U.S. Central Command chief Gen. David Petraeus sees a growing need for Marine Corps Light Armor Reconnaissance (LAR) battalions in Afghanistan and elsewhere in his command’s area of responsibility, Inside the Pentagon has learned.
In a March 30, unclassified “action memo” to Defense Secretary Robert Gates and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Adm. Michael Mullen, Petraeus extolled the “tremendous advantages” of the LAR battalions in Iraq, opining that “similarly capable units of this nature would be of value in Afghanistan, and potentially elsewhere in our AOR, today and in the future.”
The Marine Corps currently has four LAR battalions. These units offer U.S. commanders in Iraq and Afghanistan a force with exceptional mobility, flexible command and control, precise and discriminating firepower, and adequate protection for use in a wide range of mission profiles, according to a copy of the memo reviewed by ITP.
The memo asks Gates and Mullen to have the Marine Corps increase its ability to provide units with LAR-like capability for theater deployment.
Such equipped forces offer clear advantages in counterinsurgency operations and security cooperation missions vital to CENTCOM while providing capabilities at the higher end of the conflict spectrum, according to the general. “Our current and future environment demands a flexible, multi-role force capable of global employment,” he writes.
Petraeus’ memo argues the Marine Corps should increase the total number of LAR units in its force structure. CENTCOM “strongly supports” the development of an LAR-like force “equipped with a medium-weight personnel carrier that provides a balance of mobility, firepower, and protection,” according to the memo.
“We see significant value in increasing the total number of units having this capability in the Marine Corps Force Structure,” Petraeus writes.
Petraeus sent copies of the memo to Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Marine Gen. James Cartwright, Marine Commandant Gen. James Conway, Marine Corps Forces Central Command chief Lt. Gen. Samuel Helland and Marine Corps Systems Command chief Brig. Gen. Michael Brogan.
Marine spokesman Maj. David Nevers said Gates has authorized the deployment of approximately 600 additional Marines to Afghanistan. An increase had been requested by the commander of U.S. Forces-Afghanistan (USFOR-A), through CENTCOM, to enhance the existing capabilities of the 2nd Marine Expeditionary Brigade, plus a headquarters unit, Nevers said. Gates approved the plan May 28, a CENTCOM spokesman said.
“The additional Marines will belong to units that have already deployed to Afghanistan as part of the force increase announced by the president in February,” he said. Included in the authorized increase are Marines representing all four elements of the Marine air-ground task force: ground, aviation, logistics and headquarters. A company sized LAR unit of between 100 and 200 Marines is included, Nevers said.
“These Marines will join the 2nd MEB in Afghanistan in the coming weeks,” he added.
The general’s recommendation complements and supports the Marine Corps’ effort to develop the Marine Personnel Carrier, said Nevers.
The Marines say the MPC is a new capability that will provide the service a multiwheeled, armored personnel carrier. The MPC will be able to operate across the range of military operations, but its design is focused on the irregular-warfare operating environment characterized by operations in constrained and urban terrain. It is required to carry eight to nine combat-loaded Marines and a two-man crew. The service believes the MPC will enable high-speed land maneuver as well as substantial ballistic protection to embarked Marines.
The MPC will serve as a medium-lift personnel carrier and complements the capabilities offered by the Joint Light Tactical Vehicle for light-lift purposes and the Expeditionary Fighting Vehicle for heavy-lift purposes, according to the service. -- Christopher J. Castelli
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