I think he means well. It's just hard for the elite to shake off their sense of eliteness.
If he had a chance to spend some time with the marines he'd probably be willing to learn, unlike many reporters.
If the guy is truly being insulting to Marines, I'm in no way defending him; however, I am left wondering if he is trying to be satirically sarcastic, by writing as the left view the military, and he is just not very good at it.