Former Commandant General David Berger rolled out Force Design 2030, opening a new epoch of transformation for the Marine Corps. This ambitious plan sets the course for the service’s reorganization in the case of a war in the Pacific against a near-peer adversary by postulating that at least a portion of the Marine Corps must be optimized to fight from small, distributed bases inside the First Island Chain.
While the reaction of active-duty Marines appears largely positive, a group of retired senior Marine leaders, known as “Chowder II,” has emerged in vocal opposition to FD2030. This chorus of retired general officers, including former Commandants Amos, Conway, and Krulak, has publicly denounced the plan, arguing that it de-emphasizes the Marine Air Ground Task Forces (MAGTFs) that have been the backbone of the Corps’ combat forces.
The public campaign by Chowder II has taken that debate far over the bounds of respectful differences of opinion and into the theater of undermining a commander. Their criticism, spanning publications from Newsweek to The Hill, as well as a Substack account titled “Marine Corps Compass Points,” could undermine good order and discipline, not to mention the long-term health of the Corps.
“Disagreement is not the problem—in a perfect world, this dissent would be a part of the ‘campaign of learning’ within Force Design. Had this been constrained to debates at wonky DC think tanks or the pages of Marine Corps Gazette and Proceedings, this would just be professional discourse.” judged one observer. However, the public nature of Chowder II’s campaign has shifted its purpose from discussion to disruption.
The Chowder II group claims to be upholding the legacy of the original “Brute’s Chowder Society,” which played a crucial role in saving the Marine Corps from potential dissolution after World War II. However, as one observer noted, “Casting the Commandant as the enemy of his own Corps is the inverse, not the reincarnation, of the Chowder legacy.”
In the final analysis, the present Commandant, General Smith does not need to consult retired senior officers. He alone is responsible for everything his command does or fails to do. Some of Chowder II’s complaints may be justified; however, how they are being presented can only harm the institution they once proudly served.
As the Marine Corps moves through this period of transformation, it will be incredibly important that the service upholds its standards of conduct and decorum, even among its retired general officers. The success of FD2030 and the long-term health of the Corps are dependent on the ability of all Marines, active and retired, to trust in the leadership and execute the Commandant’s vision.