By Fred Carr, Jr.
MARINE CORPS News HQMC (Jan 14) -- The Marine Corps will enter the 21st century as a slightly smaller fighting force, but with enhanced combat readiness. Force reductions directed by the 1997 Quadrennial Defense Review will be phased in over several years. By FY00, the Corps will be at an active duty end strength of 172,200, down from an authorized end strength of 174,000 at the end of FY97. Personnel cuts will be accomplished primarily through fewer enlistments and natural attrition. Details on reducing the Reserve Component were announced in December 1997. Those reductions are expected to be completed by FY03 and will provide a reserve force of 39,000 Marines.

After the QDR concluded last May, Gen. Charles C. Krulak, Commandant of the Marine Corps, called for a thorough total force structure review. Although the active and reserve components were examined independently by separate working groups, the groups' efforts were linked to develop a comprehensive total force perspective of the Marine Corps for the next century.

Announcing the recommendations resulting from those reviews, Gen. Krulak said, "The purpose ... was to identify and make recommendations to shift Marine Corps structure which no longer contributes significantly to the Corps' warfighting capability into the Fleet Marine Forces and supporting establishment -- our warfighting units. The ultimate goal of the review and subsequent structure shifts is to better position the Marine Corps for the 21st century."

Although no areas were "off limits," the focus of the force structure review was to preserve warfighting capabilities by making reductions to units and billets that are no longer as relevant to support the required warfighting capability of the Corps. In this regard, headquarters elements were closely scrutinized for potential billet reductions. For example, Headquarters Marine Corps active duty billets will be reduced by 10 percent, as will the Marine Corps Systems Command at Quantico, Va. Division and aircraft wing headquarters will also lose some billets.

Consolidation will play an important role as well. Motor Transport and Landing Support Battalions in the Force Service Support Groups will be consolidated, eliminating headquarters overhead, while continuing to provide necessary levels of support.

In all cases, Gen. Krulak stressed, the overarching consideration is to regulate actions so they do not hurt Marines. "We will not hurt Marines' chances at promotion; we will not hurt their opportunity for reenlistment or retention, and we will not hurt their opportunities for training or follow-on schooling."