HAWAII MarineSamna MCAS Kaneohe Bay, MES, H.M. Smith and Marine Barracks. September Vol. 22 No. 37 lit Camp 23,1993 Hawaii hosts Pacific Rim Commandants Conference Commandant proclaims 'the era of Marines is back' and accounts for roughly 2.6 U.S. Commandant, "is an attitude Marine Forces Pacific million American jobs," stated of service to country and winning Public Affairs Office LtGen. Stackpole following the against all odds." conference. "But, despite the end The ROK, Thai and Philippine "The era of Marines is back!" of the Cold War, there are very Commandants concurred with declared the Commandant of the real security challenges in that Gen. Mundy's assessment that"the Marine Corps, Gen. Carl E. region. During the conference, era of Marines is back!" Each Mundy Jr., as he met with three the commandants worked to cited as proof that, within their of his Asian counterparts here last improve our abilities to operate respective nations, it is the Marines week for the 1993 Pacific Rim together to meet those challenges. who are considered the premier Commandants Conference. response force in time of crisis, The conference, which ran from and that "First to Fight" was the Sept. 15-17, was designed to allow reason for being for their Marine Pacific Rim Commandants the 'Being a Marine Corps. opportunity to exchange The first day of the conf6rence information and ideas how Marine is an attitude of was devoted to one-on-one forces in the Pacific Basin can discussions in Honolulu. The better operate together. service to coun- formal opening ceremony was At Gen. Mundy's invitation, conducted on Sept. 16 here at LtGen. Lim Jung Rin, try and winning building 215, with a color guard Commandant of the Republic of displaying the flags of the Korea Marine Corps; VADM against all odds, participating nations, an honor Menet Pinkulbut, Commandant of Gen. Carl E. Mundy Jr. guard and music by the Marine the Thailand Marine Corps; and Forces Pacific Band. On the final BGen. Educardo Cabanlig, day of the conference, the Commandant of the Republic of Commandants viewed a 1st the Philippines Marine Corps "Marine forces are the most Marine Expeditionary Brigade attended the conference. LtGen. ready in a crisis response such as airfield seizure demonstration. H.C. Stackpole III, Commander of disaster assistance, or in a major Followingthe demonstration, the Marine Forces Pacific, hosted the regional contingency such as an commandants viewed a static conference. attack by North Korea," continued display in hangar MS and talked During the conference, the the Marine Forces Pacific with the Marines. One Marine Commandants conducted briefings commander. "Our forward which all the commandants talked and private discussions that stationed and afloat ready forces to was Sgt. J. Garcia, a reservist focused on each Marine Corps' are direct instruments in from the 4th Force Reconnaissance current and future capabilities, and implementing the Commander-In- Company. Garcia had on the on strategies for maintaining peace Chief, Pacific's strategy of parachute the force reconnaissance and stability throughout the Cooperative Engagement by Marines use. Pacific Region. showing that we remain committed For Garcia, getting a chance to Sgt. Paul Schneedef Peace and stability in the Pacific to the security of our friends and talk with Gen. Mundy made the Basin are essential to the security, allies around the Asia-Pacific Rim." agony of wearing the parachute economic and political interests of During the conference, Gen. worthwhile. Airfield takedown! the United States, according to Mundy noted that the "common "He's been in Recon himself and LtGen. Stackpole. bond of our respective Marine it was good to hear about his first Marines fast rope onto the airfield Friday during the air field takedown. The takedown was performed "Our two-way trade across the Corps is that we 'make Marines' parachute jump," Garcia said. "It for the commandants who were attending the PacRlm conference here. Pacific is now nearly one-third rather than simply 'train recruits: " larger than our trade with Europe, "Being a Marine," stated the See PacRim, A-4 Commandant reaffirms need for Marines in the Pacific Because of the importance and recognized by the Pacific Rim - I MEF and III MEF. By Sgt. Paul Schneider uncertainty of this region of the countries. One area in which the "When you put that force Sta/ Misr world, the Commandant sees Marines have expanded their roles together, you have a force of Marines playing a critical role is in the defense of South Korea. tremendous size, capability and The Commandant of the Marine here, as well as in other regions "Because the North Koreans versatility. I think the importance Corps reaffirmed the importance of the world. have not been compliant with of Marines in campaigns that have of Marines for the stability of the "The sum of the forces that we treaties...we are concerned about been designed by the commander Pacific during an interview Sept. have built up in the past half their continued development of of all forces in Korea has been 15 at Camp H.M. Smith. century have been threat-based. perhaps nuclear capabilities, of recognized and is only growing as The Commandant was in We looked at a very specific threat nuclear delivery systems, and, in opposed to diminishing," Gen. Hawaii for four-days to host the and designed a particular segment effect, the war-like footing that Mundy explained. Pacific Rim Commandant's of the armed forces to deal with North Korea remains on," Gen. The growing importance of Conference after completing a trip that threat and not to be general Mundy explained. "So, we have Marines isn't limited to Korea; to Marine Corps installations in purpose," Gen. Mundy explained. to remain militarily credible, which is one of the reasons Gen. the Western Pacific. The Marine Corps is different militarily strong, and with respect Mundy hosted the Pacific Rim Although the Marine Corps, like from the other services though, to the defense of South Korea, Commandants Conference. During the rest of the armed services, is according to the Commandant. militarily responsive. And that the conference the commandants being reduced, the Commandant The Marine Corps is flexible, gets you into Marines - Marines talked about their roles and how said the basic force in the Pacific versatile, and has the very useful are a responsive force." they could work together more will remain constant. capability to do anything. Under the leadership of LtGen. effectively. "I see, as far as Marines, the "Remember if you will - and H.C. Stackpole III, commander, "We wanted to get together and future of us either in the Western it's not a pleasant thought - that Marine Forces Pacific, the role of talk about mutual interests, about Pacific, or MidPac being about the first Marine that we lost in the Marine Corps in the defense how the world has changed and the same," said Gen. Carl E. Somalia during the humanitarian of South Korea has significantly about the orientation of our forces. Mundy Jr. "Now saying 'about intervention there, was an increased, the Commandant Also, the probably nonqualifiable the same' carries with it the Gen. Carl E. Mundy Jr. artillerymen, not firing an artillery explained. To defend South Korea, affect of just getting together to connotation that when I became piece, but on infantry patrol. a Combined Marine Expeditionary talk," the Commandant said. the commandant two years ago "The Marine Corps has never It's still unknown where the cute That's unique to the Marine Force was formed. The CMEF Besides the goal the there were 194,000 of us; next year had a lot of nice-to-have. Most are going to be made, but Gen. Corps," the Commandant said. consists of essentially the entire Commandant had by getting the there will be 174,000 of us. While of the things we have has been Mundy said the statements which During a recent press conference Korean Marine Corps and two Pacific Rim commandants our general structure and our pretty essential to our ability to have come from the president, and in Okinawa Gen. Mundy explained U.S. Marine expeditionary forces See CMC, A-4 general disposition of forces is do business," Gen. Mundy stressed. his staff, indicate the United States that because the Marine Corps going to be about the same, there "There are fewer Marines in all interests in the Pacific will at role has historically been a crisis are obviously going to be about locations, but they will be fewer least remain constant and possibly response force and a force in 20,000 fewer Marines that are in terms of us attempting to increase. readiness, the Marine Corps was manning the formations that we drawdown on some of the things The importance of the Pacific recognized in the Bottom-up have." that perhaps have been more nice- rim countries to the United States Review as being important to the What and where to cut Marines to-have than critical. We are going is emphasized by the fact the nation. Inside is something the Commandant to have to take a hard look at that United States does one-third more While the Marine Corps will said will be looked at very closely and make sure we keep what we trade with this region of the world reduce to 174,000 by next year, the since it is very hard to cut Marines. have to have." than with Europe. importance of Marines was McDonald's Neighborhood. Quality of Life Board to Grand Opening hold election address quality of life issues. 1 on Office ce eb ra Public Affairs ti Joint It is not intended to be used to circumvent the normal chain of Neighborhood Quality of command or the normal procedures The of the station Saturday Life Board will hold an election facilities.