InsideDefense.com reports that the US Marines are disputing their force size recommendation from the recent 2006 Quadrennial Defense Review. The Marines are fighting hard and taking a higher share of casualties than other services, and they recently began standing up the new MARSOC that will contribute 2,600 Special Forces while remaining true to the Marines’ egalitarian credo that every Marine is special. They’ve also plussed up their service strength from 175,000 to 180,000 via wartime supplemental funding.
The QDR has set their recommended long-term force size at 175,000 and seeks to move long-term personnel funding out of supplemental appropriations and into the regular budget. The USMC’s Commandant is launching his own force structure review study in response, and contemplating a number of changes in light of lessons learned on the front lines. Military.com has the details.