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Articles by Gary Anderson
Click below to continue reading this story, discover more Pentagon stories from over 25 years of RealClear archives, or follow this topic to stay in the know. Gary Anderson • The American Spectator The Pentagon’s brass has developed a dangerous taste for Beltway intrigue.... Read it on The American Spectator Lauren C. Williams • Defense One With a new Congress in 2027, companies could see more anti-corruption probes....
AI and the Future of Warfare: Can the U.S. Military Keep Up?
Click below to continue reading this story, discover more Pentagon stories from over 25 years of RealClear archives, or follow this topic to stay in the know. Gary Anderson • The American Spectator From autonomous weapons and drone swarms to AI battlefield decisions, America’s armed forces face a technological revolution that could leave human... 19mins ago Read it on The American Spectator Lauren C.
AI, Robotics, and Marines
Click below to continue reading this story, discover more U.S. Marine Corps stories from over 25 years of RealClear archives, or follow this topic to stay in the know. Gary Anderson • RealClearDefense Hybrid infantry units would create enhanced small unit combined arms teams ...... Read it on RealClearDefense Marine Corps Compass Points • Marine Corps Compass Points Gary Anderson • RealClearDefense • October 27, 2026 From 1998 to 2000, I was the Chief of Staff of the Marine Corps Warfighting Lab.
AI, Robotics, and Marines
From 1998 to 2000, I was the Chief of Staff of the Marine Corps Warfighting Lab. Our primary mission was to look at technologies and tactics that would chart the future of the Corps. One of my primary visions for the future was to partner robots and infantry marines in a combined arms team. At the time, AI was nascent and I was a tad suspicious of giving the bots autonomous kill decisions, but it was obvious that day was coming.
This is Secretary Hegseth's Best Idea
This is Secretary Hegseth's Best Idea How will the Marine Corps prepare its officers to succeed in high tempo combat environments and to succeed in JWE?
Joint Warfighter Evaluation - Hegseth's Best Idea
How will the Marine Corps prepare its officers to succeed in high tempo combat environments and to succeed in JWE?
Joint Warfighter Evaluation - Hegseth's Best Idea
For years, I have advocated in this and other journals for evaluating the warfighting and command capabilities of colonels and Navy captains (0-6s) aspiring to be general and flag officers. Finally, someone has done something about it. In September, Pete Hegseth announced the implementation of a Joint Warfighter Evaluation (JWE) for all 0-6s aspiring to become flag and general officers.
Why the Iran War Has Been So Poorly Fought
Why the Iran War Has Been So Poorly Fought Our admirals and generals are negligent or unable to give the president operational and tactical options.
The Military Decline Since Desert Storm
Gary Anderson The American Spectator September 22, 2026 When victory becomes a liability: the debunking of the ‘short war’ myth. Read Full Article » Show comments Hide Comments
Our Generals Are Failing Us
Our Generals Are Failing Us The U.S. military excels at tactics and technology but too often fails at operational art, strategic thinking, and developing bold leaders Read Full Article »
How a War With China Should Go
How a War With China Should Go War games suggest that defeating a Chinese invasion may hinge not on the beaches of Taiwan, but on the choke points that feed China’s economy. Read Full Article »
Fixing America's Navy
After dominating the world's sea lanes since the end of World War II, surviving challenges from the Soviet Navy throughout the Cold War, the United States Navy faces its first significant threat to naval superiority Read Full Article »
Fixing America's Navy
After dominating the world's sea lanes since the end of World War II, surviving challenges from the Soviet Navy throughout the Cold War, the United States Navy faces its first significant threat to naval superiority. China seeks to become not only the master of the South China Sea (SCS), but project Naval power globally.
Toward a Post-Iran Grand Strategy
Toward a Post-Iran Grand Strategy Redefining American priorities across Europe, the Middle East, the Indo-Pacific, and the Americas. Read Full Article »
The Marine Corps Is No Longer Ready for Urban Warfare
The Marine Corps Is No Longer Ready for Urban Warfare Washington remade the Corps for a future conflict — by forgetting the battles it keeps getting dragged into.
The Marine Corps Is No Longer Ready for Urban Warfare
Original Article Posted By: DVC, 5/5/2026 3:10:08 PM Recently, my colleague Greg Maresca wrote an excellent description of life aboard a Navy amphibious ship with one of the two Marine Expeditionary Units (MEUs) currently afloat in the Persian Gulf. My last "float" was in 1978-79 with the predecessor of the 31st MEU now in the Gulf - they were then called Marine Amphibious Units (MAUs). Life aboard ship was exactly as Greg described it.
Choke Points and the Future of Naval Power
Choke Points and the Future of Naval Power The Iran war revives debate over maritime bottlenecks, deterrence strategy, and the structure of the US Marine Corps. Read Full Article »
A Marine Corps Hollowed Out
A Marine Corps Hollowed Out Tanks, engineers, and snipers disappeared under Force Design — and critics say Commandant Eric Smith chose loyalty over readiness Read Full Article »
The Mirage of Airpower Supremacy
Lessons on the limits of flying high without grounded strategy.
We Should Learn From the Present War, the Chinese Will
We Should Learn From the Present War, the Chinese Will
What to Watch for in Operation Epic Fury
What to Watch for in Operation Epic Fury How Iran’s factions might react — and what to watch for in a post‑regime crisis.
How To Save the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps Billions
How To Save the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps Billions
Real Innovation for the Marine Corps
In 1989, a group of Marine Corps officers and civilian military theorists wrote several professional military journal articles describing a new wave of conflict that they dubbed Fourth Generation Warfare (4GW) Read Full Article » Show comments Hide Comments
Real Innovation for the Marine Corps
In 1989, a group of Marine Corps officers and civilian military theorists wrote several professional military journal articles describing a new wave of conflict that they dubbed Fourth Generation Warfare (4GW), defined by non-state actors, terrorists, armed militias, cyber actors, and even corporate entities engaged in conflict with established governments. The first three generations of warfare were evolutions of conventional warfare marked largely by advancements in military technology.
A To-Do List for the Next Marine Corps Commandant
If the U.S. Marine Corps still exists in 2028, It will be a far depleted force from what it was in 2018
A To-Do List for the Next Marine Corps Commandant
If the U.S. Marine Corps still exists in 2028, It will be a far depleted force from what it was in 2018. It will have no tanks, much less tubed artillery, fewer combat infantry battalions, and less combat support aircraft. It cannot maintain a deployed Marine Expeditionary Unit/Amphibious Ready Group (MEU/ARG) in all four major global hotspots. There were only three MEUs required in 2018, but the new emphasis on Latin America now calls for four.
DEI Resurfaces in the Marine Corps
About this time last year The Commandant of the Marine Corps fervently declared that the Marine Corps had never adopted Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI). This was a blatant untruth. Read Full Article » Show comments Hide Comments
DEI Resurfaces in the Marine Corps
About this time last year The Commandant of the Marine Corps fervently declared that the Marine Corps had never adopted Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI). This was a blatant untruth. While he was talking to a group of Pentagon reporters, his staff was desperately trying to scrub their websites of any reference to DEI.
Learning From the Past, Leading in the Present
Learning From the Past, Leading in the Present Using military history to restore competence and integrity to senior leadership. Read Full Article »
Rules of Engagement and Command Decisions
Gary Anderson The American Spectator December 23, 2025 A former colonel’s reflection on operational choices and the weight of authority. Read Full Article » Show comments Hide Comments
Evolving Marine Corps Force Design
Technology caught up and passed the original Force Design concept.
Evolving Marine Corps Force Design
In 2019, the Commandant of the Marine Corps decided to focus on China and protecting naval dominance of the South China Sea (SCS) and China’s “first island chain.” He undertook a major restructuring of the Corps in order to buy anti-ship missiles, radars, and other sensors needed to equip the shore based Stand-in-Forces (SIF) needed to occupy the sand spits and small islands to snipe at Chinese warships in the event of a war.
The Drug Boat Incident, a Decision-Making Simulation
We need to reform professional military education.
The Marine Corps Could Not Fight Fallujah Today
Gary Anderson The American Spectator November 20, 2025 It would take a decade to undo what Force Design has wrought. Read Full Article » Show comments Hide Comments Related Articles
The Marines Need to Evolve Back to the Future
It’s hard for senior military officers, particularly a group of them, to admit that they are wrong, but the Marine Corps' senior leadership is inching in that direction regarding its disastrous Force Design strategy. We need to make it easier for them.
The Marines Need to Evolve Back to the Future
It’s hard for senior military officers, particularly a group of them, to admit that they are wrong, but the Marine Corps' senior leadership is inching in that direction regarding its disastrous Force Design strategy. We need to make it easier for them.
The Marines Need to Evolve Back to the Future
The Marines Need to Evolve Back to the Future As the Marine Corps passes it 250th birthday, it has an excellent opportunity to reinvent itself
The Marines Need to Evolve Back to the Future
It’s hard for senior military officers, particularly a group of them, to admit that they are wrong, but the Marine Corps' senior leadership is inching in that direction regarding its disastrous Force Design strategy. We need to make it easier for them.
The Best Birthday Present for the Marine Corps
Gary Anderson The American Spectator November 5, 2025 General Eric Smith should resign, allowing a better Marine Corps leader to rebuild the Corps’ sense of honor. Read Full Article » Show comments Hide Comments Related Articles
U.S. Marine Leader Misread History and the Patterns of Conflict
Gary Anderson The American Spectator October 29, 2025 Commandant David Berger had the power to implement his ideas, and he did so. Now, we return to a sane fighting strategy. Read Full Article » Show comments Hide Comments Related Articles
America’s Economic Might Could Prove Best Way To Deter Communist China’s Aggressive Ambitions
When the Pentagon rolls out its new National Defense Strategy and National Military Strategy, it will reportedly de-emphasize Communist China in favor of a more balanced global readiness posture with emphasis on the Western Hemisphere. Emphasizing emerging global threats and renewed threats to the homeland, the pending National Defense Strategy exposes a grave miscalculation by the Marine Corps when formulating Force Design 2030 in 2020.
How to Deter China
When it rolls out its new National Defense Strategy (NDS) and National Military Strategy (NMS), the Pentagon will reportedly de-emphasize China in favor of a more balanced global readiness posture with emphasis on the Western Hemisphere. Emphasizing emerging global threats and renewed threats to the homeland, the pending NDS exposes a grave miscalculation by the Marine Corps when formulating Force Design 2030 in 2020.
Amphibious Warfare is not Dead, Its Only Sleeping
Eighty years ago, U.S. Marines stormed ashore at Iwo Jima a battle that became immortalized with a statue in Arlington Cemetery. Seventy-Five years ago, they took Inchon in the last great amphibious operation of modern times. Some would-be strategists think it will be the last one in history. I say Not so fast.
Amphibious Warfare is not Dead, Its Only Sleeping
Amphibious Warfare is not Dead, Its Only Sleeping Eighty years ago, U.S. Marines stormed ashore at Iwo Jima a battle that became immortalized with a statue in Arlington Cemetery. Seventy-Five years ago, they took Inchon in the last great amphibious operation of modern times. Some would-be strategists think it will be the last one in history. I say Not so fast. Read Full Article »
Amphibious Warfare is not Dead, Its Only Sleeping
Eighty years ago, U.S. Marines stormed ashore at Iwo Jima a battle that became immortalized with a statue in Arlington Cemetery. Seventy-Five years ago, they took Inchon in the last great amphibious operation of modern times. Some would-be strategists think it will be the last one in history. I say Not so fast.
The Case Against the Marine Corps Commandant
The Case Against the Marine Corps Commandant Marine Corps Commandant Eric Smith should be the next item on Hegseth’s housekeeping list
It Is Time to Give Putin a ‘B-2 Moment’
It Is Time to Give Putin a ‘B-2 Moment’ It is time for immediate, concrete actions rather than threats.
Marine Corps Force Design: A Failed Operational Concept
When the Marine Corps adopted a concept called Force Design as its new warfighting concept in 2019, so called military experts hailed it as a groundbreaking adoption of emerging technology. Unfortunately, most of the praise has come from senior Marine leaders in the form of Press releases from the U.S. Marine Corps Communication Strategy and Operations Office, Marine Corps Combat Development Command, Release 002-2020 and ill-informed journalists.
Marine Corps Force Design: A Failed Operational Concept
When the Marine Corps adopted a concept called Force Design as its new warfighting concept in 2019, so called military experts hailed it as a groundbreaking adoption of emerging technolog Read Full Article » Show comments Hide Comments Related Articles
Marine Corps Force Design: A Failed Operational Concept
When the Marine Corps adopted a concept called Force Design as its new warfighting concept in 2019, so called military experts hailed it as a groundbreaking adoption of emerging technology. Unfortunately, most of the praise has come from senior Marine leaders in the form of Press releases from the U.S. Marine Corps Communication Strategy and Operations Office, Marine Corps CombatDevelopment Command, Release 002-2020 and ill-informed journalists.
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