UNIFIED VISION FOR THE FUTURE: RIVERINE …

1 UNIFIED VISION FOR THE FUTURE: RIVERINE SQUADRONS AND THE security cooperation MAGTF A thesis presented to the Faculty of the Army Command and General Staff College in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree MASTER OF MILITARY ART AND SCIENCE General Studies by MICHAEL A. STOLZENBURG, MAJ, USMCR Bachelor of Arts, History, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio 1990 Fort Leavenworth, Kansas 2008 Distribution statement Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited. ii REPORT DOCUMENTATION PAGE Form Approved OMB No. 0704-0188 Public reporting burden for this collection of information is estimated to average 1 hour per response, including the time for reviewing instructions, searching existing data sources, gathering and maintaining the data needed, and completing and reviewing this collection of information.

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3 1. REPORT DATE (DD-MM-YYYY) 13-06-2008 2. REPORT TYPE Master s Thesis 3. DATES COVERED (From - To) AUG 2007 JUN 2008 5a. CONTRACT NUMBER 5b. GRANT NUMBER 4. TITLE AND SUBTITLE UNIFIED VISION OF THE FUTURE: RIVERINE SQUADRONS AND THE security cooperation MAGTF 5c. PROGRAM ELEMENT NUMBER 5d. PROJECT NUMBER 5e. TASK NUMBER 6. AUTHOR(S) Major Michael A. Stolzenburg 5f. WORK UNIT NUMBER 7. PERFORMING ORGANIZATION NAME(S) AND ADDRESS(ES) Army Command and General Staff College ATTN: ATZL-SWD-GD Fort Leavenworth, KS 66027-2301 8. PERFORMING ORG REPORT NUMBER 10. SPONSOR/MONITOR S ACRONYM(S) 9. SPONSORING / MONITORING AGENCY NAME(S) AND ADDRESS(ES) 11.

4 SPONSOR/MONITOR S REPORT NUMBER(S) 12. DISTRIBUTION / AVAILABILITY STATEMENT Approved for Public Release; Distribution is Unlimited 13. SUPPLEMENTARY NOTES 14. ABSTRACT The Navy RIVERINE squadrons are currently operating in Iraq. They were formed in response to a requirement for a RIVERINE capability and Navy need for greater relevance in the Global War on Terror. Historically, RIVERINE forces have an episodic history; formed for conflicts and discarded at their conclusion. The requirement were superseded by budget requirements for maintenance of the Mahanian fleet. At the conclusion of the War in Iraq, the Navy will face that same decision.

5 The Marine Corps plans to fulfill its non-traditional support of National Defense Strategy by creating a security cooperation MAGTF. It will provide a persistent, forward deployed Marine presence in a manner that needs of the Department of Defense. The integration of the Navy s RIVERINE force and the Marine Corps SCMAGTF will give the RIVRON a sustainable relevance that will institutionalize it and enhance the SCMAGTF Theater security cooperation capacity. 15. SUBJECT TERMS RIVERINE Warfare, Navy RIVERINE squadrons, RIVERINE Group One, RIVERINE squadron , SCMAGTF, security cooperation 16. security CLASSIFICATION OF: 19a.

6 NAME OF RESPONSIBLE PERSON a. REPORT b. ABSTRACT c. THIS PAGE17. LIMITATION OF ABSTRACT 18. NUMBER OF PAGES 19b. PHONE NUMBER (include area code) (U) (U) (U) (U) 118 Standard Form 298 (Rev. 8-98) Prescribed by ANSI Std. iiiMASTER OF MILITARY ART AND SCIENCE THESIS APPROVAL PAGE Name of Candidate: Major Michael A. Stolzenburg Thesis Title: UNIFIED VISION OF THE FUTURE: RIVERINE SQUADRONS AND THE security cooperation MAGTF Approved by: , Thesis Committee Chair Colonel Mark E. Monroe, USMC, , Member David Bitters, , Member Peter Gibson, Accepted this 13th day of June 2008 by: , Director, Graduate Degree Programs Robert F.

7 Baumann, The opinions and conclusions expressed herein are those of the student author and do not necessarily represent the views of the Army Command and General Staff College or any other governmental agency. (References to this study should include the foregoing statement.) ivABSTRACT UNIFIED VISION OF THE FUTURE: RIVERINE SQUADRONS AND THE security cooperation MAGTF, by Michael A. Stolzenburg, 118 pages. The Navy RIVERINE squadrons are currently operating in Iraq. They were formed in response to a requirement for a RIVERINE capability and Navy need for greater relevance in the Global War on Terror.

8 Historically, RIVERINE forces have an episodic history; formed for conflicts and discarded at their conclusion. The requirement were superseded by budget requirements for maintenance of the Mahanian fleet. At the conclusion of the War in Iraq, the Navy will face that same decision. The Marine Corps plans to fulfill its non-traditional support of National Defense Strategy by creating a security cooperation MAGTF. It will provide a persistent, forward deployed Marine presence in a manner that meets the strategic security cooperation needs of the Department of Defense. The integration of the Navy s RIVERINE force and the Marine Corps SCMAGTF will give the RIVRON a sustainable relevance that will institutionalize it and enhance the SCMAGTF Theater security cooperation capacity.

9 VACKNOWLEDGMENTS This would not have occurred without the support and prodding of several who had a much greater understanding of the value of research than I. Colonel Dan Newell was instrumental in my attendance at CGSC because he ensured that I submit a package to the selection board. Colonel Monroe forbade me to quit so deserves my thanks. I recognized that I would not be able to disregard a Marine senior to me, and his stance with regard to the importance of this document was essential in its completion. He made this a more professional effort. Dr. Bitters and Mr. Gibson supported my feeble start and cajoled me when I considered surrender.

10 Most importantly, as in every aspect of my life, my wife Melissa supported my year as a geographic bachelor and used that against me to influence my decision to pursue a Master s Degree. I get up every morning knowing that I am another day closer to coming home to her. This effort is for her. Thanks for the Land Rover. This research was less about earning a Master s Degree than assuming the mantle of a Field Grade professional. It was no secret that my preference would have been to remain an operator, a Captain, and never have to drink from the cup of a staff officer. It was only by doing this research that I began to understand the importance and significance of doing something other than strapping on a pistol and leaving the wire with the boys.