January 3
Marines show Japan Ground Self-Defense Force service members room-clearing techniques during Exercise Forest Light Western Army at Kirishima Maneuver Field, Kumamoto, Japan, Jan. 27, 2020. (Sgt. Audrey M. C. Rampton/Marine Corps)
In 2021 the Corps will launch a new pilot program to extend the time new Marines spend at the School of Infantry to 14 weeks.
The pilot program comes as the Corps looks to develop a new way to fight as the threat of a near-peer enemy like China or Russia takes precedent over the Middle East wars of the past two decades.
“We have at least one adversary that we haven’t had in decades,” Marine Corps Commandant Gen. David Berger said, talking about the strengthening Chinese military.