Unmanned systems in focus: US Marine Corps plans more than 6,500 additional billets

The US Marine Corps (USMC) intends to grow by more than 6,500 billets over the next five years, continuing its technological transformation. The focus is on new capabilities in air defence and precision fires, drones and robotics, and artificial intelligence. Spread across a total of 64 individual measures, the personnel increase is above all intended to ensure that enough trained personnel are available for modern systems already procured or planned – most clearly where unmanned systems are concerned.

Unmanned systems: robotics companies and drone training

All three Marine Expeditionary Forces (MEF) are each to receive their own Robotics and Autonomous Systems Company. The USMC is also expanding drone training: a second training facility for operators of small unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) is being set up at Camp Pendleton, and a permanent training centre for Small UAS and counter-UAS is also planned. USMC installations are also to receive their own counter-UAS forces.

In parallel, software development, data science and artificial intelligence are becoming a military occupational field in their own right. In addition, 19 infantry battalions and two Littoral Combat Teams are being reinforced with personnel for heavy weapons, precision fires, reconnaissance and surveillance. The logistics units, in turn, are gaining capabilities for unmanned systems.

To a significant extent, the realignment is tailored to possible operations in the Indo-Pacific. Above all, the forces in the so-called First Island Chain are to be strengthened through more combat power, additional logistics capacity and more resilient bases.

The direction is thus set: it is not simply about the Marine Corps growing in size. The additional Marines are first and foremost to make operational the drones, robots, AI systems, sensors and precision weapons in which the USMC has already invested as part of its Force Design.