FORCE DEVELOPMENT FOCUS AREA

Force Protection Force Development Focus Area Summary:

• Defend the GCE from ground/air attack.  Medium air and missile defense.
• Develop reduced signature / suppressed weapons for individual and crew employment
• Employ passive and active systems for counter-adversary ISR deception, signature management, and decoys.
• Conduct integrated naval operations to protect the “Seabase” from all threats which includes integrated use of ground based assets from the ship.
• Enhance the ability to operate in a CBRNE environment.
• Is there sufficient capability and capacity to support smaller and more dispersed formations (detect and neutralize explosive hazards,, improvised explosive devices, unexploded ordnance, etc)

Force Protection Force Development Focus Area:

Force Protection (FP) needs increase as the force is positioned forward and disperses for littoral operations. The Marine Corps relies on mobility to execute its missions, and as forces maneuver, FP challenges generally increase and warrant improved planning and more effective capabilities. Multiple perimeters and extended lines of communication require a robust and detailed FP plan. Of particular concern is protection against area denial threats to amphibious ships and connectors transiting the littorals to landing sites. Control of the landing site is essential regardless of means of entry and a critical condition for maneuver inland. FP is not the mission; rather it is an integrated aspect of MAGTF operations. FP is achieved by the commander through the combined integration of the elements of combat power (protection, movement, maneuver, intelligence, fires, sustainment, and C2). Technology and unit/individual vigilance protect against enemy attack. Aggressive action produces a form of protection. Recent operations have shown that Marine units should refrain from ‘hunkering down’ and pro-actively interface with local populations to build relationships that provide force protection through information sharing.

• Under the Expeditionary Force 21 concept, the MEB as part of an integrated naval force is capable of maneuvering with reduced signature from greater distance and conducting dispersed operations. The associated FP considerations include:
  
• Conducting integrated naval operations to protect the ‘Seabase’ from all threats.
• Projecting protection from the sea to extend over naval forces maneuvering inland.
• Defending the MAGTF from ground, air (includes counter UAS), missile, and cyber-attack.
• Increasing the ability to conduct populace control through capabilities such as identity operations and non-lethal means.
• Detecting and neutralizing CBRNE.
• Detecting and neutralizing explosive hazards, including mines, improvised explosive devices, unexploded ordnance, and explosive remnants of war.
• Employing passive and active systems for counter-adversary ISR deception, signature management, and decoys.
• Increased naval integration of USMC F-35B and USMC R/W assets while deployed forward on amphibious ships to counter A2/AD threats.