Marines are losing their combat veterans

[Peter1469]

Where have all the combat vets gone?

The Marine Corps is facing a troubling drain of combat experience as thousands of battle-hardened Marines have left the Corps during the past several years.

The number of Marines on active-duty who have been awarded Combat Action Ribbons has dropped by more than half over the past five years — from a high of more than 40,000 at the time of the surge in Afghanistan in 2011 to fewer than 17,500 in 2016 — according to data obtained by Marine Corps Times through a Freedom of Information Act request.




In today’s Corps, fewer than one in five Marines has a single deployment under their belt and the number of Marines who have deployed twice is now less than one in 10, according to Marine Corps officials.




The shift reflects in part the Corps’ natural turnover and the reduction in combat deployments around the world. Since the U.S. drew down its troop presence in Iraq in 2011 and Afghanistan in 2014, Marines have had fewer opportunities for combat.

[Common]

My Grandson, who was going to make the corp a career, suddenly switched up and became a civilian after 8 yrs. I think it was due to his very recent marriage.

[DGUtley]

This is not good.

[Common]

This is not good.

I think many soldiers are disgusted with current events in the military

[donttread]

Where have all the combat vets gone?

Sounds like we need less Marines and should curtail enlistment.