MARINE CORPS RECRUIT DEPOT, San Diego --
The Roman philosopher Seneca understood a fundamental belief that helps shape the actions and choices of Marines today. “A sword is never a killer. It is a tool in the killer’s hands.”
Seneca was speaking of the efficiency and effectiveness that a man can incur with his tool of choice. The track record of the Marine Corps shows this effectiveness to be one of the trademarks that continues to make the Marines a viable fighting force. This has been evident since Congress raised two battalions of Marines during the Revolutionary War. But back then, technology was not what it is now and weapons were not as sophisticated.
During the Revolutionary War, the variety of muskets and primitive rifles Marines used were slow to load and extremely inaccurate. With rates of fire of no more than two rounds per minute and ranges of less than a few hundred yards, Marines had to rely on superior tactics and better leadership to ensure their victories.
World War I saw huge advances in both weaponry and warfighting. The standard issue 1903 Springfield rifle gave Marine Corps the accuracy and firepower necessary to make each Marine a factor in the fight. WWI also saw the advent of the Browning .30 caliber machine gun. The use of the machine gun made each man more effective and gave Marines the ability to control larger areas of territory with fewer Marines.
Aircraft and the tank, both which saw limited and experimental action in WWI, underwent huge advancement and became essential in World War II. In addition to these large vehicles, the M1 Garand and Browning Automatic Rifle made Marines arguably the deadliest infantry troops in the world. The combinations of these new weapons put Marines in an ideal place to exploit one of their original missions: large scale amphibious operations.
Korea made use of the technological explosion after the world wars. The Corps made use of the improvement in technology and made the M14 standard issue. Bigger developments, though, were automatic rifles distributed to each combat squad, and use of the helicopters in battle situations. Close air support would become one of the cornerstones of countless Marine Corps operations in the future.
With the introduction of jet aircraft and missile technology, the Corps was able to fully adopt the close-air support doctrine that it had started late in World War II. This allowed ground forces to call in precision airstrikes, instead of using widespread campaigns of saturation bombing. Three of the most influential new weapons introduced in Vietnam were the M16 A-1 service rifle, guided missiles and the use of helicopters to move Marines and other military forces to and from the battlefield.
In the modern era, much of the developmental focus of the Marine Corps, and the armed forces in general, has been on weapons systems that combine the lethality of traditional arms with the intelligence potential of modern technology, or “smart weapons.” The successful integration of technology with weaponry has saved countless Marine lives and made precision strikes not only possible, but effective, said Vince Gonzoles, military specialist at Marine Corps Recruit Depot’s Command Museum.
Continuing with the “smart” theme, the West 2011 Conference and Exposition was held at the San Diego Convention Center from Jan. 25- Jan. 27. The conference focused on the developments in technology that allow contractors and the military to develop and implement the latest in combat and combat-related gear, software, and weapons systems.
The show included everything from wearable antennas, which allow troops to have better performing communications equipment without the profile and vulnerability of external antennas, to interactive map technology, allowing troops to have on-demand information embedded into maps and live-action video from aircraft.
More than 300 companies were representing thousands of products that have the potential to make our Marines safer and more effective.
“Technology can eliminate the fog of war and increase combat effectiveness,” said Chuck Archuleta, exhibits specialist at the Marine Corps Recruit Depot’s Command Museum and retired gunnery sergeant. “The important thing, though, is to use the technology to improve the advantage we have in war, not just to show off technology.”
Although the technology has changed combat forever, Marines have proven themselves with any instrument in any conflict.
Whether they are using an M1 in the countryside of France, or an unmanned aerial vehicle in the mountains of Afghanistan, Marines throughout the times have proven that they can be effective fighting forces wherever and with whatever the situation may call for; showing that the Marines can always fulfill their mantra of “adapt and overcome.”