The U.S. Marine Corps activated three new companies last month as part of its Force Design 2030 initiative, aiming for agile logistics across the contested island chains of the Indo-Pacific.
Combat Logistics Battalion 4 (CLB-4) officially established its Headquarters, Alpha, and General Service companies during a ceremony held on November 14, 2023, at Camp Schwab, Japan. A fourth company, Bravo, is anticipated to be added soon.
The formation of these new units aligns with the Marine Corps Commandant’s focus on developing mobile logistics that can rapidly supply units throughout the Indo-Pacific, according to CLB-4 commanding officer Lt. Col. Nathan Green. He emphasized the importance of outpacing adversaries in a quickly changing operational environment, stating, “If we have to change again, we’ll change again.”
In early October, Commandant Gen. Eric Smith issued an update to Force Design 2030. He highlighted the need for the Marine Corps to make quicker decisions and adapt swiftly, given that the nature of warfare is evolving. In the preface to a 24-page document, Smith noted that adversaries are deploying advanced weapons and innovative methods which challenge the Marine Corps’ existing advantages.
Green noted that training exercises and joint operations with CLB-4 will influence how the new companies prepare for future conflicts. He stressed the importance of ensuring that the Japan-based 4th Marine Regiment and naval expeditionary elements are effectively equipped in the Indo-Pacific theater.
Originally, the 4th Marine Regiment was slated to be transformed into a Marine littoral regiment based in Guam. However, the latest update revealed that it will remain part of the III Marine Expeditionary Force as a reinforced Marine Infantry Regiment, maintaining its primary mission and readiness to respond to crises and conflicts.
According to Marine Corps spokesman Lt. Col. Eric Flanagan, this strategic shift was informed by recent threat assessments and wargames emphasizing the increased challenges faced in the Indo-Pacific. He stated that retaining the 4th Marine Regiment positions the Marine Corps to respond decisively to regional threats, work collaboratively with allies, and address emerging crises.
Flanagan highlighted that current priorities focus on equipping and training existing infantry regiments and purpose-built Marine littoral regiments to adapt to the changing security landscape.
