Formalizing the Marine Corps Advisor Billet
Abstract
When one thinks of military advisors, images of the Vietnam War and Marine advisors like Colonel John W. Ripley and his heroic actions at the bridge of Dong Ha appear as do the successes in advising and training the South Vietnamese Marine Corps. The Marine advisory unit created during the Vietnam War was a unique organization that was carefully structured from its inception, and the advisors received extensive training at the U.S. Army Special Warfare School at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, before deploying. The advisory course there was a formal program specifically designed to educate and train American officers to advise and train foreign forces. Many skills and lessons from Vietnam, however, were lost, and the United States is only slowly relearning them today. Current military advisors must be placed under a formal organization and training program because of the billet's demanding requirements. Few advisors possess the unique skill set required of their MOS: in-depth proficiency in a foreign language and an understanding of the host nation's culture, foreign weapons familiarization, and the ability to advise and train foreign personnel. Current military advisors should be provided in-depth training in all of these areas. Today's fight requires skilled military advisors more than ever. Advisors will help shape foreign relationships in the future and ensure local hosts that the burden will be shared in fighting common enemies.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Feb 20, 2009
- Accession Number
- ADA508146
Entities
People
- A. E. Zinni
Organizations
- Marine Corps University