General David H. Berger, Commandant of the Marine Corps

We stands at an inflection point in history. We need innovative thinking to deter 21st Century threats, namely ChinaChina is embarking on a vast military modernization program, and could achieve military overmatch against the US in the Pacific by 2040.

Your sergeant major

I’ve been hearing talk that Marines are weaseling their way out of getting haircuts because of this “coronavirus” thing.

General Berger

We can’t defeat China with traditional military thinking. Anti-Access/Area-Denial means that China can prevent us from launching air strikes against them by neutralizing our carriers with hypersonic missiles, ultra-quiet submarines. They might even accidentally take an entire carrier out of commission by inadvertently spreading a global pandemic.

Your sergeant major

Seventy years ago, Marines faced a similar challenge called World War Two. It wasn’t grit, or determination, or brotherhood which carried our flag to the top of Mount Surib…