring that they complete pertinent regional and cultural courses on MarineNet. In addition, we should ensure they complete introductory language familiarization courses, which are also available through MarineNet. Further training could also be coordinated through the Center for Advanced Operational Culture Learning. This training should be earnestly emphasized and completed lest the Marines are unable to apply cultural and language skills in the conduct of their duties deployed forward. The Marine Corps can not hope to win the hearts and minds of the country it is operating in if the Marines do not understand basic cultures and taboos or how to properly great everyone from the civilian on the side of the road to the local tribal
The Marine Corps must win over the populace if they are to be successful in current and future irregular warfare. However, the Marine Corps continues to apply a cookie cutter approach to the actual execution. The Marine Corps has made advances in the more recent past with emphasis on regional, cultural, and language familiarization resources, but training continues to be conducted from a “check in the box” approach. We can take action to ensure that our Marines are prepared for upcoming deployments and operations by ensuring that they complete pertinent regional and cultural courses on MarineNet. In addition, we should ensure they complete introductory language familiarization courses, which are also available through MarineNet. Further training could also be coordinated through the Center for Advanced Operational Culture Learning. This training should be earnestly emphasized and completed lest the Marines are unable to apply cultural and language skills in the conduct of their duties deployed forward. The Marine Corps can not hope to win the hearts and minds of the country it is operating in if the Marines do not understand basic cultures and taboos or how to properly great everyone from the civilian on the side of the road to the local tribal