Maybe it was only me, but I did cringe a bit in the first paragraph: "the Marines became the first service to begin operating the F-35 fighter, a multi-role strike aircraft that in the Marine version can land and take off vertically (similar to a helicopter) while remaining invisible to enemy radar...:"
Sorry Mr. Thompson, the F-35 will only do VTO as perhaps an airshow trick, and will never be "invisible"
The piece does highlight a lack of foresight and commitment with US Army aviation, but it is important to remember the USMC has most always had an emphasis on maneuver and innovation with such things as landing craft, AMTRACS, Cobra, AV8A/B, assault helicopters from the sea, organic heavy lift, MV-22...