A provision in Congress' not-yet-final annual defense authorization bill calls for "an independent review, assessment, and analysis" of Force Design 2030. A Senate proposal would award retroactive pay and benefits to senior leaders who waited months for confirmation due to a political standoff. A pair of Republican senators are still blocking the senior leaders from stepping in to their new roles. “It’s not the first time I’ve been knocked down," Gen. Eric Smith said. "When I was shot in 2004, I bounced back from that." Gen. Eric Smith is preparing for a medical procedure to repair a heart abnormality that doctors determined contributed to his medical episode. In total, 61 active duty Marines and six Marine reservists died by suicide in 2022. Although Jack Lowe was in pain, he remained standing during the ceremony, even raising his right hand from his walker to recite his oath. Gen. Eric Smith signaled his desire to resume the commandant job when he can and wished Marines a happy birthday. “We’re Marines till we die,” a Silver Star recipient says in the video. “And we require a two-week notice for that.” Gen. Eric Smith, the Marine commandant, "will need to focus on his health prior to fully returning to duty,” the Marine Corps said. Load More