Getting to the Fight: The First Operational Task

Abstract

The Force Deployment Planning and Execution (FDP&E) process has evolved significantly since the beginning of the 20th century. The requirement for interoperability within a joint and combined environment has made this process even more challenging as we push into the next century. Goldwater-Nichols provided an organizational framework that will continue to influence and shape planning and execution in the future. This paper focuses on the Marine Corps' readiness within the FDP&E process. Ties to DoD-wide readiness are provided to highlight guidance received from the Joint Staff and to compare the Marine Corps' progress with other services. Sources used for this paper include internal and external studies, Marine Corps doctrine and publications, Joint Staff doctrine and publications, official message traffic, briefings, lecture notes, and periodical articles. DoD and the Marine Corps have realized that deficiencies within the FDP&E process exist. The Joint Staff commissioned the Deployment Planning Special Action Group (DPSAG) to review the process and provide recommendations for improvement. The Marine Corps also initiated a plan for improvement by utilizing the Center for Naval Analyses (CNA) to review their procedures and provide recommendations for change. DPSAG and CNA both provided valuable recommendations that would influence doctrine, organization, training, and equipment issues related to FDP&E. DoD and the Marine Corps have reviewed these recommendations and have made some institutional changes that should improve their efforts within FDP&E-related issues. Four years have passed since the initial reviews and the FDP&E process still remains inefficient. Doctrine and Automated Information Systems challenges continue to be the most difficult issues to overcome. The Marine Corps' FDP&E process requires significant doctrinal and equipment enhancements if it is to comply with the guidance contained in Joint Vision 2010.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Jan 01, 2000
Accession Number
ADA525920

Entities

People

  • R. M. Parsons

Organizations

  • Marine Corps University

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Human Systems
  • Materials and Manufacturing Processes

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Application Software
  • Combatant Commanders
  • Contingency Operations (Military)
  • Doctrine
  • Employment
  • Information Systems
  • Management Personnel
  • Military History
  • Military Science
  • National Security
  • Organizational Structure
  • Personnel Management
  • Students
  • United States
  • United States Transportation Command
  • War Colleges
  • Warfare

Readers

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