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[MarineCorpsCompassPoints] Perhaps the discussion of the future of the Marine Corps is a discussion that involves a conflict of visions. In one vision, the future of the Marine Corps is primarily as a sit and sense, sensor node in a joint kill chain off the coast of China. In another vision, the Marine Corps in the future is called upon as it has in the past, to be a global, combined arms, 9-1-1 crisis response force.
Which conflicting vision best represents the future of the Marine Corps? One Korea era Marine, Thomas Sowell has written about conflicting visions.
… How can the Marine Corps best serve the Nation? How can the Marine Corps be best prepared for whatever challenge the future may bring? The answer maybe to focus first, last, and always, not on any narrow, defensive mission, but on a broad, global, crisis response mission. When Marines onboard Navy amphibious ships arrive off a nation in crisis, enemies are deterred, and friends are encouraged.
A restored and enhanced Marine MAGTF can complete a variety of missions, not only missile and drone strikes, sitting, and sensing and passing on data, but also a variety of other missions including fight, strike, deter, evacuate, rescue, restore order, and more. A renewed focus on worldwide crisis response is both the best way for the Marine Corps to serve the Nation, and is the best way for the Marine Corps to unify its conflicting visions and arrive at tomorrow’s battlefield stronger than today. 
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