Futures Directorate
Abstract
As a subordinate organization under the Deputy Commandant, Combat Development and Integration (DC, CD&I), the mission of the Futures Directorate (FD) is to identify plausible future security environments and develop and explore warfighting concepts and Concepts of Operations (CONOPS). It does this in order to identify potential future capability gaps and opportunities in order to inform future force development. DC, CD&I is designated as the United States Marine Corps (USMC) Advocate for Science and Technology (S&T). As Director FD, the Commanding General (CG) of the Marine Corps Warfighting Laboratory (MCWL) is the DC, CD&I designated Proponent of USMC S&T and serves as the USMC Executive Agent for Marine Corps S&T. 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. The current Futures Directorate Campaign Plan (FDCP) addresses how the Naval Services must reshape their capabilities in order to meet the concepts and CONOPS called for in the Secretary of the Navy's "Cooperative Strategy 21" and the Marine Corps' capstone "Expeditionary Force 21 (EF21)" concept. Execution of the FDCP results in recommendations to Marine Corps advocates and proponents so that they may more cohesively and logically structure the future Navy and Marine Corps team. In support of the Marine Corps' role to provide an ever-ready quick strike force to protect US interests, FDCP pursues concepts and new capabilities focused on the Marine Air-Ground Task Force (MAGTF). The MAGTF is the Marine Corps' doctrinal, task organized, force deployment package. It consists of four elements: the Command Element that provides overarching command and control (C2) of the entire force; the Ground Combat Element normally built around a core infantry unit with supporting armor, artillery, and other ground units; the Aviation Combat Element which provides aircraft, air defense, and other aviation functions; and the Logistics Combat Element which consists of combat service support (CSS) elements including medical, supply, and transportation. FDCP also examines future enhancements in training, organization, and equipment. FD accomplishes its mission through five subordinate Divisions: Futures Assessment Division's (FAD's) mission is to: research, examine, and describe plausible future security environments 15 to 30 years into the future. Knowledge of these future security environments will provide an estimate of possible future threats, challenges, and opportunities, to include: the rise of possible partners and adversaries, emerging disruptive technologies, and likely sources of conflict. This work is largely accomplished through research, seminar participation, and coordination with various experts in academia, the intelligence community, and think tanks. Emergent Force Development's (EFD's) mission is to: explore select future security environments, emerging warfighting opportunities and challenges in order to guide development of Marine Corps Service concepts and CONOPS. EFD is responsible for the production of formally published concepts, CONOPS, and options for future force organization and posture that describe how the Marine Corps will operate and fight. Three Divisions fall under CG, MCWL to conduct concept-based experimentation. MCWL's mission is to: explore and analyze Marine Corps service concepts using an integrated combination of research; modeling and simulation (M&S); wargaming; live force experimentation; S&T discovery, assessment, and integration; and analysis in order to better understand how these concepts expose gaps and create opportunities for future force development. Wargaming Division conducts formal wargames 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. Experiment Division conducts live force concept-based experimentation to facilitate 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. Science and Technology Division conducts investigations and assessments 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. MCWL investigates the relevance to EF21 capabilities and gaps of advanced technologies according to the following EF21 derived Thrust Areas: Command, Control, Communications, and Computers, Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (C4ISR); Autonomy and Robotics; MAGTF Fires; Maneuver; Expeditionary Logistics (to include Expeditionary Energy); Expeditionary Medicine; Cyber and Electronic Warfare (EW); and Force Protection. FD/MCWL investments encompass inquiries into multiple warfighting areas, including: CSS and Force Protection; MAGTF C4; MAGTF ISR; Fires, Targeting, and Maneuver; and Warfighting Excellence.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Project
- Publication Date
- Oct 01, 2017
- Source ID
- 2297_0603640M_3_1319_PB_2017
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