Marine Corps Warfighting Lab - Core
Abstract
As part of the Futures Directorate (FD), of Combat Development and Integration (CD&I), the Commanding General (CG) of the Marine Corps Warfighting Laboratory (MCWL) also serves as the United States Marine Corps (USMC) Executive Agent for Marine Corps Science and Technology (S&T). MCWL's mission is to enhance the current and determine the future Marine Corps strategic landscape. This is accomplished by assessing the Marine Corps' next warfighting concepts and capabilities via development and evaluation of innovative tactics, techniques, procedures, organizations, and technologies using an integral combination of concept based experimentation, technology assessments, wargaming, and analysis which will provide the strategic axis of advance for the Corps' entire enterprise. The FD also serves as the Marine Corps' liaison to the Joint Staff for Joint Concept Development and Experimentation; thereby facilitating service-specific experiments as well as participation in joint service experimentation. Wargames are conducted to frame emerging warfighting concepts, establish the Joint context for the Marine Corps Force Development System, and establish priorities for development of experimental and non-experimental capabilities. Modeling and Simulation (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. Technology investigations, investments, and assessments are conducted to identify, modify where appropriate, and evaluate technological capabilities that support advanced warfighting concepts, and to explore the military utility of promising new commercial or government technologies in support of urgent and compelling needs. 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 focused 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 (DC), CD&I. The current Futures Directorate Campaign Plan (FDCP), formerly the MCWL Campaign Plan (MCP) addresses 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 projected to culminate with an Advanced Warfighting Experiment (AWE) in 2014. 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. Upon completion of EMO experimentation in FY 2014, MCWL will shift focus in FY 2015 to experimentation based on the challenges associated with achieving the goals expressed in the Secretary of the Navy's "Cooperative Strategy 21" and the Marine Corps' follow-on "Expeditionary Force 21" (EF21) concept. MCWL will pursue experimentation that support flexible and sustainable MAGTFs employing distributed tactical formations across the range of military operations. MCWL will also examine future enhancements in training, organization, and equipment for immediate crisis response, with projects such as such as Fly-in Integrated Command Element (FICE). The goal of this concept-based line of experimentation is to support the continued operationalization of the concepts of Distributed Operations (DO), Operational Maneuver From The Sea (OMFTS), STOM, and Seabasing. Finally, the CMC designated MCWL as the lead agency for all USMC Counter Improvised Explosive Device (CIED) activities, thereby extending MCWL's responsibilities in this critical area. MCWL continues 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, 2015
- Source ID
- 2297_0603640M_3_1319_PB_2015
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