Littoral Operations in a Contested Environment

Berger: Marines Focused on China in Developing New Way to Fight in the Pacific

Marines assigned to the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) Maritime Raid Force prepare to board the amphibious dock landing ship USS Ashland (LSD-48) from a Rigid-Hull Inflatable Boat (RHIB) on June 23, 2019. US Marine Corps Photo

THE PENTAGON – The Marine Corps continues its drive to become a more agile and maritime-focused force that can respond to tensions quickly and buy decision space for military leaders and diplomats, the commandant said.

The service sees China as the pacing threat to...

https://news.usni.org/2019/10/02/berger-marines-focused-on-china-in-developing-new-way-to-fight-in-the-pacific

Navy, Marines Practice ‘Littoral Combat Force’ Construct in Alaska

U.S. Marines with Marine Wing Support Squadron 371 set up at a forward arming and refueling point (FARP) as a CH-53E from Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 361 flies overhead during Arctic Expeditionary Capabilities Exercise (AECE) in Adak, Alaska on Sept. 18, 2019. US Marine Corps Photo

The Navy and Marine Corps recently used a new Littoral Combat Force concept to command and control units spread over 2.2 million square miles of land and sea, in the latest demonstration of what a future...

https://news.usni.org/2019/09/23/navy-marines-practice-littoral-combat-force-construct-in-alaska

Marine Planners Using Commandant’s Guidance to Start Crafting Future of the Corps

U.S. Marines with Task Force Koa Moana (TF KM) conducts a night live fire exercise during the TF KM Mission Rehearsal Exercise at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Calif. on July 19, 2018. US Marine Corps Photo

MARINE CORPS BASE QUANTICO, Va. – Two months after new Commandant of the Marine Corps Gen. David Berger released his commandant’s planning guidance, the Marines charged with plotting how the service will operate in the future showed a glimpse into how the new guidance is shaping their...

https://news.usni.org/2019/09/18/marine-planners-using-commandants-guidance-to-start-crafting-future-of-the-corps

How to Seize Islands, Set Up a Forward Refueling Point: Marine Corps Recipes for Expeditionary Operations

A Marine with Echo Company, Battalion Landing Team, 2nd Battalion, 1st Marines, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, posts security during a simulated airfield seizure after a long-range raid from the amphibious assault ship USS Wasp (LHD 1) at Ie Shima Training Facility, Okinawa, Japan, Aug. 12, 2019. US Marine Corps photo.

The U.S. Marine Corps has been refining a pair of related concepts, Expeditionary Advance Base Operations (EABO) and the overarching Littoral Operations in a Contested...

https://news.usni.org/2019/09/13/how-to-seize-islands-set-up-a-forward-refueling-point-marine-corps-recipes-for-expeditionary-operations

New Commandant Berger Sheds 38-Amphib Requirement in Quest to Modernize USMC for High-End Fight

U.S. Marine Corps AAV-P7/A1 assault amphibious vehicles assigned to Combat Assault Company, 3rd Marine Regiment, unload service members during an amphibious landing demonstration as part of Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) exercise at Pyramid Rock Beach on Marine Corps Base Hawaii July 29, 2018. US Marine Corps photo.

New Commandant of the Marine Corps Gen. David Berger outlined his largely naval priorities for the Marine Corps, and he’s willing to shed some key tenets of the Marines’ amphibious...

https://news.usni.org/2019/07/18/new-commandant-berger-sheds-38-amphib-requirement-in-quest-to-modernize-usmc-for-high-end-fight

New High-End Amphibious Warfare Tactics Tested at BALTOPS 2019

Marines assigned to 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit (22 MEU) establish communications with the Polish Lubin-class mine layer-landing ship ORP Gniezno during exercise Baltic Operations (BALTOPS) 2019 on June 16, 2019. US Navy Photo

ABOARD USS MOUNT WHITNEY, IN THE BALTIC SEA – Amphibious forces in BALTOPS 2019 tested out new, high-end tactics for the first time in a live exercise, working in a less-rigid structure that allows enablers like air-defense or anti-submarine ships, mine clearance teams...

https://news.usni.org/2019/06/25/new-high-end-amphibious-warfare-tactics-tested-at-baltops-2019

Lt. Gen. David Berger Nominated as Next Marine Corps Commandant

Commandant of the Marine Corps Gen. Robert B. Neller, left, speaks to Lt. Gen. David H. Berger before a change of command at Marine Corps Base Hawaii on Aug. 8, 2018. US Marine Corps Photo

WASHINGTON, D.C. — A key architect of the Marine’s future fight in an era of great power competition was tapped Tuesday to be the next commandant of the Marine Corps, according to a Congressional notification.

Lt. Gen. David Berger, the current commander of Marine Corps Combat Development Command, is a career...

https://news.usni.org/2019/03/27/lt-gen-david-berger-nominated-next-marine-corps-commandant

Pacific Blitz Tests How Navy, Marines Could Fight the Next Island Campaign

Construction Electrician Constructionman George Feldman, assigned to Naval Construction Battalion 5 (NMCB-5), mans a .50-caliber machine gun while standing security watch on Marine Corps Camp Pendleton, Calif., in support of Exercise Pacific Blitz 2019 on March 12, 2019. US Navy Photo

As amphibious exercise Pacific Blitz 2019 wraps up today, senior commanders already are reviewing after-action lessons and thinking ahead to future exercises that will help develop, train and prepare forces for...

https://news.usni.org/2019/03/26/pacific-blitz-tests-navy-marines-fight-next-island-campaign

Marines’ Next High-End Fight Could Call for Larger Formations, Tougher Amphibs

U.S. Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Jose Nieves, an infantryman with 3rd Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division tests Step In Visor and Low Profile Mandible during Urban Advanced Naval Technology Exercise 2018 (ANTX-18) at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California, March 21, 2018. US Marine Corps photo.

ARLINGTON, Va. – The Marine Corps is preparing for a high-end distributed fight inside island chains in the Pacific, and the service is pushing the Navy to invest in additional weapons...

https://news.usni.org/2019/01/23/marines-next-high-end-fight-call-larger-formations-tougher-amphibs

Navy Planning for Gray-Zone Conflict; Finalizing Distributed Maritime Operations for High-End Fight

Sailors assigned to Explosive Ordnance Disposal Unit 5, fast rope from an MH-60S Knight Hawk assigned to Helicopter Sea Combat (HSC) 12 in 2018. US Navy Photo

THE PENTAGON – The Navy has a good idea of how to fight a high-end war, but how to handle aggression short of conflict will take some more thought.

Chief of Naval Operations Adm. John Richardson released a new strategy document this week that notes a “conceptual challenge” on the lower end of the warfare spectrum. The strategy document is...

https://news.usni.org/2018/12/19/navy-planning-for-gray-zone-conflict-finalizing-distributed-maritime-operations-for-high-end-fight

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