Securing America: Marine Rapid Reaction Forces

As the U.S. military winds down the war in Afghanistan – where Marines have been sent to fight in desert conditions for years – there’s a plan in place to return the Corps to their roots.

FOX’s Jennifer Griffin has details from the Pentagon in our ongoing series on national security:

Securing America.

The Pentagon is now making plans to again place Marine Special Operations teams onboard Navy ships in the Middle East and elsewhere.  The units, composed of 14 Marines, would serve as a rapid reaction force, like the one need the night of the attack on the U.S. Consulate in Benghazi, Libya.  Retired U.S. Navy Commander Christopher Harmer of the Institute of the Study of War:

(Ret. Comm. Harmer) “All we are really seeing here is the Marine Corps return to its roots as a maritime service.”

Congressman Mike Rogers, who heads the House Select Intelligence Committee, favors the plan.

(Rep. Rogers) “No one should read that this is, this means that Marines will be on the ground in Syria, or anything like that.”

The idea will be tested by the Pentagon in a wargame this April.

At the Pentagon, Jennifer Griffin, FOX News Radio.