Educating the MAGTF Officer

Abstract

The MAGTF(Marine Air Ground Task Force) Education Syllabus of the Marine Corps Command and Staff College does not adequately address the integration of the MAGTF subordinate element's capabilities. By studying the integration of the several subordinate capabilities the students will increase their understanding of the MAGTF as an entity while learning to fully employ its military potential. As a result of the Marine Corps' amphibious World War II experience, and post-Korean War evolution, the MAGTF has been GCE dominated for most of its life. Its internal relationships do not facilitate interaction between subordinate elements and may best be described as supporting supported rather than as equal partnerships. The present generation of middle and senior leaders have grown up under this system. The MAGTF Education Syllabus of the Marine Corps Command and Staff College reinforces this view by adopting a functional approach to the study of MAGTF capabilities. This paper proposes that re-orienting the curriculum and dividing the subject into a group of facts and a body of concepts is a necessary point of departure. The two sub-courses are described in sequence. The first focuses on the specifics necessary to understand the mission capabilities, doctrine, and contentious issues associated with each capability. The second, following a chronological planning progression, focuses on the integration and synchronization of the MAGTF's subordinate capabilities onto a true MAGTF capability. The proposal recommends that a series of single service and Joint/Combined war gaming models be used by the students to apply the concepts examined. The future viability of the MAGTF hinges on our officer's ability to bridge the boundaries which define our individual communities and create a truly synergistic MAGTF capability. Education is the key to institutionalizing this organizational change.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Jan 01, 2008
Accession Number
ADA492168

Entities

People

  • T. A. Caughan

Organizations

  • Marine Corps University

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • C4I
  • Human Systems
  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Air Power
  • Amphibious Operations
  • Command And Control
  • Curriculum
  • Doctrine
  • Education
  • Employment
  • Logistics
  • Marine Corps
  • Military Science
  • Students
  • Task Forces
  • Training
  • United States
  • War
  • War Games
  • Warfare

Readers

  • Joint Military Operations and Doctrine.
  • Maritime Combat Support and Expeditionary Logistics.
  • STEM Education