Command and Control in Littoral Operations
Abstract
The current operational concepts of the sea services describe a complex littoral environment with dense urban areas and highly sophisticated threats posed by both state and non-state actors that can reach across domains and influence land, air and sea. This evolving Anti-Access/Area-Denial (A2/AD) environment challenges long-held assumptions about the ease with which the United States can project power ashore without accepting significant risk to American naval forces. In future littoral operations, the United States will need to use a force that can seamlessly operate across domains in an uncertain or hostile environment. Amphibious forces are the ideal instrument for such an environment, but they will need to be able to operate over vast distances and to repeatedly cross between domains to neutralize threats and accomplish the mission. Current doctrinal amphibious command and control (C2) relationships are ineffective for an integrated naval force operating in this environment. In likely future littoral operations, a Marine Expeditionary Brigade/ Expeditionary Strike Group (MEB/ESG)-sized Amphibious Force (AF) will need to employ distributed forces ashore and afloat for a prolonged period in areas where sea control is still in dispute. In these operations, the optimal command structure is a unified commander with an integrated staff to ensure unity of effort, the efficient use of staff officers and the speed of the AF decision-making cycle.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- May 13, 2016
- Accession Number
- AD1021504
Entities
People
- Mark Nostro
Organizations
- Naval War College