Source:  marinecorpstimes.com – Todd South – Marine Corps’ new Force Design approaches are paying off in operations

Changes made to the Marine Corps structure, equipment and approach to deployments are giving the service new ways to react to crises across the globe.

As the Marines continue Force Design ― their manpower, equipment and operational shift to fight peer competitors such as China ― pieces of those changes already in the operating force are proving their combat-worthiness, two senior generals said Thursday at the Modern Day Marine Expo.

Lt. Gen. Karsten Heckl, deputy commandant of combat development and integration, pointed to a recent exercise and the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine as examples.

During exercise Nordic Response in February, Marines teamed with NATO allies, serving as the stand-in force in Norway, operating a ground/air task–oriented radar, tracking airborne threats near the Russian border, Heckl said.

The G/ATOR [ed. note : AN/TPS-80 Ground/Air Task Oriented Radar] is a key piece of equipment added to the Marine inventory as it shifts part of its focus to how it can provide unique capabilities to the other military services in joint operations. (…)

That new Marine focus, sensing threats and passing data, has been part of how force design has evolved, Heckl said.

“As we went on this force design journey, we started out we initially thought of blowing stuff up, very kinetically oriented, now we realize through the stand in force it’s really the capability of sensing and making sense,” Heckl said. (…)

 

Read Full Story >>> https://www.marinecorpstimes.com/news/your-marine-corps/2024/05/02/marine-corps-new-force-design-approaches-are-paying-off-in-operations/

Photo: The 26th MEU(SOC) readiness sustainment during “Odyssey Encore”, a Fire Support Coordination (FSCEX)/Support Arms Coordination Exercise (SACEX) © Sgt. Matthew Romonoyske-Bean, USMC, Litochorro, Greece, Jan. 16, 2024