US Marines in Europe as a deterrent force?

via Information Dissemination.

Marine COL William Nemeth has an intriguing article in this month’s Proceedings about how the Marines could contribute to deterring Russian aggression in Eastern Europe. Nemeth suggests the existing Black Sea Rotational Force could be expanded to a “full battalion combat team” he dubs “Rotational Force Europe” that could be deployed anywhere in Eastern Europe as needed. This combined arms force would consist of a reinforced infantry battalion with supporting combined arms attachments such as a reconnaissance platoon, light armored vehicle platoon/company, tank platoon, amphibious assault vehicle platoon, artillery battery, aviation combat element, and logistics combat element.

This is an interesting read.  I plan on getting the latest issue of Proceedings to drink it all in (quite honestly I shouldn't have let my subscription lapse I remember why now...the USNI Blog went off the rails, pushing an agenda that still has me punching walls and I quit the mag in protest).

But while I hope everyone considers the proposal Colonel Nemeth puts forward I have one question.

Why?

The US military, and especially its Marine Corps is operating at a tempo that is beginning to rival what we saw during two active shooting wars in Afghanistan and Iraq.

Is it smart to do that to a force that is getting smaller?  Does it make sense in light of emerging threats?

This theory of partnerships and forward presence everywhere is unsustainable with the current force.  Isn't it time to trim the fat...to include demands from Combatant Commanders?  Is it time for someone to say no, when a CC calls and asks for forces if he's not leading them in active combat--perhaps a prioritization system that comes from the SecDef?

Don't get me wrong.  At a glance it seems like a no brainer.  But a second look makes me wonder how you're going to support MEUs, SPMAGTFs all over the place AND a new Black Sea Rotational Force...it just doesn't seem possible even if the force was at 220k people instead of 178K.

SIDNOTE:  Back of the page doodling has our Infantry Battalions at almost 50% deployment to dwell time.  Oh and that's before I add in the info with what's actually getting assigned to the South America.  If I'm right then they need to hit the brakes a bit or the force is going to break.