The Business of Counterinsurgency: Utilizing the Business Practices of Marine Corps Recruiting to Reinforce Marine Corps Operations in a Counterinsurgency Environment

Abstract

By analyzing current counterinsurgency training and operations through the lens of Marine Corps Recruiting Command, current techniques and procedures can reinforce the training of Marine Corps Battalions preparing to deploy in support of COIN Operations. In December 2006 Marine Corps Warfighting Publication MCWP 3-33.5, Counterinsurgency, was published in conjunction with the United States Army. In 1940 The Marine Corps produced the Small Wars Manual, which in many ways is a clear descriptive manual on how to conduct counterinsurgency operations. The focus of both publications is that to succeed in counterinsurgency, the aim of operations is the populace. With this in mind, it appeared to the author that instead of continuously looking for new ways to attack a problem, the Marine Corps should look internally and try to replicate certain procedures that have already proven successful. Having been on Recruiting duty as a junior officer I was struck with the similarities between the prescribed methods for COIN in 3-33.5, and those techniques utilized by Marine Corps Recruiting Command. Taken as a business model Marine Corps Recruiting Command has achieved continued success by focusing on the populace. Having former recruiting station commanders succeed as battalion commanders in Iraq, gave credence to this opinion. Conclusion: Though numerous efforts are underway to support Marine units in counterinsurgency operations, basic selling skills and business planning as utilized through Marine Corps Recruiting can only enhance these efforts. For a recruiter, selling skills are basic skills. Inexpensive to teach and practice, these skills have a proven track record and exist within our current operating forces. This paper will recommend ways to bring them to the current fight.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Jan 01, 2009
Accession Number
ADA510294

Entities

People

  • Kevin C. Trimble

Organizations

  • Marine Corps University

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Biomedical
  • Human Systems
  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Commerce
  • Counterinsurgency
  • Education
  • Environment
  • Geographic Regions
  • Governments
  • Marine Corps
  • Marine Corps Operations
  • Military Operations
  • Military Personnel
  • Military Science
  • National Security
  • Recruiting
  • Students
  • Training
  • United States
  • Warfare

Readers

  • Economics
  • Maritime Combat Support and Expeditionary Logistics.
  • Military History / Militaries and War Studies