New Concept

Just posted: a copy of the Marine Corps Operating Concept. The 155-page volume, dated June 2010, is the Corps' third edition. Lt. Gen. George Flynn, deputy commandant for combat development and integration, has this to say in a foreword:

In these pages, you won’t find an answer to every problem posed by the future. Instead, you should consider it as both a window into many different futures and a mirror to allow you to reflect upon your own ability to operate within them. Many of the words and phrases herein -- power projection, seabasing, crisis response, enhanced MAGTF operations, engagement and countering irregular threats -- should be very familiar to all Marines. Don’t let this familiarity lure you into thinking there is nothing new within these pages. Old ideas can take on an entirely new life when placed with a new context - and if there is one constant reflected in our view of the future, it is that there is no longer a single context but many.

Inside the Navy had an early look at the volume and moved a story -- "Marine Operating Concepts: Service Must Get Lighter, Return To The Sea" -- early this week. Here is the top:

The Marine Corps post-Afghanistan must get lighter and return to operations staged from ships, which could include large Navy surface combatants and Coast Guard cutters, according to new operating concepts slated for release this week.

The document titled “The Marine Corps Operating Concepts: Assuring Littoral Access . . . Winning Small Wars” was obtained by Inside the Navy ahead of its official release set for June 29.

The 155-page document, which includes an annex on strategic communications, is divided into seven chapters covering an overview of the Marine Corps’ roots and uniqueness from the other military services, mission command, enhanced Marine Air-Ground Task Force (MAGTF) operations, engagement, crisis response, power projection and countering irregular threats.

Lightening the load that individual Marines carry and the overall weight of service equipment is paramount to the concepts described in the document.