Read the damn Quote "risk to combat readiness" which for you civvies means money and time to train for forward deployments. When Marines, Airborne, Fighter squadrons, Special Forces, Carrier Task force or SSN Crews go down range or go into rotation its after a rigorous structured training cycle designed to have them ready to jump into the shit at a moments notice and be fully trained up. Dinking around on the border gets in the way of said readiness. Perfectly appropriate for the Marine Commandant to bring up. Chill this is not political its about other military responsibilities forces are tasked with.
You dont dink around on the border.
You use it as a planning op.
Its a training opportunity for the logistics of the move.
It offers a great opportunity to experience field conditions and field patrolling.
Coordinate it with combined arms
Its cheaper than having them perform a move to Norway for the same experience.
Oh wait a minute they wont have a full on FOB to live out of and they may have to experience field conditions for real as if they were in a real shit hits than fan situation. How will they survive?
Your right this shit is too difficult for our military.
They dont have the skills of Pershing and his crew when he did it back in 1916.
The mil wont be down there to chase illegals. They will be their training and providing a presence.
If perhaps their presence makes some smuggler say lets avoid that area good.
If during their base security patrols they happen to come across a bunch of people in the desert or in the norther forests call the Border Patrol to perform the humanitarian mission of getting them food, shelter and a quick trip home.
Neller is just making excuses because he doesnt agree with securing the country.
Oh and by the way,,,,,tell us "civvies" which member of the JCS you are.