Brian Kerg

Hey, I know that guy!

The original article that prompted this discussion can be found here:

cimsec.org/maritime-sta...

Sea Control 591: Maritime Statecraft and Its Future with Steve Brock and Hunter Stires

In this latest episode of #SeaControl, I host Steve Brock and @hunterstires.bsky.social to discuss their recent @cimsec.bsky.social article, "Maritime Statecraft and Its Future."

open.spotify.com/episode/6FAb...

The Soldier in the Illiberal State is a Professional Dead End The American political system today is indeed in crisis. Government function is in doubt, the administration has politicized and weaponized a previously

My latest this AM with @warontherocks.bsky.social. Of note: "[Military officers] will be active participants with choices to make about the degree to which they continue to serve civilians intent on undermining the liberal values enshrined in the Constitution."

1/

warontherocks.com/2025/12/the-...

Metal diplomacy:

Donate to Military Writers Guild Help support Military Writers Guild by donating or sharing with your friends.

As we sprint to #GivingTuesday, I kindly request your support for the @milwritersguild.bsky.social. This great organization supports a dynamic community of military, veteran, and civilian writers focused on human experiences in war, peace, and after service.

www.paypal.com/donate/?host...

I've created posters to fight China's propaganda:

1) China's claims over Taiwan have no legal basis.

2) China has a history of misinterpreting and violating international agreements for its own territorial expansion.

3) A simpler version explaining Taiwan's independence.

Resistance is Victory: Taiwan’s 2025 National Defense Report and Resisting Cognitive Coercion Explore how Taiwan’s 2025 National Defense Report strengthens national resistance, counters PRC cognitive warfare, and builds resilience against gray zone threats.

My latest with the Irregular Warfare Initiative, discussing #Taiwan's latest National #Defense Report and its emphasis on resisting coercion and #cognitive warfare:

irregularwarfare.org/articles/res...

This is the date we should actually celebrate the Marine Corps Birthday.

"On the 10th day of November, the Marine Corps was created...

Nine days later, the Army was deranged."

Total justification for a second Marine Corps holiday. Here's to 250 years of living inside the Army's head, rent free!

Cartoon on Japan‘s Takaichi Sanae take on China’s aggression

China warns citizens against Japan travel as Taiwan spat escalates | CNN China has warned its citizens against traveling to Japan as it escalates a backlash over comments by the country’s prime minister about the island of Taiwan.

Beijing launches new initiative to massively expand Japanese tourism to Taiwan😀. www.cnn.com/2025/11/15/c...

This is critical. So many of the recent pieces from US think tankers calling to appease China by abandoning Taiwan don't account for the rest of the countries in the region that will be placed at great risk by such a move and a subsequent Chinese invasion. They will act in their own defense.

My social media use dropped precipitously when I assumed command because my time is no longer my own.

If you are terminally online while in command, one must be skeptical about how much you are commanding.

I've been attacked:

"Hey when it's time to wake up, why do #Marines scream 'REVEILLE REVEILLE REVEILLE!' like their lives depend on it?"

Because apparently it does:

Ok here's the thing about the carrier debate. Both sides are right and both sides are wrong (thread).

Hard copies of "Orchestrating Power" are in the wild! I hear those that pre-ordered should be getting them soon. You only have a month left to pre-order and get your copies before the official release date: www.cornellpress.cornell.edu/book/9781501...

Is this a recommendation for a ... US pressure campaign in the Fourth Island Chain?

I'm all about studying our adversary but this might not be the right takeaway.

Oh no next someone will call for gray zone tactics by our American Liberation Army Maritime Militia!

Many thanks to both publications for giving this debate a place to be discussed publicly, and to the @warontherocks.bsky.social team for noting my prior thread on the topic and encouraging me to put those thoughts into long form and submit them as an article.

Blinding First, Striking Fast: Why the Marine Corps Needs Information Groups There is an active debate in the U.S. Marine Corps about the value of operations in the information environment as a central aspect of maneuver warfare.

And below was a #WOTR piece discussing the value of information writ large to warfare, and showcasing the #MIG as an essential means by which the #MarineCorps could gain info advantage. It was this last piece that prompted my own response article:

warontherocks.com/2025/10/blin...

This article was a response to the former, advocating for the MIG's retention and discussing its value to the #MarineCorps:

information-professionals.org/killing-the-...

For greater context, below are articles that largely set the stage for this discussion.

The first was this Information Professionals' Association (IPA) article advocating for dismantling the MIG:

information-professionals.org/kill-it-or-f...

Thinking First, Adapting Fast: Debating the Marine Corps’ Need for the Information Group A decade into the effort to concretely integrate information warfare into its operations, the Marine Corps appears to be in the thick of another

My latest in @warontherocks.bsky.social, discussing the debate around the MEF Information Group (MIG).

I critique some of the ways this discussion was previously framed, and recommend a more sound approach for assessing the #MIG's utility. #WriteFightWin

warontherocks.com/2025/11/thin...

In other #election news... I'm absolutely honored to be a new board member for @milwritersguild.bsky.social! I'm looking forward to developing the community of writers across the defense ecosystem. Congrats to the other new leaders, I'm eager to get after it alongside you. #WriteFightWin

We hate assessments because:

1. Doing them in a meaningful way is hard, and

2. We often don't like what they tell us.

It absolutely is, but that fantasy was central to the KMT under CKS well after it became militarily impossible. Elements of that fantasy remain decisive influences on the modern KMT identity and policy. 'One China' remains, although what that means, and to who, varies.

The book concludes that Taiwan's inability to forge a coherent strategy stems from these persistent divisions.

This is a compelling read and a necessary complement to those building a comprehensive understanding of Taiwanese politics, foreign policy, and mainland policy. #PME #ReadFightWin

The author's analysis demonstrates that the KMT’s alignment was primarily a strategic move to secure domestic political goals by collaborating with a "foreign foe" (the PRC) against "enemies from within" (the DPP).

The ultimate objective was internal: to re-establish the centrality of the #ROC as the legitimate “one China” with sovereignty over both Taiwan and the mainland.