The specter of a decades-long American presence in Afghanistan was raised Wednesday in San Diego by the nation’s top Marine, Commandant of the Marine Corps Gen. Robert Neller.

Neller invoked the long-term U.S. commitment in Germany and Japan after World War II to describe when Americans might expect U.S. military assets to leave Afghanistan — the longest war in American history — for good.

“After a long war — World War II — we’re still in Japan and we’re still in Germany,” he said. “This (Afghanistan) has turned out different than we thought.”

Neller’s comments came after a speech at the monthly San Diego Military Advisory Council breakfast, which attracts military and defense industry leaders from across the region. Neller’s speech focused on the current mission of the Marine Corps and the challenges it faces in the future.


He spoke specifically about Afghanistan afterwards, at a short impromptu news conference with local press.

The Afghan war, launched in the weeks following 9/11, is on the cusp of entering its 18th year. It is now possible for someone born after 9/11 to enlist in the military and serve in Afghanistan.

Despite a draw-down in the country in recent years, American service members remain in harm’s way in the country. On Sept. 3, Timothy Bolyard, an Army command Sgt. Maj., was killed in an apparent insider attack.

Bolyard was on his seventh combat deployment to the middle east and was the sixth U.S. combat fatality of 2018.


“It would be easy to say we should just walk away,” Neller said, “but I think the consequences of that may be worse than what’s going on now.”

Neller pointed to upcoming elections and negotiations with the Taliban as signs of progress.

“I think the Afghan people are tired of the war,” he said, noting the country has been engaged in one conflict or another since the 1980s. “Every war has to end...I think we’re at an opportunity point here, so let’s ask for everybody to be a bit more patient and play this out and see what happens.”

The San Diego area is home to about one in four of the total active duty Marine force, Neller said, citing the 1st Marine Expeditionary Force at Camp Pendleton as the single largest contingent of Marines anywhere. IMEF includes the 3rd Marine Air Wing at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar.


Neller also discussed a wide range of challenges in the Marines, from the new F-35 Lightning fighter jets to dependent support on the home front.

The Marines’ variant of the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter, the F-35B, is currently on its first combat deployment on board the San Diego-based amphibious assault ship Essex. The jets, which can take off and land vertically, have replaced the older AV-8B Harrier.

INDIAN OCEAN (Aug. 30, 2018) An F-35B Lightning II, attached to the Avengers of Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 211, launches from the amphibious assault ship USS Essex (LHD 2) during a deployment of the Essex Amphibious Ready Group and 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit. (U.S. Navy)

Neller discussed the deployment and delays in the service’s procurement of the jets.


“Nothing ever goes as fast as you want,” he said.

He said logistically, operations were going well.

“Their readiness is remarkably good so far,” he said, pausing to knock on a table. “That said, it’s an expensive airplane and so we’re reliant upon the funding to be able to buy these things at a more rapid rate.”

When asked by the spouse of a Marine officer about how the Marines were working with families, Neller described hardship as “part of this life.”


“(The) family readiness program is really about preparing families to be resilient and understand that there are certain obligations that they’re going to face while that Marine is gone,” he said. “I think the Marine Corps has made a concerted effort to improve the quality of life for families and keep them informed of what’s going on, but I can’t change the fact that your husband missed anniversaries, birthdays and school recitals… That’s just part of it.”

Neller is touring several Marine units across Southern California. He addressed Marines at Miramar Wednesday and will be making stops at Camp Pendleton and Twentynine Palms through Friday.

The Military Advisory Council is described on its website as “a non-profit organization with a mission to support and promote the mutual business and other interests of the military, their quality of life and the defense community in the San Diego area.” The San Diego Union-Tribune has been a member since 2007.

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