By Charles Hoskinson

THE MARINES THIS WEEK ARE GETTING BACK to their primary mission of amphibious warfare with a massive exercise off the East Coast designed to reacquaint the force with skills they haven’t used in 10 years of war in Iraq and Afghanistan. Dubbed Bold Alligator 2012, the exercise involves Navy and Marine units in Florida, Virginia and North Carolina, along with forces from eight allied countries.

THE TIMING OF THE EXERCISE IS COINCIDENTAL, but it’s likely to inform the debate over the future of the Corps in the new budget environment. In a statement Monday on DOD’s budget plans for the Marines, Amos said: “As our nation turns its attention to the Pacific, the Marine Corps looks forward to reorienting our focus west to this historic area of operations; in doing so, we will continue to respond to crises and contingencies throughout the world as the President may direct. In line with the strategic guidance, we will recommit ourselves to our long-standing forward-deployed and forward-engaged partnership with the Navy, while returning to our fundamental role as America’s expeditionary force in readiness.”

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