The ACE that Divorced the MAGTF: A Widening Divide Between Marine Fixed Wing Aviation and Those Reliant on its Support, and the Impact to Future MAGTF Employment

Abstract

The special relationship and cohesion between Marine fixed-wing aviation and Marine ground forces is eroding due to several factors. This problem is driven by personnel shortfalls in the aviation community, lack of aviator attendance at residence schools, and a general isolation of fixed-wing aviators within their primary MOS due to intense training requirements to maintain proficiency in operating a complex platform such as the F-35. The Marine Corps must act now to re-energize the cohesion between fixed-wing aviators and those they support on the ground, or otherwise must reconsider the validity of the MAGTF concept in an ever-evolving global environment. Opportunities exist including increasing fixed-wing aviator attendance at resident PME, expanding immersion opportunities for fixed-wing aviators in ground units, to altering current procurement plans for the F-35, and potentially developing a cheaper, less complex close air support platform.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
May 22, 2019
Accession Number
AD1179117

Entities

People

  • Thomas W. Carey

Organizations

  • Marine Corps University

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Air Platforms

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Air Force
  • Aircrafts
  • Department Of Defense
  • Education
  • Electronic Warfare
  • Fighter Aircraft
  • Information Operations
  • Instructors
  • Manpower
  • Marine Corps
  • Marine Corps Aviation
  • Marine Corps Operations
  • Military Aviation
  • Military Science
  • National Security
  • Procurement
  • Specifications
  • Standards
  • Tactical Air Support
  • Task Forces
  • Technical Information Centers
  • Training
  • United States
  • Warfare

Readers

  • Maritime Combat Support and Expeditionary Logistics.
  • Military Leadership and Professional Education.
  • Strategic Security Studies