Overview
- The Defense Ministry said the Marine Corps will retake peacetime and wartime control of the 1st Division by the end of 2026.
- The 2nd Division will regain peacetime control by 2028, with wartime control remaining under the Army’s Capital Defense Command pending further review.
- Officials are considering a Marine Corps Operations Command, potentially by upgrading the Northwest Islands Defense Command, with a separate three-star operations commander post.
- The Marine commandant’s authority will be elevated to a level comparable to the Army, Navy and Air Force chiefs of staff while the Corps stays under the Navy.
- Plans include reviewing Marine promotion pathways into top joint posts, accelerating capability upgrades with funding across 10 areas, and expanding Marine representation in higher-level units.