FORCE DEVELOPMENT FOCUS AREA

Command and Control Force Development Focus Area Summery:

Improve communications within-to-from the MAGTF to ensure the reliable information flow in a tech denied environment.  Includes:

• Terrestrial communications system with a 65 nm minimum range via line of sight, retransmission, relay, or combinations of all three means.
• Ability to send limited data via a terrestrial communications system or systems with a 65 nm minimum range via line of sight ground to ground, an unlimited distance via amplification/retransmission/relay, or combinations of all means.

A single GCE radio system whether walking, on a ship, in a MV22 or mounted:

• Reduce systems with duplicative capabilities in order to streamline maintenance, training, and increase efficiency and effectiveness across the force.
• Explore the use of ground communication systems aboard Navy shipping, specifically in the landing force operations center and the supporting arms control center.
• C2 capability in MMV-22 and C-130 as a requirement, not ad hoc installation.

Command and Control / NET Centric: Force Development Focus Area:

Given the anticipated complexity, tempo, and distributed nature of future power projection operations, naval forces will require both advanced information technology and flexible command relationships to support an increased level of coordination and integration among all elements of the force. We will need improved integration with garrison-like  non-classified internet protocol network (NIPRNET) and secret internet protocol network (SIPRNET) network management tools, processes, images, configurations, and computers. Naval forces will require the ability to collect, process, and disseminate relevant information in near real-time to support distributed fire and maneuver at the operational and tactical levels.This will require ISR sensors, processing systems and associated collaboration and communication systems to be fully interoperable and scalable to the particular mission. Platforms will be networked to allow for dispersed operations. Planning will be distributed using en-route mission planning software and leveraging reach-back to non-deployable organizations for subject matter expertise and expanded capacity. Given the distances from which they will be employed, naval forces will require collaborative planning, rehearsal, execution and assessment tools. Additionally, landing forces and support craft will require beyond-line-of-sight, over-the-horizon, and networked on-the-move systems capable of operating in a degraded communications environment. To support Expeditionary Force 21, development of improved command and control capabilities both afloat and ashore must consider:

Organizational Change:

• Reduction from three to two deployable MEF HQs.
• MEF and MEB HQs that are JTF-capable with required joint augmentation and training. MEB command elements regionally oriented on planning and exercising command and control of forces conducting theater security cooperation and crisis response operations.
• MEBs that provide a rapidly deployable and Combined Joint Task Force (CJTF)-capable CE to include, depending on the crisis, a small ‘suitcase staff’ deployable within 12 hours.
• Ability to deploy augments to build up a MEB within a response time of 7 days and up to 25 days (depending on mission).
• Establishment of forward-postured SPMAGTFs to support security cooperation activities with partner nations and immediate response to episodic crises.
• Development of doctrine and training to composite MAGTFs.
• Enabling Navy and Marine Corps forward-deployed forces to gain and maintain regional understanding and awareness through liaison with the regional MARFOR and greater integration with TSOCs.

Impact of Organizational Changes:

• Doctrine and training to extend the scalability of the MEB and enhance fluid compositing of forces.
  
• Methods and processes to gain and employ regional understanding and awareness in an operationalized manner.

Changes to C2 Execution:

• Ability to control air and surface landing sites and dispersing and concentrating as needed to achieve military objectives at sea and on land across the modern littoral environment.
  
• Initiatives such as a naval fly-in command element and Cyber Electromagnetic Warfare Coordination Cell require exploration and development.
  
• Improve communications robustness within and to/from the MAGTF to ensure the reliable flow of information in a cyber-contested environment.

Includes:

• Terrestrial communications system with a 65 nm minimum range via line of sight, retransmission, relay, or combinations of all three means.
  
• Ability to send limited data via a terrestrial communications system or systems with a 65 nm minimum range via line of sight, retransmission, relay, or combinations of all three means.
  
• Reduce systems with redundant and/or overlapping capabilities in order to streamline maintenance, training, and increase efficiency and effectiveness across the MAGTF.
  
• Explore the use of ground communication systems aboard Navy shipping, specifically in the landing force operations center and the supporting arms control center.
  
• Ability to provide adaptive, distributed, cooperative, and collaborative decision-making and planning.·        
  1. Improving system interoperability and security across all domains and between forces from other Services.·        
  2. Improving access to timely and understandable information across all domains, with other services, and allied/coalition forces.

Net-Centric Focused Changes:

• Providing landing forces and support craft with beyond-line-of-sight, over-the-horizon, and on-the-move C2 systems capable of operating in a satellite-degraded communications environment.
  
• Providing a capabilities-based portfolio of tactical networking equipment and resources that, through the utilization of interoperable ‘building blocks’, provides the flexibility and scalability necessary to enable dispersed operations and support the compositing of MEB-level C2 forward.
  
• All networks will employ state-of- the-art cyberspace capabilities.
  
• Improving the ability to share situational awareness and mitigate current, significant gaps in up-to-date intelligence products sourced from commercial, coalition, interagency, and DOD systems and processes.
  
• Extending and protecting critical expeditionary enterprise services across the broader global system of bases, sites, and forward-deployed MAGTFs.
  
• Ensuring these services are interoperable with the joint enterprise.