Letters

Marine End-Strength Counterpoint

I could hardly believe my eyes when I read the “Special Report” in the October 2004 edition of Sea Power dealing with the topic of increasing the end-strength of the U.S. Marine Corps. I can only ascertain that the pressure from the Secretary of Defense must have been enormous for Marine Commandant Gen. Mike Hagee not to ask for an increase in the Corps’ end-strength.

Those of us who have worn the uniform of our beloved Corps know that a more realistic end-strength closer to 192,000 to 195,000 not only will fulfill its current worldwide missions but allow it to react to an ever-changing and volatile world of tomorrow. Just check with the colonels who sat on the last Quadrennial Defense Review boards. To have [Navy League] National President Sheila M. McNeill state that “the very worst course ahead would be to increase our [Marine Corps] end-strength now only to cut it four or five years hence” does not, I believe, represent the views of the majority of the Navy League membership.

Robert W. Holub
Sgt. Major, USMC (Ret.)
Received via e-mail

Must Ask Questions

First off, I (ex-Army) love your magazine and being a life member of the Navy League (past vice president of Sonoma County Council) am proud of our award-winning Sea Cadet program that improves young people’s lives, plus supporting our much-appreciated “Coasties” at Two Rock Coast Guard Station near Petaluna, Calif.

Now for the questions I must ask. Why, pray tell, can’t we get more family members of recruits interested in joining the Navy League? Why can’t all new recruits be given info on the Navy League from their recruiters? And why isn’t our Coast Guard using submarines to combat drug runners, illegal [immigrants], terrorism and for rescues?

Phillip Grazide
Santa Rosa, Calif.

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