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Marines Value Accountability, Are Eager to Deploy, Commandant Says

Marines don't want to be constrained to a stateside location. They want to deploy, said Commandant of the Marine Corps Gen. Eric M. Smith, who spoke yesterday at Defense One's "State of Defense 2025" digital event.

If they don't, then they won't reenlist, Smith continued, noting that Marines are currently deployed to every geographic combatant command.

A Marine Corps officer pins an enlisted Marine with help from another person in civilian clothing against a dark Marine Corps flag on a blue wall.
Proud Promotion
Commandant of the Marine Corps, Gen. Eric M. Smith promotes Sgt. Meliza Molina-Choque to the rank of staff sergeant during a visit to Marine Corps Recruiting Substation Rockville, Md., Feb. 19, 2025.
Credit: Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Chloe McAfee
VIRIN: 250219-M-UM973-1084S

To remain operationally ready, Marines must be taken care of properly, he said. They need to live in a decent barracks, they need to have a say in where their next duty station will be, and they need to receive pay commensurate with their service.

Marines also value accountability, Smith said, mentioning the Marine Corps has passed the last two annual audits and will do so again.

When Marines check in to a new unit, they're issued a rucksack, shelter [materials] and other gear. When they check out, they're expected to turn in all the gear they were issued. If they don't, then they're expected to go to the surplus store and purchase what is missing. That's accountability, he said.

"It's just ruthless adherence to standards. I mean that there's no secret to it, other than that's how we make Marines," Smith said.

The Marine Corps has been meeting its recruiting mission "because we don't fail. We put our best and brightest on recruiting duty, and we will reward them for successful completion, and we relieve them when they don't make their mission," he said. "We don't know how to fail."

A Marine Corps officer shakes hands with another with others nearby.
Commandant Handshake
Commandant of the Marine Corps Gen. Eric M. Smith shakes hands with Marines during a visit to Naval Station Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, Feb. 26, 2025.
Credit: Marine Corps Cpl. Chloe N. McAfee
VIRIN: 250226-M-UM973-1157S

Smith said he hopes for a budget because a continuing resolution is detrimental to the Marine Corps' modernization efforts.

Also, the Marine Corps needs more amphibious ships, he said, so Marines can move about where they are needed.

"Everything we do is about warfighting and lethality. That's all we know. That's who we are. Any additional funding that we would get will go toward operational readiness and lethality," he said.

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