The changes are part of a wider rethinking of how the military is funded and structured to meet China and Russia, which are challenging post-Cold War U.S. military dominance. He commanded at every level - including a Reconnaissance Company; 3d Battalion, 8th Marines in Haiti during Operation SECURE TOMORROW; and . Do you rely on The Times of Israel for accurate and insightful news on Israel and the Jewish world? Rather, modern threats require the U.S. to have long-range precision rockets, small loitering armed drones, and mobile ship-killing missiles that Marines can use to protect U.S. and allied vessels. HOUSE COMMITTEE ON ARMED SERVICES . APRIL 28, 2023 . "That is what is unique about us. That same month, Bagram Air Base was abandoned, cutting off the only secure escape route for Americans from Afghanistan, while liberating thousands of Taliban, Al Qaeda, and ISIS-K terrorists, including the Jihadi who would go on to kill 13 Americans at Kabul airport. The ceremony honored the lives lost during the Pacific Theater of WWII. When I was younger maybe [I liked them] because of their uniforms, but later it was the professionalism I saw in them and the idea that they were the toughest, Zeff said via telephone from his home in South Florida. A Concept for Stand-In Forces. Berger seemed most at home when the Marines were in the field. The day before Bergers call for an honest and open critique, he showed what would happen to any officer who dared to offer honest and open critiques. endobj to it. 38 0 obj When company commanders needed information, DeBoda said, they went straight to Berger. Berger served as commanding general of Marine Air Ground Task Force Training Command and Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center from 2013 to 2014. For some new officers, it takes time to grow into their leadership role, Meyer said. He completed training on November 30 as an honor graduate. Zeff isnt the first in his family to serve. 2 0 obj "He's seen American policy at the strategic level, he's been an operational commander clearly, and he's been well educated about strategy and military history, so he brings all those things to bear in this position as commandant," she said. P Featured Article . Colonel Stuart Schellerwho declaredI have been fighting for 17 years. "I never saw him the least bit intimidated by rank, attitude or ego -- something very uncommon among junior officers.". There arent that many Jews in the military and I wanted him to know hes Jewish before he went in and not lose himself in it [training], Rebecca said. 187 0 obj <>1]/P 16 0 R/Pg 189 0 R/S/Link>> "I've never seen him lose his temper, or I guess on the other hand, be over-exuberant or overly celebratory.". [11][12][13] He was confirmed by the United States Senate on June 5, and took command in a ceremony held July 11 at the Marine Barracks in Washington D.C.[14], On July 17, 2019, Berger issued his guidance for the Marine Corps: Its been through the requirements-based system, its been through the Joint Staff, through [the Office of the Secretary of Defense] and through Congress twice, so its not like the Pentagon or Congress were derelict in oversight. Meyer, now an attorney who's still close with Berger today, said the general recognizes the huge transition the Marine Corps is experiencing and the need to prepare the service to counter future threats. After the horror, he claimed that he wanted an honest, open critique of what happened in Afghanistan. Bergers efforts are the result of a lot of years looking at the evolving threat environment and the impact of technology said Dakota Wood, senior research fellow for defense programs at The Heritage Foundation. This is not a fragmented effort, this is a collective of 30 some generals including six or seven of the most senior, most credible Marines that Ive ever worked with, said Frank Hoffman, distinguished research fellow at the National Defense University and a retired Marine officer. Finally, Zeff said, he decided it was now or never.. A native of Woodbine, Maryland, General Berger graduated from Tulane University and was commissioned in 1981. The Marines have already mothballed hundreds of Abrams tanks, warehoused several helicopter squadrons, and are rapidly swapping cannons for rocket artillery. On any notice, or even no notice, we are ready to have forces on the ground, and planes in the air, because that is what we do best.". Maj. Donniel Hartman and Yossi Klein Halevidiscuss. As a General Officer, he commanded 1st Marine Division (Forward) in Afghanistan during Operation ENDURING FREEDOM; I Marine Expeditionary Force; U.S. Marine Corps Forces Pacific/Fleet Marine Forces Pacific; and Marine Corps Combat Development Command. Gretchen Whitmer Copyright 2023 Military.com. The 59-year-old earned his commission in 1981 after graduating from Tulane University in New Orleans, where he studied engineering. Craparotta", "I Marine Expeditionary Force Leaders: Lieutenant General David H. Berger", "Woodbine, Md. He holds multiple advanced degrees including a Master of International Public Policy from Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies. Michael Baxter November 9, 2022. As a triplet, along with his two brothers Nathan and Stephen, Zeff went to Jewish day school for a couple of years. Berger and his supporters have said equipment such as tanks and artillery tubes arent suited to that Pacific fight. Gen. David H. Berger, commandant of the U.S. Marine Corps, said at the memorial that Williams always took exception to the notion . 204 0 obj Its been welcomed by defense contractors and lobbyists as well, because money is still flowing on a variety of new projects. For as little as $6/month, you will: Were really pleased that youve read X Times of Israel articles in the past month. So some, of course, will come over time and with deeper . What Berger was most proud of, Meyer said, was that the MEF had been able to upgrade the bachelor enlisted quarters. General David H. Berger assumed the duties of Commandant of the Marine Corps on July 11, 2019. Marine boot camp has the reputation for being the hardest. Unlike his brothers, he knew from a young age he would enlist in the military though it took a few years to commit. A fresh look at Israels founding moral compass, 2023 The Times of Israel , All Rights Reserved, Private First Class Zachary Zeff is one of the only Jewish Marines. The document envisages a shifting of the Marine Corps from a "Second Land Army" force to a "commando-like infantry force with nimbler weapons: drone squadrons will double and rocket batteries will triple.". We recognize that the Marine Corps has to make changes what we want to see is these changes are based on thorough study and analysis, not just projections of what might be needed.. General David H. Berger assumed the duties of Commandant of the Marine Corps on July 11, 2019. Thats what America and the fallen heroes in Kabul deserve. If] ' That frustration led to a March 26 opinion piece in The Wall Street Journal by Jim Webb, a former Navy secretary and a Marine Vietnam veteran, who said the talks with Berger were unsuccessful, and declared the gloves have now come off. Similar pieces by retired Marine officers and other backers have appeared in other news outlets, hoping to stir up both the military audience and members of Congress. Fire Marine Corps Commandant David Berger, Peace Process / Normalization / Abraham Accords. endobj endobj He loved innovating always listened to what his Marines had to say -- especially his enlisted leaders. Berger relinquishes command to Lt.Gen. Schellers treatment made it clear that Bergers call for diversity of thought was as hollow as his solicitation of honest and open critiques. "Marine Corps General David H. Berger on Monday rebuked Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin's edict requiring all Armed Forces personnel to submit to Covid-19 vaccinations under threat of court martial or discharge," reads the first line. Getting rid of hundreds of tanks and amphibious vehicles saved about $3 billion, all of which was pumped back into new precision missiles and upgrades for infantry units. The cost of freedom isnt a hollow cliche, its accountability and integrity from officials. Please try again or choose an option below. Both of these are antithetical to the Marine Corps sense of identity., Hoffman added that despite some claims that not enough thought had been put into the changes, all of them had been previously vetted by the Pentagon. <> He also served as officer selection officer in Roanoke, Virginia. Scan this QR code to visit this page online: Daniel Greenfield is an Israeli born blogger and columnist, and a Shillman Fellow at the David Horowitz Freedom Center. As the son of an airman as well as a husband and father of four, Berger has credited his family with supporting him throughout his career. 2023-03-03T09:54:52-08:00 Having those factions on board, and the fact that many areas of the restructuring are already underway, make the generals effort a long shot. David Hilberry Berger[1] (born December 21, 1959)[2] is a United States Marine Corps four-star general currently serving as the 38th Commandant of the United States Marine Corps. When we saw the Old City and then the embassy his eyes lit up. Click the link in that email to complete your registration. <>37 0 R]/P 22 0 R/S/Link>> He did not mention Afghanistan, Iran, or Al Qaeda. And yet the Commandant of the Marine Corps felt no need to even mention the wars of the cause they had sacrificed their lives for. 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He holds multiple advanced degrees including a Master of International Public Policy from Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies. In late March, Berger was nominated to pin on a fourth star and serve as the 38th commandant of the Marine Corps. 5 0 obj [1] As a lieutenant and captain, he served as rifle platoon commander in India Company, 3rd Battalion, 7th Marines, 1st Marine Division and later as a company commander and battalion operations officer in 2nd Reconnaissance Battalion during Operation Desert Storm. Follow her on Twitter @ginaaharkins. Zeff spoke with The Times of Israel about being the only Jewish recruit in his company of 600 and how much he misses Israel. Samuel Heilman The Jewish Press 2020. I am willing to throw it all away to say to my senior leaders, I demand accountability.. According to a 2017 survey done by the JWB Jewish Chaplains Council, there are currently 10,000 Jews in active duty forces and 5,000 in the guard and reserves. Joint Expeditionary Base Fort Story sustained an estimated $3 million in damage from Sunday's tornado in Virginia Beach A Marine veteran was killed last week in an eastern Ukrainian city where the country's military has been locked for months in Two boaters were rescued from a marshy island in Virginia after they were stranded in poor weather, the U.S. Coast Guard said A federal watchdog agency says the Defense Department has taken steps to ensure that it is not buying products containing the Command Sgt. Much like on campus, being accused of unintentional offense was a hanging crime. [6], Berger holds a BSc in engineering from Tulane University,[7] and two Master's degrees, one in International Public Policy from Johns Hopkins University, and the other in Military Studies. He holds multiple advanced degrees including a Master of International Public Policy from Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies. 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