The Marine Corps Warfighting Laboratory and Concept Based Experimentation: Armed to Fight in the 21st Century
Abstract
The U.S. Commission on National Security/21st Century concluded that the emerging security environment in the next quarter century would require different military capabilities. Further, the Commission determined that it is essential that the U.S. maintain technological superiority, despite the unavoidable tension between acquisition of advanced (future) capabilities and the required maintenance of current capabilities. The Marine Corps faces this dilemma as well. How to innovate for the 21st century while fulfilling its operational commitments today. The U.S. Commission's belief was penned in September 1999. The United States Marine Corps, however, began its transition thought process within the scope of Joint Vision 2010 (updated version JV 2020) in 1995 with the creation of the Marine Corps Warfighting Laboratory (MCWL). This paper will focus on whether the MCWL is successful in its approach to shaping the Corps' future with Concept Based Experimentation (CBE) as a credible concept and technology validation tool in the Corps' transformation to achieve JV2020 and National Military Strategy goals. I contend that it has been and continues to be successful as the principle methodology in validating concepts and creating capabilities for the Corps' operational forces.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Apr 20, 2001
- Accession Number
- ADA442661
Entities
People
- Jeremiah J. Walsh
Organizations
- National War College