United States Marine Corps In-brief 22 feb 08

OUTLINE HISTORY STRATEGIC CONCEPT HOW THE MARINE CORPS FIGHTS Founding Battles Traditions STRATEGIC CONCEPT The Marine Corps’ Strategic Concept Five Pillars of the Institution Why Are We Unique? HOW THE MARINE CORPS FIGHTS How We Fight Introduction to the MAGTF Employment CURRENT OPERATIONS DISCUSSION

Founding 10 November 1775 2nd Continental Congress “Resolved that two battalions of Marines be raised, and that particular care be taken, that no persons be appointed to office, or enlisted into said battalions, but such are good seamen, or so acquainted with maritime affairs as to be able to serve to advantage by sea, when required…that they be enlisted and commissioned for the present war between Great Britain and the colonies, unless dismissed by Congress. That they be distinguished by the names of the 1st and 2nd battalions of American Marines.”

Battles 1776 New Providence, Bahamas 1805 To the Shores of Tripoli Battle of Chapultepec Blood stripe Boxer Rebellion 1914 Veracruz The Great War Belleau Wood “Retreat hell, we just got here” Devil dog World War II Gen Lejeune Guadalcanal Tarawa

Battles, cont’d. World War II Korea Iwo Jima “Among the Americans who fought and died at Iwo Jima, uncommon valor was a common virtue” – Admiral Chester A. Nimitz Okinawa Korea Frozen Chosin Col ‘Chesty’ Puller

Battles, cont’d. Vietnam 32nd MAU 1983 Grenada 1989 Panama Tet ANGLICO GySgt Carlos Hathcock 32nd MAU 23 October 1983 1983 Grenada 1989 Panama Manuel Noriega 1991 Operation Desert Storm 100 hours 1992 Somalia

Traditions EGA Blood Stripe Nicknames Semper Fi Marine Corps Birthday Eagle: Nation Globe: Worldwide Service Anchor: Naval Traditions Blood Stripe Nicknames Leatherneck Devil Dog Semper Fi Marine Corps Birthday Selected Vocabulary Naval terminology Colorful language

STRATEGIC CONCEPT “Victorious warriors win first and then go to war, while defeated warriors go to war first and then try to win.” Sun Tzu “If a service does not possess a well-defined strategic concept, the public and political leaders will be confused as to the role of the service, uncertain as to the necessity of its existence, and apathetic or hostile to the claims made by the service upon the resources of the society.” Samuel P. Huntington

Strategic Concept A versatile, balanced expeditionary striking force Naval in character At a high state of readiness Capable of containing international disturbances short of war Most ready when the nation is least ready Source: The second session of the 82nd Congress, 1952

Why We Are Unique Self-contained air-ground striking force Only service tasked by Congress to operate combined arms in three dimensions: air, land, and sea “Every Marine a Rifleman” Versatile and flexible organizational approach The MAGTF Extraordinary strategic reach 70% of the world’s population within 200 miles of coastline Only service specifically tasked by Congress to be able to operate combined arms in three dimensions: air, land, and sea. The requirement demands a self-contained air-ground fighting force Common operational mindset – “Every Marine a Rifleman” Every Marine, regardless of specialty, is fundamentally the same All are forged from a common experience, share a common set of values, and are trained as a cohesive air-ground team Employ a versatile and flexible organizational approach Marine Air-Ground Task Forces, or MAGTFs, are a flexibly tailored force for specific missions Emphasizing whatever capability is required to accomplish the task at hand – combat or support, land or air, light or heavy Soldiers of the Sea Inextricably linked to the U.S. Navy Navy-Marine expeditionary forces are routinely forward-deployed around the world Extraordinary strategic reach with the ability to touch the majority of the world’s population 70% of the world’s population lives within 200-miles of the coastline No other service is tasked, by law, to be the “most ready when the nation is generally least ready.”

‘Arc of Instability’ >20% Population Undernourished <50% Population Have Access to Clean Water High Earthquake Risk ? Nuclear Armed States Significant Drug Production Extensive Oil Reserves Our view of the future has also been informed by a variety of sources and considerations. Independent sources such as the National Geographic Society provide useful data about environmental conditions that may lead to conflict. Shown here are the major areas of the world that are prone to long term food and water shortchanges (vice short-term famine or drought), which in turn lead to significant health crises. We’ve plotted areas prone to earthquakes and the associated tsunamis. Also shown are proven oil reserves as well as other reserves of known location but undetermined size. Additionally, we’ve plotted established drug producing regions. With a few exceptions, these overlays tend to reinforce the idea of an arc of instability. Not shown here but also reinforcing that idea are the Marine Corps Intelligence Activity’s top 20 “States of Interest,” 18 of which are within the arc. The MCIA Midrange Threat Estimate also predicts the type of operations Marines will by committed to through 2015, which are very similar TO the NDS, QDR, and SPG projections. Both the historical data and future projections have significantly shaped our concept development.

A Force in Readiness Wins battles, not wars Has global perspective Not focused on any particular threat Crisis response International disturbances Attack against our nation or interests “Operations other than war” Disaster relief Humanitarian Assistance Evacuation of American citizens First on the scene Winning wars is the primary responsibility of the Army, Air Force, or Navy Pursuant to this role the Corps has had to maintain a global perspective which is not focused on any particular threat. Rather, the Corps focused on its role as a crisis response force International Crisis- A crisis ranges from military attack against our nation or interests, to acts of political violence against Americans abroad, to “operations other than war” such as disaster relief or evacuation of American citizens. Marines train to be the first on the scene, first to fight, first to quell disturbances, and first to help. As a national force in readiness, experience has taught us that we must be ready for instantaneous world-wide action 365 days a year

A Force of Innovation Fighting “smarter, not harder” Warfighting Laboratory Sea Dragon Process Ignored “conventional” wisdom Fosters experimentation with new concepts and technologies Amphibious Doctrine Close Air Support Pioneered the use of helicopters Vertical short-takeoff and landing (V/STOL) aircraft

A Force of Economy No other force offers more “bang for the buck” 6% of the Defense Budget buys … 12% of active U.S. forces 23% of active ground divisions 14% of all available tactical aircraft

MAGTF Core Comps. Expeditionary readiness Combined arms operations Respond instantaneously to world-wide crises, 365 days a year Combined arms operations A multi-dimensional force with the ability to respond without immediate support Expeditionary operations Prepared for the austere Everything necessary to accomplish the mission Sea-based operations Provides extraordinary strategic reach Means to influence the shaping of the international environment Forcible entry Unilateral action, projecting power ashore in a theater without forward bases Amphibious assault Reserve Integration

MAGTF Elements Four common organizational elements Vary in size and composition according to the mission Command Element (CE) Ground Combat Element (GCE) Aviation Combat Element (ACE) Combat Service Support Element (CSSE) Combat team formed around a ground maneuver unit comprising infantry, tanks, or light armored vehicles reinforced with the necessary artillery, transport, combat engineer, and reconnaissance assets Aviation Combat Element (ACE) – composed of requisite air control agencies, helicopters and fixed wing squadrons, surface-to-air missile units, and aviation-unique combat service support Combat Service Support Element (CSSE) – provides the full range of combat service capabilities necessary to sustain and maintain the MAGTF. CSSE gives the MAGTF the organic ability to operate for extended periods in an austere expeditionary environment

1 4 2 MAGTFs Special Purpose MAGTF Marine Expeditionary Unit Joint Task Force HQ Homeland Defense Bases/Stations MAGTF Command Element Combat Service Support Element Ground Aviation Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU)~2,200 Forward Engagement Marine Expeditionary Brigade This overarching vision describes how future naval forces offer a flexible range of modular and scalable force packages that better provide immediate response and reinforcing capabilities needed by the Combatant Commanders. The vision offers an enhanced capability to support the Combatant Commander through Phase Zero engagement and, in the early stage of a crisis, by enabling the stand up of the JTF command element in theater. In this scenario the MAGTF provides initial intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance and enables the introduction and operations of Joint forces, to include special operations forces. Forward deployed ESG with MEU(SOC)s will provide the capability for Immediate Response, whether in generating or exploiting actionable intelligence, employing organic and/or joint fires, or establishing a command and control capability. The rapid deployment of a MPF(F) MEB will enable the rapid execution of joint forcible entry operations, further enabling and sustaining follow on joint force operations ashore. The MEB will be organized, trained and equipped to prosecute operations across the full range of military activities. The MEF, with much of its administrative and logistics tail afloat in an offshore sea base, will conduct decisive operations. Once operational level objectives are secured the MEF will reconstitute and redeploy, ready for the next contingency. (MEB)~15,000 Swiftly Defeat the Efforts Marine Expeditionary Force (MEF)~20-90K Decisively Defeat

The MEU (SOC) Most highly trained elements of the MEF Intensive 26-week pre-deployment training and certification program Capable of executing a full range of operations Humanitarian assistance to combat raids Selected maritime “direct action” operations Plan and execute any of 23 missions within six hours of notification MEUs are among the most highly trained elements of the MEF To earn the designation, “special operations capable,” each MEU undergoes an intensive 26-week, standardized pre-deployment training and certification program Capable of executing a full range of conventional operations From humanitarian assistance to combat raids - as well as selected maritime “direct action” operations Hallmark of the MEU Ability to plan and execute any assigned mission within six hours of notification, and able to conduct multiple missions simultaneously

CURRENT OPERATIONS

Selected Deployments Marine Corps Times map would be best (most current)

Questions?

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