MCUF Supports PME Engagement Connecting Marines with Lessons from Vietnam

At a time when the character of warfare is evolving rapidly, Marines of the 3d Marine Littoral Regiment took a step back in time to sharpen how they think about the future.

Through the support of the Marine Corps University Foundation, the regiment recently hosted Dr. Mike Morris, Associate Professor of Military Studies at the School of Advanced Warfighting and a retired U.S. Marine Corps colonel, for a professional military education seminar focused on one of the Marine Corps’ most demanding historical experiences: the operations of III Marine Amphibious Force during the Vietnam War.

Speaking to officers and senior enlisted leaders, Dr. Morris guided Marines through how III MAF confronted a complex conflict that challenged many of the assumptions embedded in its doctrine, organization, and pre-war training. The session explored how Marines on the ground adapted to unfamiliar operational realities—balancing conventional operations, counterinsurgency, and partnerships with host-nation forces in a constantly shifting environment.

Rather than simply recounting history, the discussion encouraged Marines to think critically about what those experiences mean today. Participants examined themes of wartime adaptation, leadership under uncertainty, and the importance of strong host-nation relationships.

For the Marines of the 3d Marine Littoral Regiment, the seminar reinforced a core element of Marine Corps warfighting culture: intellectual readiness. Through open dialogue and professional curiosity, leaders reflected on how historical insights can inform the development of Marines capable of decisive action, effective joint and interservice collaboration, and calm judgment under pressure.

The engagement also underscored the value of connecting operational units with experienced scholars and practitioners. By enabling Dr. Morris to spend meaningful time with leaders across the formation, the Marine Corps University Foundation helped foster a rich exchange of ideas that strengthens the regiment’s cognitive warfighting edge and prepares its Marines to adapt, fight, and win in the conflicts of tomorrow.

For more information about Dr. Mike Morris, read his biography here. If you are interested in helping to fund important opportunities like this for Marines and contribute to our fundraising goal of $25 million by November 10, 2026, please consider making a donation today.