1. United States Marine Corps In-brief 22 feb 08

2. 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

3. 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.”

4. 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

5. 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

6. 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

7. 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

8. 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

9. 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

10. 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.”

11. ‘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.

12. 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

13. 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

14. 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

15. 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

16. 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

17. 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

18. 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

19. CURRENT OPERATIONS

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

21. Questions?

22. And don’t forget…
Participate in Marine Corps training at Officer Candidate’s School in Quantico, VA 3-4 April.
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