
As the Marine Corps adjusts to operating with fewer Marines afloat on amphibious ships, the service is better defining the role of its new Special Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force Crisis Response and is considering adding a few more across Africa and the Middle East to boost forward presence without straining Navy resources. Col. Scott Benedict, who commanded the new SPMAGTF-CR from its formation in March 2013 through the end of January, said the 550-man unit cannot fully replace a…