Uh...

GAC06 said:

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Marksmanship isn't very important for any officer, and utterly meaningless for a general

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Probably to congress and the President. Anytime I see one in Alpha's or Blues/Ribbons it's the first thing any Marine looks for, followed by the CAR. At least in the Infantry. But I may be reading too much into it. At least he's not Pizza Box.

There aren't many four star Marine generals to begin with. I believe the only way a Marine can get a fourth star, outside of a joint billet that may be held by an officer of any service (which looks to be the case for this individual), is to be the Commandant.

coconutED said:

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There aren't many four star Marine generals to begin with. I believe the only way a Marine can get a fourth star, outside of a joint billet that may be held by an officer of any service (which looks to be the case for this individual), is to be the Commandant.

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Somewhat correct. The highest combatant command is a MEF, and they are commanded by 3 stars. Divisions and Wings are led by 2 stars

GAC06 said:

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It's a three mile run. And no, marksmanship doesn't mean much at all for officers, especially generals.

In 11 years active duty I qualified twice on rifle and three times for pistol. My primary weapon was a jet or a radio.

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Even in the Nasty Guard we had to qualify on our personal weapon every FY.

And Tank Gunnery every other FY.

HollywoodBQ said:

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GAC06 said:

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It's a three mile run. And no, marksmanship doesn't mean much at all for officers, especially generals.

In 11 years active duty I qualified twice on rifle and three times for pistol. My primary weapon was a jet or a radio.

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Even in the Nasty Guard we had to qualify on our personal weapon every FY.

And Tank Gunnery every other FY.

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Another flyer here. We qualify every 2 years and that's really only to keep a slide happy at the staff meeting. Pistol only

Lieutenant General Michael E. Langley assumed the duties of Commanding General, Fleet Marine Force, Atlantic and Commander, Marine Forces Command and Marine Forces Northern Command on 3 November 2021.

A native of Shreveport, Louisiana, Lieutenant General Langley graduated from the University of Texas at Arlington and commissioned in 1985. He commanded at every level from platoon to regiment including Battery K, 5thBattalion, 11th Marines in support of Operations WILDFIRE in Western United States; battalion and regimental commands in 12th Marines forward deployed in Okinawa, Japan; and both the 201st Regional Corps Advisory Command-Central and Regional Support Command Southwest in support of Operation ENDURING FREEDOM in Afghanistan.

As a General Officer, his command assignments include Deputy Commanding General, II Marine Expeditionary Force (MEF) and Commanding General, 2d Marine Expeditionary Brigade; Commander, Marine Forces Europe and Africa; and Deputy Commanding General, Fleet Marine Force, Atlantic and Deputy Commander, Marine Forces Command and Marine Forces Northern Command.

Lieutenant General Langley's staff and joint assignments include serving as a division officer for Marine Corps Institute, Marine Barracks 8th and I; Deputy G-1, 1st Marine Division deployed in support of Operation RESTORE HOPE in Somalia; Naval Surface Fire Support Requirements Officer in the Expeditionary Warfare Division (N75) and Joint Integration Officer in the Surface Warfare Division (N76), Office of the Chief of Naval Operations; policy action officer in the Strategic Plans and Policy Directorate, J-5; Iraq Desk Officer in the Joint Staff Response Cell, J-3 Operations Directorate; Deputy Executive Assistant to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff; Assessments Branch Head, Programs and Resources, Headquarters, Marine Corps; Assistant Division Commander of 3d Marine Division; Deputy Director for Operations, J-3, Joint Staff; Assistant Deputy Commandant for Programs and Resources, Headquarters, Marine Corps; and Director for Strategy, Plans, and Policy, J-5, U.S. Central Command.

Lieutenant General Langley's formal military education includes U.S. Marine Corps Amphibious Warfare School and College of Naval Command and Staff. He holds multiple advanced degrees including Masters in National Security Strategic Studies from the U.S. Naval War College and Strategic Studies from the U.S. Army War College.

So combat action ribbon and expert rifle/pistol = great leader?
He had 16 years in when OEF kicked off and 18 when OIF kicked off. He was a LtCol when the "wars" started. Maybe he just wasn't at the right place/right time to get his CAR.
Maybe he is a great leader and maybe he's not, but in my opinion he shouldn't be judged based on these. Looks like he's done nine deployments.
If someone on here has personal experience with him then feel free to share. That will weigh a lot more than him not having a CAR and expert badges.

Can anyone point out to me the combat experience of the Supreme Commander of Allied Forces Europe during WWII?

I seem to recall he was a five star general and later POTUS.

45-70Ag said:

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Oh good, now he's being compared to Eisenhower.

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Oh good, you are intentionaly ignoring the point.

Didn't click the link but if it isn't a he/she that's a positive step.

Bob Magnus says Howdy. It's not uncommonwhen the ACMC is an aviator to see no CAR and no marksmanship badges in the official photo. I don't know of another ground MOS thatmade four stars without a CAR but it's rarified air up there.



Gen Langley comes from the artillery MOS so he hasn't had an annual rifle qualification requirement since he was a Captain. It may have changed but at the ime I retired four years ago there was an exempexemption from annual pistol qualification for LtCol and above after their 45th birthday.

"Ike" was a Lt. Col. at the outset of WWII, iirc. He may be our most famous "political general", if not the first.

Perhaps the point of the thread is this likely represents yet another "first" by an administration driven by empty political decisions and attention getters. Ho hum…

Back in my day (50 years ago) the Corps rated two four-stars; the Commandant and later on, the Asst. Commandant. In the last decade plus, we've seen as many as seven at one time, including 2 or 3 Chairmen of Joint Chiefs of Staff.

If you're on Team USA, there is no black or white... just American

Yesterday said:

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As a fellow Marine I salute this man for 35 years of service to the Corps. With that said, how often do you see someone get promoted to four stars without top marksmanship in either rifle or pistol and no combat action?

If the Biden administration hadn't show blatant racism with the Supreme Court I'm not sure I would question this. But here I am, wondering. Which isn't fair to this Marine but racism by the Biden administration has consequences.

https://www.fox4news.com/news/north-texas-native-to-become-first-black-four-star-general-in-the-marines

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I hate to jump in the middle of an argument over CAR and marksmanship medals among Marines, but this general does have a Bronze Star (second row from top, left side) which, unless things have changed dramatically in the 28 years since I retired from the Army, is only awarded to people for service in a combat zone.

As an Army guy, I have no comment one way or the other regarding the marksmanship medals since I can never remember wearing them on my class A uniform as an officer.

This is the guy those "I will fight for you!" billboard lawyers try to look like.

LegalDrugPusher said:

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Here is the current Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps. Texas Aggie class of 87, former BQ Commander.

General Smith I know personally he was my MOI from 98-00. Major Smith at the time. He is originally from Plano.
He has a large amount of combat experience from Panama to Iraq. A grunt through and through and a rifle and pistol expert at the highest qualifications. He was a PT hoss and I'm sure he still is today.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eric_Smith_(general)

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BoerneGator said:

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"Ike" was a Lt. Col. at the outset of WWII, iirc. He may be our most famous "political general", if not the first.

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Wasn't IKE pretty much a genius at logistics? He had no combat experience, yet lead the biggest army the world has ever seen.

My point is that combat experience is needed through the lower officer ranks. But in a modern army, don't the top dogs need a different skill set?

Agreed that being a badass in combat will get you the respect of the people you lead.

Also 110% agree that the Biden Administration's track record of promoting and appointing people based on skin color and depraved sexuality, taints any appointment they make, especially one with minority status.