What Will Help Marines Prepare For Future Wars? Why, Science Fiction, Of Course

That's right, the U.S. Marine Corps hired science fiction writers to come up with ideas for future scenarios. "The stories share common themes of political chaos, a rising China, a less-powerful and more inward-looking United States, conflicts over environmental resources, and the growth of megacities in the developing world. For Marines, who are the first US boots on the ground in the toughest situations, the toughest challenges may stem from the latter."