Our Generals Are Failing Us

Spectator  |  Gary Anderson

United States flag and general officers (FOGOs) are failing to demonstrate strategic competence and operational artistry across multiple critical global theatres. In Iran, military leaders treated a regime-change opportunity as a mere targeting exercise rather than executing a coordinated information campaign against the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, ultimately strengthening the regime's regional grip.

This strategic misstep allowed the group to expand its regional influence through proxies like Hezbollah and the Houthis. Similarly, during the 2021 Afghanistan withdrawal, commanders abdicated tactical responsibility by utilizing the indefensible Karzai International Airport instead of Bagram Air Base. Furthermore, the Marine Corps' controversial Force Design initiative has compromised global readiness by divesting conventional combat power to fund the short-range NEMSIS anti-ship missile system. These systemic shortcomings stem from a risk-averse promotion system and professional military education that prioritises conformity over warfighting proficiency, necessitating rigorous wargaming reforms to cultivate imaginative strategic leaders.

Comment

Divesting heavy armour under Force Design 2030 represents a profound strategic trade-off for the United States Marine Corps. Optimising formations for island-hopping via the NMESIS platform degrades the service's traditional global crisis-response role. This structural specialisation leaves the Pentagon with fewer options for high-intensity land contingencies in European or Middle Eastern theatres. Consequently, prioritising these coastal defence systems compromises the Pentagon's ability to project power during concurrent global crises.

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