[Svartalfiar]

My guess is that the new force structure is intended to permit rapid deployment of Marines to SE Asia to dispute or control large areas of sea and littoral.

And how does the guidance accomplish that task? The related parts I see from this article are decreasing littoral/amphibious capabilities, not increasing them. The guidance reduces ... amphibious vehicle companies (from 6 to 4), helicopter attack squadrons (from 7 to 5), and the number of F-35Bs in its air squadrons.

[Rockingham]

The cuts are no doubt to free up cash for new weapons and capabilities.