The book by the legendary Marine General Victor Krulak is one of the most detailed and comprehensive analyses of the US Marine Corps. Although this unit was initially a combat formation designed to perform specific tasks, it has acquired the character of an institution to form quality citizens. This situation calls into question the position of the Marine Corps in its current form. This review aims to analyze this book, evaluate the author’s provisions, and study their relevance.
The Marine Corps occupies a special place both in the history of the United States and in the public consciousness. For many people, this military branch is associated with the most reliable and effective warriors who lead valiant lives. The Marine Corps was created precisely as a unit where the bravest and most devoted warriors should be assembled. Whatever the combat mission, the Marines effectively solved it, adapting to any conditions. These qualities have given this unit its current reputation as a reliable structure that creates almost ideal members of society.
However, the need for marines as a military formation is beginning to decrease in recent times. Simultaneously, there is an increasing desire in society to see the members of this institution due to their exceptional qualities. Nevertheless, Krulak points out that the Marines are, at their core, nothing more than an assembly of first-class warriors. In this context, from my perspective, the current image of the Marine Corps does not correspond to the reality that America desires. The country does not explicitly need marines; it needs people who will have the same qualities. Although the Marine Corps is one of the institutions that can provide such personalities, this is not its primary task.
Thus, from my perspective, the author’s position is relevant to this day. The reliability of the Marines is only a consequence of their training, a necessary condition for the fulfillment of their tasks. Society, in turn, pays the most attention to precisely these qualities, to some extent ignoring the original purpose. However, I think it is much more correct to analyze the critical qualities of the Marines and embody them in civilian institutions, thereby allowing the military to do their direct duties.