National Defense Magazine -
[Cached Version]
Published on: 7/6/2001
Last Visited: 2/3/2003
Harry W. Jenkins, chairman of NDIA's Expeditionary Warfare Committee.Jenkins commanded the 4th Marine Expeditionary Brigade during Desert Storm.
"A lot of this is going to fall on the special-operations community, because of what they do," he said."I don't see a major land war coming.I do see a lot of patrolling, a lot of deep reconnaissance, better use of ISR (intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance)."
Other important skills, Jenkins predicted, will be chemical and biological warfare, nighttime operations, urban combat and the ability for small units to operate independently."They may have to go with what they bring with them without re-supply for long periods of time," Jenkins said.
The units best trained and equipped for such missions are special-operations forces, Jenkins said.Army Rangers "would be ideal," he added.Also, he said, Marine expeditionary units have some capabilities "that they can bring to the table."For example, he said, they can conduct small raids, conduct long-range targeting and reconnaissance mission and rescue downed pilots.
The Army could use more Ranger battalions, suggested retired Lt.Gen.