Marine Corps Rethinks How it Fights in Cyber, Contested Environments

The U.S. Marine Corps is adopting new warfighting methods to address evolving expeditionary threats, with a particular focus on command and control and information and cyber warfare. Speaking at AFCEA/USNI WEST in San Diego, California, Marine Corps leaders outlined how the service is adapting to meet challenges in an increasingly dynamic operational environment.

Expeditionary Mission and Deterrence

The Marine Corps is deeply engaged in expeditionary operations, supporting joint force missions in the Western Pacific. A central component of that mission is deterring China’s territorial ambitions in the region. That task has become more challenging over the years as China has developed capabilities such as anti-ship missiles to hold U.S. forces at range, explained Lt. Gen. Roger Turner, commander of the III Marine Expeditionary Force.

Over the past two decades, the Marine Corps has developed capabilities that allow them to operate within China’s contested operational space. U.S. forces can maneuver asymmetrically against China’s strategy, creating both tactical and strategic dilemmas, Turner said.

Some of those gains are political as well as military. Turner noted that China underestimated the extent to which U.S. allies and partners would contribute meaningfully to regional security. That miscalculation enables U.S. forces to operate in a layered and integrated manner alongside partner nations.

At the same time, broad modernization across the Marine Air-Ground Task Force has strengthened expeditionary operations and enhanced joint force integration. Investments in air domain awareness and counter-air technologies have improved the service’s capabilities, Turner said, adding that the Marines now field some of the most advanced expeditionary aviation command and control capabilities in the force.

 “We are on a good path,” he said.

Shaping the Cyber and Information Battlefield

Cyberspace is a key consideration for the service’s force design, explained Marine Corps Deputy Commander for Information Lt. Gen. Melvin Carter. Carter was recently confirmed as the military affairs advisor for the Director of National Intelligence.

He noted that information is a vital part of how the U.S. will fight future wars. To meet these present and future threats, the Marine Corps is modernizing to strengthen its information operations capabilities.

He emphasized that information and cyber operations will be indispensable in future conflicts.

“If we lose the information domain, we’ve lost,” he said.

A key challenge is redefining speed in the information domain — how quickly forces can collect data, make decisions and act — compared with traditional operations in the physical domain. The Marine Corps is examining elements of its force design to ensure information combat capabilities are structured for that pace, Carter said.

Cyberspace adds another dimension to expeditionary operations, requiring the Marine Corps to scale and respond globally at increased speed. While the service has long operated worldwide, the tempo of cyber operations demands faster integration and response.

To achieve this, Carter suggested that the service’s garrison units be operationalized for cyber missions. This would give regional commanders the technical capability to reach out and participate in cyber operations from their command posts, he explained.

“It’s time to rethink about how we fight,” he said.