(2014) the United States Marine Corps Way of War. Phd Thesis
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Piscitelli, Anthony John (2014) The United States Marine Corps way of war. PhD thesis. http://theses.gla.ac.uk/5860/ Copyright and moral rights for this thesis are retained by the author A copy can be downloaded for personal non-commercial research or study, without prior permission or charge This thesis cannot be reproduced or quoted extensively from without first obtaining permission in writing from the Author The content must not be changed in any way or sold commercially in any format or medium without the formal permission of the Author When referring to this work, full bibliographic details including the author, title, awarding institution and date of the thesis must be given Glasgow Theses Service http://theses.gla.ac.uk/ [email protected] The United States Marine Corps Way of War Submitted by: Anthony John Piscitelli Submitted in fulfilment of the requirements for the Degree of Ph. D. School of Humanities College of Arts University of Glasgow June 2014 © Anthony John Piscitelli, 15 June 2014. Abstract: The United States Marine Corps Way of War Piscitelli, Anthony John (2014), The United States Marine Corps Way of War. PhD thesis, University of Glasgow. No embargo exemption or exception requested. Printed Thesis Information; http://encore.lib.gla.ac.uk/iii/encore/record/C_Rbxxxxxxx. Abstract: This thesis examines the evolution of institutionalized doctrine, strategy and tactics relating to, but not limited only to maneuver warfare as adopted by the United States Marine Corps during the post-Vietnam period in the United States. The United States Marine Corps also ingrained aspects of Asian warfare as offered by Sun Tzu; as well a return to its historical DNA in fighting “Small Wars”. The time frame studied spans the 1970’s through to 2010, using traditional as well as first person accounts by the prime movers of this perceived paradigm shift from attritional warfare to a maneuverist approach to warfighting. This evolutionary period of development for the U.S. Marine Corps was mistakenly referred to as a Revolution in Military Affairs by members of the Congressional Military Reform Caucus. It has also been mis-portrayed as a highly disruptive forced evolution. These two outliers were not the case. The following areas that were affected by this institutionalization of maneuverism were the Marine Corps’ educational system, the actual battle space prosecution of warfare; be it humanitarian assistance, regular set piece warfare or irregular guerrilla type warfare, and the role that the leadership cadre of the Marine Corps played in this evolutionary transition to maneuverism for the United States Marine Corps. Since Gulf War I the United States Marine Corps has utilized a non-attritionist demeanor on the battlefield whenever possible. Item Type: Thesis (PhD). Qualification Level: Doctoral. Key Words: U.S. Marine Corps, attritionism, maneuverism, doctrine, strategy, tactics, Asian warfare, small wars, paradigm, revolution, evolution and irregular warfare. Subjects: Military History, Modern Warfare, Art of War, Operational Art of War, Small Wars, U.S. Marine Corps. Colleges / Schools: College of Arts>School of Humanities>History. Supervisor’s Name: O’Brien, Dr. Phillips. Date of Award: 2014. Embargo Date: None. Depositing User: Capt. Anthony John Piscitelli, USMM. Unique ID: _________, 2014-________. 2 Table of Contents: List of Tables: Page 4 Preface: Page 5 Acknowledgements: Page 6 Author’s Declaration: Page 7 Abbreviations: Page 8 Introduction: Page 12 Chapter I: From Belleau Wood to Beirut Page 29 Chapter II: From Congress to the Corps Page 43 Chapter III: Mission Accomplished Page 58 Chapter IV: Support from the Top Page 85 Chapter V: Applied Education and Training Page 100 Chapter VI: Small Wars to Big Wars Page 125 Chapter VII: Operation Enduing Freedom Page 156 Chapter VIII: Operation Iraqi Freedom Page 185 Chapter IX: Conclusions Page 216 Appendix Page 230 References: Page 238 3 List of Tables 1. Comparison Chart of U.S. Marines and the U.S. Army Killed in Action and Wounded in Action for the period commencing with World War I up to and including Desert Storm / Gulf War I: Page 42. 2. Diagram of Wyly’s Wheel showing the relationships that were responsible for the “evolution” of maneuver warfare within the U.S. Marine Corps as it redefined its doctrinal changes that are now a Marine Corps Way of War: Appendix, Page 230. 3. Diagram of Boyd’s OODA Loop with annotations and explanation of the process to disrupt an adversary in battle: Appendix, Page 231. 4. Comparison of a Five Paragraph Orders and Mission Type Orders. This was taken from the unpublished 2nd Division U.S.M.C. Maneuver Warfare Handbook, 1985. This was received from the private files of Colonel G. I. Wilson: Appendix, Page 232-233. 5. Interview questions asked of all contributors to this work: Appendix, Page 234 - 237. The base questions were given to all interviewees prior to doing each interview. Each interviewee responded with their answers and then as the discussions progressed, some interviewees expanded on their responses per specific events. The additional questions for General Gray and Colonel Wyly were also sent to the remainder of the interviewees as follow up for further comment and confirmation. 4 Preface The purpose of this work, first and foremost, was the to gain an understanding of how an iconic institution such as the United States Marine Corps operates in the current environment of warfare as it is used to project force on behalf of our nation’s security. This force projection also encompasses non-war instances of providing worldwide humanitarian assistance in times of horrific disasters, natural or man-made. It became evident that the Marine Corps was different from the other branches of military service in America. And in all honesty I wanted to know why it was different, and how this difference had manifested itself. I came to the above realization because of a business relationship with the Marine Corps that developed during both Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom. This business relationship allowed me to develop both a professional insight, and a humanitarian understanding for the Marines who have either paid the ultimate price of giving their lives for the nation, and or possibly a higher price in lost limbs and mental anguish - Post Traumatic Stress Disorder - as they returned home to re-enter the American mainstream. Having said this I need to acknowledge the roles that Colonel Pat Garvey, General Al Gray, General Peter Pace, General Jim Jones, General James Conway, Captain Dick Torykian, Sargent Major Pete Haas and Sargent Eddie Ryan have played in this story. All are “retired” Marines, and yes as the cliché states: There are no former Marines, just Marines! Garvey, Gray, Hass and Torykian became my mentors in business and in studying the Marine Corps itself. Torykian, Haas, Conway, Pace and Jones led me down the path of providing humanitarian support for those Marines who had been killed while on duty, or returned from their deployments severely wounded like Sgt. Ryan a Marine sniper. In particular I am referring to The Semper Fi Fund and the Marine Corps Law Enforcement Foundation; both are 5 Star charities that I am pleased to be a part of. As to the specific work of this thesis Al Gray and Pat Garvey are front and center. On a plane trip with Al Gray we discussed this topic of maneuver warfare, both as a warfighting tool as well as a business tool. I drank the proverbial “Kool Aide” and learned OODA Loop and how to apply it in my life. Little did I know that Pat Garvey was an early “evolutionist?” The more I read Robert Coram’s Boyd (a gift from Pat Garvey, because “I was the guy with as fast an OODA as Boyd”) the more I wanted to get the rest of the story. The hook was set, and here I am writing the real history of an evolution in Marine Corps warfighting. In closing this Preface, there are two important things to remember that will always be with me, one from General Gray and one from Colonel Garvey. Gray first – If you want a new idea, read an old book! I’ve read many old books to complete this work; and Garvey next – There is no such thing as coincidence; it is God’s way of remaining anonymous! Little did I know how these two Marines would contribute to my education and my life! Respectfully submitted and Semper Fidelis, A. J. “Tony” Piscitelli 5 Acknowledgement Let me begin by acknowledging the two most important people at the University of Glasgow who have kept me focused, and on a track to complete this important part of my life. First and foremost is my mentor Dr. Phillips O’Brien who has been a true mentor in all sense of the word. He has offered invaluable guidance, understanding and when necessary the motivation to get this done. Next is Ms. Christelle Le Riguer, who kept me, enrolled in spite of the challenges of a long distance New York to Glasgow relationship! Christelle has done the impossible with accepting FEDEXed tuition payments when the “system” would not accept my credit card. She has been my bureaucratic mentor on campus and has run interference for me on the University of Glasgow web site. Thank you both for all you have done on my behalf, I will always be in both your collective debt. For Giving me their time and thoughts I need to thank: General James Conway USMC 34th CMC, ret., 2nd Lieutenant Russ Cox USMC, Colonel Patrick Garvey USMCR ret., General Alfred M. Gray USMC 29thth CMC, ret., Captain Bruce Gudmundsson USMC ret., General Jim Jones USMC 32nd CMC, ret., General John Kelly USMC CG Southern Command, Lieutenant General Bill Keys USMC ret., General Charles Krulak, USMC 31st CMC, ret., Mr.