A Marine assigned to the Special Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force-Crisis Response-Central Command 19.2 posts security during a tactical recovery of aircraft and personnel exercise on Karan Island, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, April 23, 2020. U.S. Marine Corps / Sgt. Kyle C. Talbot
The Naval Brief: Marine retention plan; China’s nuclear arsenal; Uncharted dangers; and more...
Welcome to The Naval Brief, a weekly look at the news and ideas shaping the sea services’ future.
Marine career revamp. The Marine Corps has a new plan to retain more Marines, in an effort to maintain an experienced force as it prepares to compete in a more complex world, Defense One reports. Commandant Gen. David Berger said Marines need to be seen for their talents and not as inventory to be placed in jobs.
Marine Corps ponytails coming soon? "It'll come out in the next few weeks," Navy Secretary Carlos Del Toro told Defense One's Kevin Baron, about new guidance from the Corps on women's hair styles. The two spoke on the sidelines after their interview at the Aspen Security Forum. But, said the secretary's spokesman, "The final discussions regarding hair are still ongoing, so the decision regarding ponytails has not yet been made." Marines are the last service branch yet to loosen hair rules for women. Stay tuned.
China’s military power. China’s nuclear arsenal is increasing at a faster rate, with the Pentagon estimating it could have 1,000 or more nuclear warheads by 2030, Defense One reports. The country has the world’s largest navy, with 355 ships and submarines, many of which will be capable of conducting long-range precision strikes.
Submarine collision accountability. The Navy is determining who is responsible for the grounding of the USS Connecticut, Navy Secretary Carlos Del Toro said Thursday, Defense One reports. A command investigation found that the submarine grounded on an uncharted seamount last month.
Sign up to get The Naval Brief every Thursday from Caitlin M. Kenney, Defense One’s military services reporter. On this day in 1971, the USS Nathanael Greene submarine conducted the first surface launch of the Poseidon C-3 nuclear-armed ballistic missile.
From Defense One
‘Nine Eyes’? Bill Would Look at Adding Four Countries to Intel-Sharing Pact // Tara Copp: Lawmaker says current ‘Anglophile view’ is insufficient against China.
The Defense Policy Bill Is Late Again. This Year, the GOP Is Blaming Democrats // Jacqueline Feldscher: Four of the past 10 NDAAs passed the Senate in November or December.
Lockheed Martin and Verizon to Partner to Develop 5G Tech for the Military // Marcus Weisgerber: The companies recently connected a military communications network to a commercial 5G network.