MARINE CORPS BASE QUANTICO, Va.(Aug. 24, 2006) -- Looking at current and past operations such as Somalia, Iraq and Beirut, small groups of Marines have joined to discuss recurring themes, key elements and what could have been done better during those operations.

These groups are known as Small Wars groups. Marines are being encouraged to attend and create their own informal discussion-based groups to share their views on how the Marine Corps can continue to be successful in small wars operations.

There are two groups on Quantico and each take time out of their week to meet for about an hour over lunch to break bread together and talk through lessons learned from previous and current operations.

The Operations Analysis Directorate Small Wars group formed around 20 weeks before the second Manpower and Reserve Affairs Small Wars and Leadership Exchange group. Capt. Paul M. Schneider and Capt. Michael C. Margolis provided Capt. Shaun W. Doheney of M&RA previously discussed material to kick off their group. The M&RA group is now on week 20.

“These groups are important because leadership at the lowest level has to be thinking critically of a situation,” Doheney said. “We’re bringing Marines together and sharing our views on how we can be successful in small wars as leaders throughout our profession in the Marine Corps.”

The groups exist because they believe leaders should always be talking about leadership and ways to improve leadership in the Marine Corps.

“To get Marines, who are leaders by nature, into a room and talk about different operations the Marine Corps has participated in as a peacekeeping role or combat role allows us to educate each other and share ideas so we can come up with solutions in a dynamic environment,” Doheney said. “Their personal experiences dealing with a topic and talking about past and present experiences prepares us to become better leaders.”

Diversity is very important to these groups. The groups are open for anyone to attend and each group wishes to involve every type of Marine, whether enlisted or officer.

“Diversity is vital to our discussions,” Doheney said. “We want a diverse group because diversity is a key to finding unique solutions to the problems we discuss. This is an opportunity for leaders from diverse backgrounds to fellowship with one another and think critically on how we will fight and win the battles that are in front of us today and in the future.”

The intent of these groups is to keep each group at a maximum of 10 people. If the group is any larger the discussion group environment turns into more of a classroom environment and each group wants to keep away from that.

Guest speakers are often invited to attend group discussion. Recently, Dr. Wray R. Johnson, the professor of Strategic Studies at the Marine Corps Command and Staff College attended M&RA’s group discussion to talk about the fundamentals of counterinsurgency.

“Guest speakers bring a direct personal experience about each specific topic,” Doheney said. “They also bring vast experience on the topics discussed.”

For more information on attending or creating your own small wars groups contact Capt. Shaun W. Doheney at (703) 784-9369 or visit the Small Wars Web site at \\Mccdc10a\S&A\SmallWars\SmallWars.htm.

Ellie