US Marine Corps Reorganizes its Infantry

The US Marines are adapting to the modern battlefield. "Everything that Marine wears – from their boots to their socks to their utilities to their helmet – is all going to be changed," says Gen. Robert Neller, the Marine Corps Commandant

US Marine Corps Reorganizes its Infantry

Archive photo: AP

The Marine Corps is reorganizing its infantry for future conflicts. According to the Corps Commandant, Gen. Robert Neller, "Everything that Marine wears – from their boots to their socks to their utilities to their helmet – is all going to be changed."

Commandant Neller said that the Marines are adding technical experts – in drones, intelligence, supply, and other specialties – to small units so they can operate more independently of higher headquarters. At the same time, Infantry squads will shrink from 13 Marines to 12, and infantry battalions will have fewer heavy-duty support weapons such as 81 mm mortars and TOW anti-tank missile launchers.

Some of the other changes include the following:

  • Each rifle squad will get its own quadcopter mini-drone to scout ahead and a drone operator to run it.
  • Every rifleman will carry the new M27 Infantry Automatic Rifle (IAR), complete with flash suppressor, instead of the lighter and less powerful M4 or M16.
  • Each rifle platoon will also get a specialist drone operator.
  • Each company headquarters will get an intelligence cell as well as drone operators for reconnaissance, counter-drone specialists, and logisticians.
  • The number of anti-tank teams with shoulder-fired Javelin missiles will increase from eight to 12, and the Javelin’s range will increase with an upgraded control unit.

The Marines have many other long-term projects, including new long-range precision-guided missiles for the artillery (including ones capable of attacking ships at sea), a ship-launched reconnaissance drone, new anti-aircraft defense, and more.

 

[Source: Breaking Defense]

You might be interested also