The U.S. Marine Corps faces critical challenges in adapting to 21st-century warfare and sustaining its Stand-in Force (SIF) in the Indo-Pacific against China's anti-access/area denial (A2/AD) network. The Corps' Expeditionary Advanced Base Operations concept positions forward-postured Marines within the First Island Chain (FIC) across Japan, Taiwan, and the Philippines for reconnaissance and land-based sea denial, utilizing systems like NMESIS to interdict the PLA Navy.
However, significant vulnerabilities exist in intra-theater logistics, particularly the fragility of Medium Landing Ships (LSMs) which lack robust defenses, making them highly susceptible to attack and creating a missile resupply bottleneck. General shortages of Amphibious Warfare Ships (AWS) further compound readiness issues, curtailing Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) availability. To bridge this "missing middle" in surface and aerial connectors, the Marine Corps must expand expeditionary contracting for local commercial vessels and fast-track alternative resupply methods, including autonomous unmanned vessels and COTS options. The Joint Force also needs formalized Joint Littoral Maneuver Task Forces and a stable AWS procurement strategy to ensure credible deterrence and sustainment in the region.
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