Drilling Marine Corps reservists across the command’s components will see an increased emphasis on job proficiency and readiness as Marine Corps Reserve Command prepares for mobilization exercises set to begin in fiscal 2026. According to Reserve operational planner Lt. Col. Doug Toulotte, these wide-ranging exercises will be the first of their kind in decades and will stress-test the Corps’ ability to mobilize its select reserve component during a major military contingency.
Toulotte spoke at the Modern Day Marine Expo in Washington, D.C., revealing that the exercises will commence no later than the fourth quarter of fiscal 2026. He highlighted that the last Defense Department-wide reserve mobilization plan was completed in 1988, and the last study on reserve mobilization dates back to 1947. This lack of recent analysis has left significant uncertainties regarding the integration of reserve forces into the active ranks during times of crisis.
In comparison to the start of the Korean War in 1950, Toulotte noted that the current Marine Corps has a larger total force, comprising approximately 250,000 Marines, compared to around 204,000 then. However, the Marine Reserve’s capabilities have diminished, with only eight infantry battalions and one fighter squadron compared to 26 and 30, respectively, in 1950.
Toulotte emphasized the importance of training the Reserve component on modern equipment, stating that the active component will have had the F-35 aircraft for 17 years before the Reserve component sees its first unit. He warned that if the Marine Corps were to mobilize today as it did in 1950, the seamless integration of the Reserve could be compromised due to training delays.
While smaller-scale mobilization exercises have been conducted recently, Toulotte asserted that nothing compares to the upcoming planned exercises. He suggested these efforts are the first time since Operation Enduring Freedom in 2003 that the Marine Corps has actively sought to enhance the responsiveness of the Reserve component against peer threats.
The nature of the planned drills is still being finalized, but Toulotte anticipates that the initial exercise will be small and will focus on the speed with which units can come together with necessary fighting gear. Unlike previous years, where Reserve activations for deployments were planned years in advance, these new exercises aim to test how quickly units can aggregate personnel and equipment.
Toulotte emphasized that the Marine Reserve is looking to include its activation capabilities in the military-wide Defense Readiness Reporting System. He indicated that selected Reserve component Marines will see drill days focused more closely on training for deployment readiness and job proficiency.
Ultimately, Toulotte underscored the necessity for the entire Defense Department to engage in similar mobilization tests to ensure effective mass activation of reserves during potential crises. He cautioned that isolated initiatives, without a joint force perspective, could hinder the military’s response capabilities in urgent conflicts.
