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The US Marine Corps's Exercise MOJAVE VIPER is a 30-day exercise designed to prepare Marines and sailors for Operation IRAQI FREEDOM (OIF) through a combined arms-exercise (CAX) training program that prepares combat forces for employment in full-spectrum operations during battle. The exercise is the leading edge of change in the way the Corps prepares for the long war. The close teamwork between the Operating Forces and the Supporting Establishment continues to provide the most relevant, accurate, and realistic training fighting forces need to achieve victory on complex, modern battlefields.

The National Museum of the Marine Corps (NMMC) is set for inauguration on 10 November 2006 and would be open to public on 12 November in Quantico, Virginia. The NMMC's mission is to preserve and exhibit the material history of the US Marine Corps, honor their commitment, accomplishments, and sacrifices, support recruitment, training, education and retention of Marines, and provide the public with a venue for the exploration of the Marine Corps history.

Relevance to contemporary and emerging warfighting requirements is the most significant measure of a military force and new operational and support concepts are designed to maintain this essential relevance. The US Marine Corp's continuing experience with a trio of seabased power projection concepts for combat development, namely seabasing, STOM, and distributed operations, is discussed and a few capabilities that can be included on the combat developer's list are proposed.

The Marine Corps needs to reexamine its core competencies in the existing security environment that is likely to give rise to irregular challenges and from the extensive combat experience in Iraq and Afghanistan, in order to adapt and innovate and maintain its greatest utility to the US. Operations Enduring Freedom (OEF) and Iraqi Freedom (OIF) have highlighted the core competencies of the Marine Corps, but formally developing and maintaining a capability and capacity for excellence in small wars or intervention activities as an additional core competency is essential.

The fundamental problems still remain even after the Commandant directed the Marine Corps to fix reconnaissance. Several steps taken by the US Marine Corps in fixing the 'fix reconnaissance' is discussed.

A study is conducted on the role of the Marine engineers in the reconstruction effort in Iraq. The Marine engineers are adapting their abilities to meet the more complex engineering needs of the Iraqi people, in spite of being sufficiently trained in a tactical environment in support of an expeditionary warfighting force.

A quick review of literature on strategic sourcing (as the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) dubbed the information-based enterprise-wide procurement approach) will yield a collection of truisms, the predictable [...]

A deputy Commandant for Aviation provides his annual assessment of Marine aviation with reference to his three priorities areas that include sustaining the current fight, modernizing the force, and preparing for the long war. He states that they would be implementing the Marine Aviation Transition Strategy in 2007, which is a phased, multiyear plan incorporating force structure changes to better balance the AC and RC capacity while simultaneously proving critical tables of organization (T/O) manpower increases to all flying squadrons and selected sections of the Marine air-ground (MAG) and Marine aircraft wing (MAW) headquarters.

The purpose of the Marines' Foreign Military Training Units (FMTU) teams is to intervene in selected countries and train local military forces to counter incipient terrorist threats. Each FMTU team is headed by a major, who would act as the external face of the team under that officer would be a captain who would be responsible for the day-to-day operation of the team.

The development of the first joint interagency coordination group (JIACG) created by the US Central Command is traced. The US Marine Corps is recommended to take the lead in developing the doctrine necessary to reduce the likelihood of future terrorist attacks with the help of effective interagency coordination.

The advance on Baghdad by coalition forces during March and April 2003 was one of the most startlingly successful military campaigns in modern history. Although no competent authority actually believed that the Iraqis would be able to turn back the American offensive, most were shocked by the speed, power, and agility of both the US Army and Marine Corps.

The past, present and the future of the air/naval gunfire liaison company (ANGLICO), which is one of the most unique, but least understood organizations in the Marine Corps, are discussed. The use of ANGLICO in Operations ENDURING FREEDOM (OEF) and IRAQI FREEDOM (OIF) and also the best use of ANGLICO in the future are explored.

Marine Corps will have to deal with small wars, prepare for their foreseeable evolution, structure their personnel, education, training and organizational policies to provide the Corps the mental and organizational flexibility to deal with inevitable uncertainty in the future. War has evolved from industrial-based warfare to information-based warfare and hence flexibility is the key to deal with this uncertainty.

San Diego, CA September 10-September 14, 2005 GREETINGS FROM THE NDTA BOARD OF DIRECTORS Welcome to NDTA's 59th Annual Forum and Exposition in San Diego! This year's theme, 'Partnering for [...]

The Marine Corps Tactical Systems Support Activity (MCTSSA), Camp Pendleton, California maintains and enhances US military's C4ISR infrastructure with a variety of advanced troubleshooting and analysis tools. Teams of technical experts are also embedded by MCTSSA to provide on-site support to deployed units.

The lessons learnt from Operation Iraqi Freedom II (OIF II) operations, which have been characterized by a wide change in missions and responsibilities as compared to OIF I, are described. Marines have been continuously engaged in stability and support operations (SASO) requiring unremitting engagement with insurgent and terrorist factions and they are continuously learning and reconfirming lessons that are relevant to SASO.

The 3d Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment (3/4) conducted a series of related military stability and support operations (SASO) from 10 March to 10 July 2004 that enabled the transfer of sovereignty to the Iraqi Interim Government. The countersurgency campaign and Marine SASO in Haditha District, Al Anbar Province are examined and it is also demonstrated that the current doctrinal principals of military operations other than war (MOOTW) combined with the lessons from the Small Wars Manual do work in SASO.

The key initiatives that are shaping aviation logistics (AvLog) for the near, mid-, and long-term and their influence on Marine aviation and Marine air-ground task forces (MAGTFs) for continued warfighting success are discussed. The AvLog strategy is described and managed by the Marine AvLog Campaign Plan, which provides a means to identify the goal and synchronize efforts with a comprehensive execution matrix.

During the Cold War, the United States deployed its Armed Forces to support the national objectives of various countries around the globe. The majority of those operations were short in [...]

It was confirmed that the former Intelligence system was inadequate during the combat success in the Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) I. The leaders have decided to develop a tactical fusion center (TFC), which is one of the components of an overall strong intelligence effort for Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) II.

A special report on procurement of Multimission Maritime Aircraft, H-1 helicopters, MV-22 Ospery, Expeditionary fighting vehicle, Dragon eye unmanned aerial vehicle, by the services is presented. The features and other details of procurement are provided.

The US Army and Marine Corps would be using the supplemental fund to underwrite service reorganization and procurement plans. The US government officials state that the money is essential for the current military operations in Afghanistan and Iraq.

The Naval Transformation Roadmap describes the manner in which the naval forces will achieve the nine transformational warfighting capabilities that should be created and improved by the Navy-Marine Corps team. The Naval Transformation Roadmap organizes these transformational capabilities, which mutually support the concepts that will optimize and maximize the advantages to the navy.

US Marine Corps has redeployed 25,000 Marines to Iraq after the major combat operation of Iraqi Freedom in 2004. This redeployment is to combat a burgeoning insurgency in Iraq.

The Marine Corps Warfighting Laboratory (MCWL) is focusing on Sea Vikeng, a series of experiments meant to determine whether a forward deployed Marine air-ground task force (MAGTF) could conduct immediate joint forcible entry operations. Thus, the study intends to develop and assess selected additional capabilities that a forward deployed, seabased MAGTF needs to conduct distributed operations from the seabase.

The challenges faced by the 1st Battalion, 7th Marines (1/7) after defeating Saddam Hussein and became the single center of authority in Iraq are described. Marine Corps' stability operations in Iraq and the transition seen in Baghdad are illustrated.

The bold and aggressive actions taken to implement business initiatives since they are imperative to war fighting excellence and the achievement is discussed. The people and the activities of the Marine Corps business enterprise ensure that support is provided to the war fighter at the right time, in the right quantity, and in the right place.

The importance of logistics in the successful operation of the Marine Expeditionary Force (MEF) in Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) is stressed. The planning and the strategies employed by the 1st Force Service Support Group (1st FSSG) are detailed.

The strength of the Marine Corps. lie in their planning processes as well as in the flexibility of operation, once the execution commences are deliberated on. The key logistics challenges like greater effectiveness of intransit visibility, easy access and availability of medical supplies and repair parts and better line haul support are enlisted.

The role of the Marine Logistics Command (MLC) in theater and the tasks executed by it are described. Issues regarding equipment, the organization and the training required for the success of the MLC are discussed.

The issues pertaining to the operation of the Marine air-ground task force (MAGTF) in a seabased environment beyond 2010 are discussed. The role of seabased logistics in enabling naval and joint operations is elaborated.

A Marine Corps Reserve Forces team was formed to operate an element of the overall combat assessment effort and to analyze Reserve issues indepth as Reserve forces would play a major role in Operation Iraqi Freedom. The highlights of a report that lays out the major Reserve issues with conclusions and recommendations are presented.

The concept of distributed operations introduced is an additional capability that is applicable across the full range of military operations. The concept responds to changes in the current and projected security environment and describes how adaptive Marine Corps maneuver forces provide an enhanced, immediate response capability required by the combatant commanders.

The MarForRes Mobilization Assessment Team was established in order to rapidly capture and disseminate observations and lessons learned concerning mobilization/demobilization, training, equipment, and organization. A review of 11 key issues requiring implementation with Marine Forces Reserve to enhance reserve mobilization and combat readiness is presented.

The Marine Corps Reserve has demonstrated its ability to augment and reinforce the Active Component in time of war by deploying worldwide and performed missions across the full scope of military operations. It is also engaged and prepared to provide trained, balanced, and sustainable forces in support of the global war on terrorism.

'Rich, high density, time sensitive, complex processing of data that is in high demand by fast paced consumers (e.g., USMC commanders) must be forward or it will be irrelevant.' --Major [...]

An overview of the contribution of the US Marine Corps aviation in US war efforts is presented with particular reference to the role played by the Marine air-ground task force (MAGTF) in Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF). Although Marine aviators continue to believe that their main job is to provide support to the Marines on the ground, they have participated in joint operations in World War II and that OIF has witnessed an unprecedented integration of the Marine Corps aviation into a joint force.

A detailed case study that includes steps, strategies, and best practices for tackling the important first steps in transformation through supporting the Marine air command and control system (MACCS) community is presented. Getting engaged in consensus-building workshops, and conducting an economic order quantity analysis are the two initial steps recommended for supporting the upfront planning for transformation.

The issues involving command, control, communications, staffing, equipment, and tactics are discussed. An analysis of the performance in Operation IRAQI FREEDOM I (OIF) indicates that the flexibility and responsiveness of Marine aviation were responsible for the success in OIF and it suggests to learn from the mistakes made.

The Deputy Commandant (DC) for American Aviation provides his annual assessment. He reveals that the success of Marine aviation is based on a single naval solution using one team and one vision.

Sea Basing is the transformational plan of the U.S. sea services that provides a wealth of opportunities for businesses. The implementation of sea basing has brought success to the Marine Corps in the operation Iraqi Freedom evidencing a transformation in full swing.

The U.S. Marine Corps is providing Marines with the ability to communicate over the horizon by connecting communities of networks through points of presence, helping to determine the next-generation tactics, techniques and procedures. The command and control, the Move Network, Digital Over the Horizon Relay, known as CONDOR, is a gateway that fits into a standard transport box that can be loaded onto high-mobility multipurpose-wheeled vehicles, which facilitates the U.S. Marines to communicate with each other on the battlefield.

The United States Marine Corps infantry units are struggling to reestablish both the Marine expeditionary unit (special operations capable) (MEU(SOC)) and the unit deployment program (UDP). Most of the Operating forces are committed to deployment cycle leaving none for major contingencies.

The transition of Operation Iraqi Freedom from hostile combat operations to peace support operations on 11 April 2003 has given the Western military forces to look at the realities and mandates of 21st century asymmetric warfare. The combat actions of the US Marine Corps in Iraq and the way the service is absorbing lessons learned in Iraq are discussed.

The Navy and Marine Corps provide the full spectrum of precise, responsive, and persistent combat capabilities to US' nine combatant commands, including the Central Command, Pacific Command, and the Joint Forces Command. The Navy League of the United States believes that to provide for the common defense is, and must always be, the most important responsibility of the federal government.

The Marine Corps Doctrinal Publication 1-0 (MCDP 1-0) describes about the way the Marine Corps conducts its operations to support the national military strategy in naval, joint and multinational operations. It also provides an operational overview that influences the development of the tactics, techniques, and procedures (TTP) of the Marine Corps.