Marine Corps Warfighting Lab - Core

Abstract

The Marine Corps Warfighting Laboratory (MCWL) examines lessons learned from current operations, explores emerging threats and opportunities, and explores Joint and emerging service concepts through concept-based experimentation in order to enhance current and future warfighting capabilities. MCWL conducts service experiments, service experiments in a joint force context, and participates in joint experimentation, using manual wargaming methods, modeling and simulation (M&S) supported virtual/constructive methods, and through live force experiments. Manual wargames are conducted to initially frame emerging warfighting concepts, establish the Joint context for Marine Corps Expeditionary Force Development System process, and establish priorities for development of experimental and non-experimental capabilities. M&S based events allow MCWL to examine capabilities with larger scale venues and forces than is practical with live forces at lower cost in terms of funding and in terms of operating force personnel and equipment. M&S also enables assessment of proposed capabilities before making investments in costly concept demonstrator technologies required in live force experiments. Live force experimentation permits exploration of prototype and surrogate technologies, as well as Tactics, Techniques, and Procedures (TTPs), in order to better refine equipment requirements and to identify Doctrine, Organization, Training, Materiel, Leadership, Personnel, and Facilities (DOTMLPF) initiatives needed to produce future capabilities. Experimentation encompasses inquiries into multiple warfighting areas, including: Combat Service Support (CSS) and Force Protection; Command, Control, Communications, and Computers (C4); Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR); Fires, Targeting, and Maneuver; and Warfighting Excellence. Using operational forces, MCWL conducts Advanced Warfighting Experiments (AWEs) supported by Limited Objective Experiments (LOEs), Limited Technical Assessments (LTAs), Wargames, and Studies. These events are planned and scheduled as part of a series of experimentation campaigns focusing on one or more central warfighting concepts. These campaigns are executed under the guidance of the Commandant of the Marine Corps (CMC) and under the auspices of the Deputy Commandant of the Marine Corps for Combat Development and Integration (D/C CD&I). The current MCWL Experiment Campaign Plan is focused on the challenges associated with the Enhanced Marine Air-Ground Task Force (MAGTF) Operations (EMO), Ship-To Objective Maneuver (STOM) and Seabasing concepts. This campaign began in FY 2011 and is forecasted to culminate with an AWE in 2015. EMO experimentation seeks to capitalize on the enhancements achieved during the previous MCWL campaign, Enhanced Company Operations (ECO), completed in FY 2010 which centered on expanding the combat capabilities of the Marine Infantry Company. EMO experimentation examines and develops the capabilities of other elements of the MAGTF beyond the infantry company. Focus areas for this effort are logistics, command and control (C2), and fires, targeting, and maneuver. During FY 2010, the Commandant of the Marine Corps (CMC) designated MCWL as the lead agency for all United States Marine Corps (USMC) Counter Improvised Explosive Device (CIED) activities, thereby expending MCWL's responsibilities in this critical area. Additionally, MCWL will continue to support the immediate needs of deployed forces and exploit opportunities presented by promising emerging technologies.

Document Details

• Document Type: Project
• Publication Date: Oct 01, 2013
• Source ID: 2297_0603640M_3_1319_PB_2013

Tags

Readers

• Enterprise Information Systems Architecture and Joint Command Capability Interoperability Support.
• Maritime Combat Support and Expeditionary Logistics.
• Military Training and Readiness Simulation

Technology Areas

• Fully Networked C3
• Fully Networked C3 - Command and Control