Marine Reserve F/A-18 Squadrons; Use Them or Lose Them: The Role of 4th MAW F/A-18 Squadrons in the Global War on Terror

摘要

Headquarters Marine Corps faces a critical choice: to mobilize the Reserve F/A-18 squadrons for use in the GWOT, to change their role, or to confront a possible loss of the Reserve Tactical Aviation force structure. As of July 2004, there have been over 31,900 reserve Marines activated in support of the GWOT, the highest total since the Korean War. Yet with the current active duty operations tempo equating to a greater than one-to-one ratio, the Marine Reserve F/A-18 squadrons remain the only Reserve capability not to have been activated. Despite the Department of Defense's push for transformation, not a single Marine Reserve F/A-18 squadron has been used in either Operation Enduring Freedom or Operation Iraqi Freedom. In light of this fact, the following question must be asked: Are the Marine Reserve F/A-18 squadrons relevant. If they are relevant, then why, to date, have these Reserve squadrons not been used in the GWOT. If these squadrons are not relevant, then what should the Marine Corps do with them. This research concludes that the Marine Reserve F/A-18 squadrons are relevant. Subsequently, five courses of action are offered to Marine Corps leadership: (1) Mobilize 4th MAW F/A-18 squadrons for use in the GWOT; (2) Mobilize 4th MAW F/A-18 squadrons for use in UDP rotations; (3) Move all three Reserve squadrons to MAG-41, JRB Fort-Worth, Texas; (4) Decommission all three squadrons and change the role of that force structure; or (5) Maintain the status quo and face the possible loss of tactical aviation all together. The most advantageous course of action is to mobilize the Reserve F/A-18 squadrons to support the GWOT, which will reduce operations tempo for the active duty forces. The most dangerous course of action is to do nothing. This decision could be the first step toward losing tactical aviation competence as a whole, which would significantly reduce the potency of the Marine Air-Ground Task Force (MAGTF).