The second-in-command of the Marine Corps is a pilot. But he still sees ground combat as the core of the Corps. Here's what Marines can expect under the new rules. "But now the tide has to turn, and we have to get back to quality of life," Gen. Eric Smith said. Years of spending more on weapons systems than on quality of life was one reason, the Marine Corps’ budget chief said. The Corps already has doubled the number of Marines who enter the Reserve right after the end of their active service via the Direct Affiliation Program. To some observers of the Marine Corps’ modernization plans, aspects of the Houthis' operations in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden sound familiar. Want to retire from the Marine Corps? The service now requires at least six months' heads up. Marine officer retention dropped slightly from fiscal year 2019 to 2023. The Corps previously had planned to deploy the King Stallion with a Marine expeditionary unit in 2025. “We’re not asking for Taj Mahals,” Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps Carlos Ruiz said. Load More