Joshua W. Larson

I see you LPD-30

I’ve released my CPG, which outlines my vision for the future. FD continues as we adapt to the changing character of war. The CPG highlights a continuous 3.0 MEU presence, but most important is that it reaffirms our core values as the lynchpin of success. cmc.marines.mil/cpg

The latest from @JustinSKatz breakingdefense.com/2024/08/in-new…

@CTReese2 @USMC Very tame compared to the last CPG.

Release is imminent… @USMC

@kaylahaas @92huskies Kayla, keep in mind that PACS-Q at DINFOS is entry-level. We’re supposed to get advanced education from our leaders in the Fleet, but our community isn’t great at that. Not bad, but not great. Also, Haditha was a huge deal at the time. Lots of internal reflection among Marines.

I suppose I meant buried in a sense of — I am surprised this wasn’t something deliberately taught/studied at the Defense Information School when I went through. It's a prime case study to illustrate the ethical complexities of crisis communication, transparency, and media relations during crisis involving civilian casualties and / or allegations of misconduct.

Haditha happened when I was just 8 years old. Here’s what’s shocking: despite my role and experience, I only learned about this incident 30 minutes ago. I’ll admit, I’m not a military history buff but this question remains: How is it that something so significant could be buried or forgotten? This needs to be a case study at DINFOS. As a Marine COMMSTRAT Officer, I’ve spent the last 5 years working to build strong relationships with the media and advocate for transparency. I’ve never seen combat, and my career has been what many would call comfortable. But even so, I feel compelled to speak on this. In COMMSTRAT, our mission is to build understanding, credibility, and trust with our audiences—these are key to mission success. Incidents like Haditha make it painfully clear that we’ve sometimes fallen short, not just in our commitment to trust but in upholding the very values that define us as Marines and as a nation. Haditha isn’t just a tragedy from our past—it’s a lesson we must learn from today. We have to reflect on where we wavered, where we failed to maintain our integrity, and ensure that our actions and our communications are always rooted in truth. Transparency not a buzzword. It’s about being honest in everything we do, even when the truth is disturbing. The legacy of Haditha is more than just the events of that day—it’s about the choices that followed, the attempts to hide the truth, and the lasting impact on our credibility as an institution. We can’t afford to shy away from these stark truths. I wasn’t there. I wasn’t in their shoes. But I know that understanding what happened is the first step to making sure it never does again. These reflections are my own and don’t represent the views of the DoD.

Pleased to announce ⁦@USNavyCNO⁩ and I signed an MOU last week to ensure consistency and uniformity in how each service talks about amphibious force readiness. This will help the ⁦@USNavy⁩ and ⁦@USMC⁩ better plan and execute naval ops. instagram.com/reel/C8VaRaiM1…

This was an inspiring scene.

The pleasure was all mine @usambnl. Thank you for your support to our Nation and our @USMC Marines.

On the 80th anniversary of #DDay, we honor the courage of those who stormed the beaches and the paratroopers who descended behind enemy lines. Their sacrifice and bravery continue to inspire. #DDay80 Learn more ➡️ spr.ly/60135BEfJ

This!!!! dvidshub.net/video/926143/g… @CMC_MarineCorps @USMCSgtMaj

@JustinSKatz @jhlad @USMC @iloewenson There’s still time.

I once invited media to a @USMC b-day run from Pentagon to the War Memorial, met with laughs and “yeah rights” from Press. Except one. @iloewenson was like, “I’m new, can I come?” She showed up in purple among a sea of green on green. It was the start of a great relationship.

Happening now: @CMC_MarineCorps and @USMCSgtMaj holding an “ask me anything” sit down with the @MSG_Duty Marines in Paris. Both are in France to commemorate the 106th anniversary of Belleau Wood and to hold meetings with diplomats and military counterparts.

Today, I had the pleasure of administering the oath to 258 new @USMC 2nd Lts at the @NavalAcademy. They answered the call & stand at the beginning of a path they won’t forget, leading the finest our Nation has to offer through an uncertain future. Welcome to our family, Marines.

I can say with high confidence that Gen Berger wasn’t ready to hang up his gloves for good before he retired. Stranger things have happened.

The Marine Corps new Amphibious Combat Vehicle makes its debut in the Indo-Pacific during 🇵🇭🇺🇸 Balikatan 2024. Embarked on the amphib USS Harpers Ferry (LSD 49), the ACVs conducted a live-fire exercise at Oyster Bay, Palawan. USMC 📸 by Lance Cpl. Peyton Kahle

ICYMI, great reporting here from ⁦@iloewenson⁩. What Marines may be learning from Houthi tactics in the Red Sea marinecorpstimes.com/news/your-mari…

@SebastianBae @CMC_MarineCorps Happy this meeting came together. Did you see you made his IG Reel? (You’re welcome)

From its inception, I designed my "Littoral Commander: Indo-Pacific" #wargame to help educate Marines on the future of warfare & #FD2030 at the tactical level. So it was a special honor to be able to discuss the game and it's ongoing use in the Corps with the @CMC_MarineCorps. 🧵

Happening now: setup for @ModernDayMarine. If you’re in the NCR this week, stop in and see the current and future state of warfighting in the @USMC and the joint force. @CMC_MarineCorps, @USMCSgtMaj and others speaking, Chesty the bulldog sightings, too. You can register on-site.