National Security Leaders Forum with General James F. Amos

On May 24, 2011, CNAS hosted the Commandant of the U.S. Marine Corps General James F. Amos for a discussion among senior national security experts about the future of the Corps amidst a changing global strategic environment, and offered an assessment of the security situation in Afghanistan and continued challenges in the region.

During his remarks, General Amos discussed the future of the U.S. Marine Corps and the critical role it plays in our nation's security. Referring to the Corps as "our nation's crisis-response force," General Amos emphasized the Corps’ essential role in rapid response, from the floods in Pakistan to the conflict in Libya. He also addressed the future security environment more broadly, remarking on the challenge the United States faces of striking a balance between global realities and a constrained fiscal environment. In an open discussion with the audience, General Amos answered questions on modernization, military personnel benefits, and the South China Sea, demonstrating the range of the Marine Corps’ areas of involvement and providing his perspectives on these pressing national security challenges.