{"id":12063,"date":"2015-09-22T18:06:56","date_gmt":"2015-09-22T18:06:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/marinecorpstimes\/uncategorized\/2015\/09\/22\/marines-on-the-hunt-for-gear-to-combat-tomorrow-s-threat\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T20:30:58","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T20:30:58","slug":"marines-on-the-hunt-for-gear-to-combat-tomorrow-s-threat","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/marinecorpstimes\/news\/your-marine-corps\/2015\/09\/22\/marines-on-the-hunt-for-gear-to-combat-tomorrow-s-threat\/","title":{"rendered":"Marines on the hunt for gear to combat tomorrow&#8217;s threat"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>MARINE CORPS BASE QUANTICO, Va. \u2014 Post-Afghanistan missions will likely be dispersed and unpredictable, creating <span class=\"rte rte-comment\">a <\/span>unique challenges for leaders who develop the gear Marines need to defeat the enemy. <span class=\"rte rte-comment\"> meet current, evolving and future threats.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Framing those efforts is Expeditionary Force 21, the Corps&#8217; 10-year road map that predicts Marines will be conducting <span class=\"rte rte-comment\">carry out future engagements ranging from <\/span>crisis response missions that could leave small teams of Marines deployed independently for weeks at a time, said <span class=\"rte rte-comment\">to Marine Expeditionary Brigade and Force-level missions which will require Marines to operate independently down to the squad level over large areas of territory.led by members of by Marine Corps Combat Development Command here, at Marine Corps Base Quantico, Virginia, is Expeditionary Force 21, said <\/span>Lt. Gen. Robert Walsh, who recently took the helm of Marine Corps Combat Development Command here. <span class=\"rte rte-comment\">MCCDC and deputy commandant at Combat Development and Integration. The concept of operations unveiled in April 2014, predicts future engagements ranging from crisis response to Marine Expeditionary Brigade and Force-level missions which will require Marines to operate independently down to the squad level over large areas of territory.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Technology is what allows squads to operate independently over large swaths of land, he said, <span class=\"rte rte-comment\"> &#8220;Technology is what allows us to do that,&#8221; Walsh said, <\/span>giving radio communications in Afghanistan as an example.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>&#8220;If those small units had not had the ability to call for fires, support and [medical evacuations],<span class=\"rte rte-comment\">medivac<\/span> we would not have put them out there,&#8221; he said. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But for squads to operate that way over even greater distances, they will need better command and control and a <span class=\"rte rte-comment\">whole <\/span>host of new gear that officials with MCCDC, Combat Development and Integration <span class=\"rte rte-comment\">CD&amp;I <\/span>and the Futures Directorate are <span class=\"rte rte-comment\">all <\/span>working to develop.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Further complicating that <span class=\"rte rte-comment\">e <\/span>mission <span class=\"rte rte-comment\">to develop new gear <\/span>are looming &#8220;hybrid&#8221; threats, which Walsh described as nation states employing conventional and non-conventional tactics on a single battlefield. That would mean Marines could face an Iraq-style insurgency and a well-funded conventional military at the same time, he said. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It&#8217;s the sort of emerging threats seen in the Asia-Pacific region, <span class=\"rte rte-comment\">Other emerging threats are seen in the Pacific <\/span>where China is jockeying for influence, or in Europe where Russia is meddling. Similar threats exist in places like Iraq, Libya and Syria, along with other <span class=\"rte rte-comment\"> and in mega <\/span>cities <span class=\"rte rte-comment\">long littoral areas <\/span>around the globe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Gear for all those contingencies must be purchased and fielded <span class=\"rte rte-comment\">procured <\/span>carefully in this constrained budget environment<span class=\"rte rte-comment\">amid against the backdrop of shrinking federal budgets<\/span>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>&#8220;There is not enough money going around,&#8221; Walsh said. &#8220;It is a pretty austere time. Making sure we get it right and spend the money the right way so we can get the most combat capability is a real critical part of this.&#8221;<span class=\"rte rte-comment\"> he said.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Here is a look at some top priorities for Walsh&#8217;s command. <span class=\"rte rte-comment\">MCCDC, CD&amp;I and the Futures Directorate.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Near-term threats<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The service is about to field <span class=\"rte rte-comment\">is now fielding <\/span>about 1,000 recently purchased PRC-117G Tactical Radios, with one going out to<span class=\"rte rte-comment\"> for<\/span> every infantry squad. The radio, which can transmit and receive ultra and very high frequencies, <span class=\"rte rte-comment\"> UHF, VHF <\/span>or link to a tactical satellite, was previously reserved for platoon commanders, said Brig. Gen. (sel.) Roger Turner, the director of the Capabilities Development Directorate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Giving one to each squad means they can remain connected while spread out<span class=\"rte rte-comment\"> of as far as they need still be connected<\/span>. The <span class=\"rte rte-comment\">ose <\/span>radios will begin hitting the fleet in about four months.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The radios could also be synchronized with <span class=\"rte rte-comment\">to could be updated in the future and linked<\/span><span class=\"rte rte-comment\">to <\/span>tablets and other smart devices to provide <span class=\"rte rte-comment\">improve <\/span>intelligence <span class=\"rte rte-comment\">available <\/span>to Marines on <span class=\"rte rte-comment\">a <\/span>long MV-22 Osprey flights<span class=\"rte rte-comment\"> into battle, for example<\/span>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"4000\" height=\"3000\" src=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/635781255587571561-marine-corps-times-ioc-18-jpg.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-27826\" srcset=\"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/635781255587571561-marine-corps-times-ioc-18-jpg.jpg 4000w, https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/635781255587571561-marine-corps-times-ioc-18-jpg.jpg?resize=300,225 300w, https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/635781255587571561-marine-corps-times-ioc-18-jpg.jpg?resize=768,576 768w, https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/635781255587571561-marine-corps-times-ioc-18-jpg.jpg?resize=1024,768 1024w, https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/635781255587571561-marine-corps-times-ioc-18-jpg.jpg?resize=1536,1152 1536w, https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/635781255587571561-marine-corps-times-ioc-18-jpg.jpg?resize=2048,1536 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 4000px) 100vw, 4000px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Marine Corps IOC Long-Range Raid California, V-22 Osprey, Command aircraft tablets networking<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span>Small squads of Marines operating independently over great distances will need better command and control and a host of new gear. Here, Marines in the Infantry Officer Course plan tactics and strategy aboard an MV-22 Osprey during a long-range raid in California.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span>Photo Credit: Lars Schwetje\/Staff<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span class=\"rte rte-comment\">A level above, Turner said t<\/span>The service is also trying <span class=\"rte rte-comment\">now working <\/span>to buy portable communications networks that fit on <span class=\"rte rte-comment\">enough <\/span>Humvees, called <span class=\"rte rte-comment\">-borne <\/span>&#8220;networks on the move,&#8221; Turner said. <span class=\"rte rte-comment\">which provide commanders at the battalion and regiment levels with a portable communications network without having to set up any infrastructure<\/span> The system has been used by I Marine Expeditionary Force with great success, he said, so enough have been purchased to field across II and III MEFs by the end of 2017.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span class=\"rte rte-comment\">Eventually <\/span>KC-130J Super Hercules and MV-22 Osprey aircraft could eventually receive the same system to provide command and control capabilities in transit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The Marine Corps&#8217; <span class=\"rte rte-comment\">services <\/span>vehicle portfolio is also getting a face-lift. The anti-tank variant of the Light Armored Vehicle will receive a significant upgrade by <span class=\"rte rte-comment\">set for completion in <\/span>2017. The vehicle will <span class=\"rte rte-comment\">now <\/span>have an advanced anti-tank <span class=\"rte rte-comment\">TOW <\/span>missile and targeting suite that allows on-the-move target identification<span class=\"rte rte-comment\"> on the move<\/span>. The upgrade also fixes reliability issues with the weapon system, which sometimes <span class=\"rte rte-comment\">could <\/span>jams when it&#8217;s raised<span class=\"rte rte-comment\"> ing up from the vehicle<\/span>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The service is in the process of upgrading its Amphibious Assault Vehicle with better, lighter<span class=\"rte rte-comment\">, neutrally buoyant<\/span> armor that doesn&#8217;t affect how well it operates in water; blast mitigating seats; and other safety changes set for completion in 2019. The Corps also plans to soon field the <span class=\"rte rte-comment\">The A <\/span>Block 2 Ground\/Task Oriented Radar, <span class=\"rte rte-comment\">which is <\/span>a towed <span class=\"rte rte-comment\">radar <\/span>system that can <span class=\"rte rte-comment\">will now be able to <\/span>determine the origin of hostile fire for counter-strikes. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Officials are also continuing work on <span class=\"rte rte-comment\">and continued <\/span>non-lethal weapons<span class=\"rte rte-comment\"> efforts<\/span>, including<span class=\"rte rte-comment\"> that include<\/span> a <span class=\"rte rte-comment\">non-lethal <\/span>mortar that can spray an area with a cluster of flash-bang-like devices to <span class=\"rte rte-comment\">deny an area or <\/span>disperse crowds <span class=\"rte rte-comment\">especially <\/span>in an urban setting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Future contingencies<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span class=\"rte rte-comment\">To meet future threats, <\/span>Brig. Gen. Julian Alford is leading the charge to meet tomorrow&#8217;s threats at the Futures Directorate. He envisions a future in which Marines could be called on to fight in chaotic, urban settings along coastlines with <span class=\"rte rte-comment\">on the coast which could also have <\/span>formidable defenses, including <span class=\"rte rte-comment\">like <\/span>missiles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>That could <span class=\"rte rte-comment\">batteries that <\/span>force ships to remain far out at sea and Marines to punch inland as shock troops.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>&#8220;The Third <span class=\"rte rte-comment\">3rd <\/span>World is moving to cities,&#8221; Alford said. &#8220;The cities are on the coast line. People are going to run out of food, water and energy and then they are going to fight over it.&#8221; <span class=\"rte rte-comment\">Alford said, citing Marine Corps studies predicting the future security environment 15 to 30 years from now.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Marines will need the gear and doctrine to meet those threats, said Alford, who is working to update EF-21, which was rolled out as a working document.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In the urban littorals, Marines will be fighting on &#8220;four floors&#8221; he said, citing Marine Corps studies predicting the future security environment 15 to 30 years out<span class=\"rte rte-comment\"> from now<\/span>. That means<span class=\"rte rte-comment\"> meaning<\/span> Marines could <span class=\"rte rte-comment\">they will <\/span>be required to carry out complex missions \u2014 like evacuating friendly forces off rooftops \u2014 at the same time they&#8217;re <span class=\"rte rte-comment\">,<\/span>detaining targets a floor below, engaging in unbridled combat on a floor lower, all while <span class=\"rte rte-comment\">another floor below, and <\/span>pursuing insurgents <span class=\"rte rte-comment\">irregular force <\/span>through urban streets and tunnels.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"3148\" height=\"2192\" src=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/635781822631122171-mar-new-gear-2jpg.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-27832\" srcset=\"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/635781822631122171-mar-new-gear-2jpg.jpg 3148w, https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/635781822631122171-mar-new-gear-2jpg.jpg?resize=300,209 300w, https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/635781822631122171-mar-new-gear-2jpg.jpg?resize=768,535 768w, https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/635781822631122171-mar-new-gear-2jpg.jpg?resize=1024,713 1024w, https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/635781822631122171-mar-new-gear-2jpg.jpg?resize=1536,1070 1536w, https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/635781822631122171-mar-new-gear-2jpg.jpg?resize=2048,1426 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 3148px) 100vw, 3148px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Marines with Special-Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force Crisis Response-Africa, form a shield wall at the National Gendarmerie Training Center in St. Astier, France, June 19, 2015. The Marines trained to operate through dense smoke and riot-control gas while maintaining tightly organized formations. \r\r(U.S. Marine Corps photo by 1st Lt. Danielle Dixon\/Released)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span>Marines with Special-Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force Crisis Response-Africa, form a shield wall at the National Gendarmerie Training Center in St. Astier, France, June 19, 2015. The Marines trained to operate through dense smoke and riot-control gas while maintaining tightly organized formations. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by 1st Lt. Danielle Dixon\/Released)<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span>Photo Credit: 1st Lt. Danielle Dixon, U.S. Marine Corps Forces Europe <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">He envisions scenarios in which UASs survey a target area before F-35s strike shore-based threats, MV-22 Ospreys follow on with Marine shock troops and finally CH-53s swoop in with supplies and support. That updated EF-21 will be developed through comprehensive field testing with the entire Marine Air Ground Task Force.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">But, whatever an updated EF-21 looks like, Marines will need the gear and systems to match though, he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Also vital on future battlefields will be tools that help Marines meet the &#8220;golden-hour&#8221; medical challenge. Marine Corps Special Operations Command has successfully deployed small vertical takeoff and landing unmanned aerial systems that can be used in congested urban settings that could deliver medical supplies to Marines.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>What keeps Alford<span class=\"rte rte-comment\">&#8216;s<\/span> up at night is ensuring young Marines who deploy have what they need for the mission at hand.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Marines don&#8217;t say &#8220;no&#8221; when they&#8217;re called to respond to a crisis, he said, and it&#8217;s his job to make deploying troops have what they need.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">&#8220;We have Marines out there in our MEUs and our special purpose MAGTFs, and in Okinawa for that matter that don&#8217;t have the capabilities that they need to go 1,500 miles into a hostile city, for whatever reason to help American interests,&#8221; Alford said. &#8220;And you know what is going to happen if that happens, we are going. We don&#8217;t say no.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>&#8220;What we do is we figure it out on the backs of unbelievable young Americans,&#8221; Alford said. &#8220;&#8230;That is our job as senior leaders \u2014 to reduce that kid&#8217;s risk of dying.&#8221;<span class=\"rte rte-comment\"> Alford said.<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Squads of Marines operating independently over great distances need better command and control and a host of new gear.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":27818,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_yoast_wpseo_meta-robots-noindex":"","_yoast_wpseo_meta-robots-nofollow":"","_yoast_wpseo_canonical":"","_acf":"","_yoast_wpseo_primary_category":69,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","_smg_distribution_targets":[]},"categories":[12,69],"tags":[],"coauthors":[1058],"class_list":["post-12063","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news","category-your-marine-corps"],"acf":{"subheadline":"","legacy_arc_id":"C6NBYYRS2JG73CMROG6N52R4AA","arc_canonical_url":"\/news\/your-marine-corps\/2015\/09\/22\/marines-on-the-hunt-for-gear-to-combat-tomorrow-s-threat\/","remove_feature_photo":false,"is_sponsored":false,"subtype":"","redirect_url":"","disable_inline_ads":false,"native_logo_pretext":"Presented By:"},"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v26.0 (Yoast SEO v28.1) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Marines on the hunt for gear to combat tomorrow&#039;s threat - Marine Corps Times<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Squads of Marines operating independently over great distances need better command and control and a host of new gear.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/marinecorpstimes\/news\/your-marine-corps\/2015\/09\/22\/marines-on-the-hunt-for-gear-to-combat-tomorrow-s-threat\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Marines on the hunt for gear to combat tomorrow&#039;s threat\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Squads of Marines operating independently over great distances need better command and control and a host of new gear.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/marinecorpstimes\/news\/your-marine-corps\/2015\/09\/22\/marines-on-the-hunt-for-gear-to-combat-tomorrow-s-threat\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Marine Corps Times\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2015-09-22T18:06:56+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2026-08-08T20:30:58+00:00\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"James K. 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