Expeditionary Force 21 (EF21) “provides guidance for how the Marine Corps Total Force – as an integral part of the lager naval and joint team – will be postured, organized, trained, and equipped to fulfill assigned public law and national policy responsibilities.” (Expeditionary Force 21 Capstone Concept p. 5). Expeditionary Force 21 is essentially the Marine Corps 10 year vision and action plan. According Week 1’s video presentation, EF21 seeks to: establish a forward presence of one-third of U.S. Marine Corps operational forces; establish regionally oriented units connected and integrated with theater staff; maintain modular forces capable of being tailored respective to the mission and requirement; possess a standing headquarters capable
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First and foremost, the MEU must return to its amphibious and expeditionary roots. Combat operations in Iraq and Afghanistan utilized Marines as occupying land and stability operations forces. The reading makes clear that Marines – and MEUs especially – are expeditionary in nature. Unlike the Army, Navy, and Air Force, the Marines are not intended to dominate the land, sea, and air, but rather be an expeditionary force. (EF21 Capstone p. 9). Amphibious raids –deliberate attacks from the sea involving a planned withdrawal – will likely become more common in the MEU mission set under the EF21 concept. Furthermore, MEUs must be prepared to redeploy within a short duration after completion of a mission. This will require re-deployment to be built into initial planning for combat operations, and might even result in the conduct of command and control from the amphibious platform throughout the duration of the operation.
This expeditionary mindset, coupled with the adjustment of our forward posture, will likely be an exhausting cycle for MEUs in particular. EF21 envisions a 1:2 deployment to dwell ratio for active forces, with 1/3 of forces forward deployed. (EF21 Capstone p. 16). To sustain this deployment cycle, MEUs must establish a robust individual mobilization augmentation detachment to act as a ‘ready bench’ for deployments. This will be critical in filling …show more content…
While tactical units have cyber capability, it is clear that cyber warfare can have strategic level implications. Cyber attacks can prevent littoral access and limit littoral maneuver capability, creating an additional layer of anti-access area-deniability (A2/AD). (Amphibious Foundations, p. 59). In order to defend against and respond to cyber threats as well as improve littoral maneuver capability, the MEU must develop a robust cyber capability within its command element (CE). Currently, the MEU CE possesses a cyberspace and electronic warfare coordination cell (CEWCC). (MEU Coursebook p. 12). However, just as cyber threats are expected to increase, so too must the MEU’s ability to combat them. The MEU must create a more robust cyber capability within the CEWCC, including subject matter experts in fields of fires, information operations, intelligence, and cyber law.
While the nature of war remains the same, the conduct of war will – and should – change. Over the course of the next 10 years, the MEU must evolve to successfully accommodate the concepts of EF21 and to remain the world’s premiere crisis response
First and foremost, the MEU must return to its amphibious and expeditionary roots. Combat operations in Iraq and Afghanistan utilized Marines as occupying land and stability operations forces. The reading makes clear that Marines – and MEUs especially – are expeditionary in nature. Unlike the Army, Navy, and Air Force, the Marines are not intended to dominate the land, sea, and air, but rather be an expeditionary force. (EF21 Capstone p. 9). Amphibious raids –deliberate attacks from the sea involving a planned withdrawal – will likely become more common in the MEU mission set under the EF21 concept. Furthermore, MEUs must be prepared to redeploy within a short duration after completion of a mission. This will require re-deployment to be built into initial planning for combat operations, and might even result in the conduct of command and control from the amphibious platform throughout the duration of the operation.
This expeditionary mindset, coupled with the adjustment of our forward posture, will likely be an exhausting cycle for MEUs in particular. EF21 envisions a 1:2 deployment to dwell ratio for active forces, with 1/3 of forces forward deployed. (EF21 Capstone p. 16). To sustain this deployment cycle, MEUs must establish a robust individual mobilization augmentation detachment to act as a ‘ready bench’ for deployments. This will be critical in filling …show more content…
While tactical units have cyber capability, it is clear that cyber warfare can have strategic level implications. Cyber attacks can prevent littoral access and limit littoral maneuver capability, creating an additional layer of anti-access area-deniability (A2/AD). (Amphibious Foundations, p. 59). In order to defend against and respond to cyber threats as well as improve littoral maneuver capability, the MEU must develop a robust cyber capability within its command element (CE). Currently, the MEU CE possesses a cyberspace and electronic warfare coordination cell (CEWCC). (MEU Coursebook p. 12). However, just as cyber threats are expected to increase, so too must the MEU’s ability to combat them. The MEU must create a more robust cyber capability within the CEWCC, including subject matter experts in fields of fires, information operations, intelligence, and cyber law.
While the nature of war remains the same, the conduct of war will – and should – change. Over the course of the next 10 years, the MEU must evolve to successfully accommodate the concepts of EF21 and to remain the world’s premiere crisis response