NVSC 303 exam 1

Define War

A violent clash of interests between or
among organized groups characterized by
the use of military force.

Define Maneuver Warfare

A warfighting philosophy that seeks to shatter the
enemy's cohesion through a variety of
rapid, focused, and unexpected actions
which create a turbulent and rapidly
deteriorating situation with which
the enemy cannot cope.

Levels of War

Strategic, Operational, Tactical

Strategic

- Establishing goals
- Assigning forces
- Imposing conditions
- Focus: Policy objectives, winning wars
- National Strategy

Operational

“Use of tactical results to obtain strategic
objectives”
- Broader time and space than tactical
- When, where, conditions
• Engage or refuse
- Winning campaigns
- Means: tactical
- Ends: strategic

Tactical

- “Application of combat power to defeat EN
force at particular time and place”
- Schemes and missions
- Winning engagements and battles
- Technical
• Combat Service Support
- Tactics and techniques
• Difference?

Concepts within warfare

Combat Power, Speed, Focus..

Combat Power

• “Total destructive force we can bring to
bear on our EN at a given time”
• Traditional
- Superior numbers
- Tanks, artillery, air assets
• Intangibles
- Morale, leadership, etc

Speed

“rapidity of action”
• Time and space
• Tempo = speed over time
• Speed is relative
• Source of combat power
- Speed is a weapon
- Seize initiative
- Provides security
- Necessary to concentrate superior strength
- Prereq. for maneuver and surprise
- Rhythm

Focus

“Generation of superior combat power at
particular place and time”
• Economy and acceptance of risk elsewhere
• Effects at decisive place and time
• Combo w/ speed = punch and shock effect

Surprise

EN focused
• Degrades EN ability to resist
- State of disorientation from unexpected event
- Unable to react effectively
• Genesis of maneuver
• Difficult to achieve and easy to lose
• Temporary, must exploit quickly
• Means
- Deception, ambiguity, stealth

Boldness

“unhesitatingly exploiting the natural
uncertainty of war to pursue major
results”
• Creative force
• Not always aggressive
• Based on strong Situational Awareness
- Must be tempered with judgement
- Accepting risks
• Maximizes effects of surprise

Centers of Gravity

Which factors are critical to the enemy?
• Which can the enemy not do without?
• Which, if eliminated, will bend him most
quickly to our will?
• Important sources of strength
• Usually capable of accomplishing the
mission
• Protect FR CG, destroy EN CG

Critical Vulnerabilities

“A vulnerability that, if exploited, will do
the most significant damage to the
enemy's ability to resist us”
• CV is pathway to disable CG
- Attack strength indirectly
• Purpose: greatest effect of FR action
• Built into USMC Operations Orders

Creating and Exploiting Opportunity

• Always looking for a weakness to exploit
• The more we create
- the more we can exploit
• Generates decisive results
• Function of
- Speed
- Flexibility
- Boldness
- Initiative

Characteristics of War

Fluidity, Complexion, Human Connection

Marine Air Ground Task Force (MAGTF)

A balanced, air-ground combined arms task organization of Marine Corps forces under a single commander, structured to accomplish a specific mission.

Command Element (CE)

• Headquarters integrates the ACE, GCE, and LCE
together to accomplish a mission
• Command and Control (C2) functions

Ground Combat Power (GCE)

Ground combat power
• May include:
• Infantry
• Artillery
• Tanks
• Amphibious Assault Vehicles (AAV)
• Light Armored Recon (LAR)
• Combat Engineers
• Reconnaissance

Air Combat Element (ACE)

• Air and lift capabilities
• May include:
• Fixed & rotary wing
• Attack
• Assault
• Marine air control
• Air Traffic Control (ATC)
• Air defense
• Aviation logistics and support

Logistics Combat Element (LCE)

• Logistical sustainment
• Functions include:
• Transportation
• Supply (food, fuel, ammo)
• Maintenance
• General engineering
• Health services (medical/dental)
• General Services

Four Types of MAGTFS

• Marine Expeditionary Force (MEF) – large
• Marine Expeditionary Brigade (MEB) – medium
• Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) – small
• Special Purpose MAGTF (SPMAGTF) – varies

Marine Expeditionary Force (MEF)

• The largest and principal MAGTF
• 35,000-55,000 Marines + Sailors
• 60 days sustainment
• Only standing MAGTF
Commanded by:
Lt General

MEF 1

Camp Pendelton, California

MEF 2

Camp Lejune, NC

MEF 3

Okinawa, Japan

Marine Expeditionary Brigade (MEB)

Commanded by Bridager General

5,000-15,000 Marines and Sailors

30 day sustainment

Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU)

2,200 Marines + Sailors
• 15 days sustainment
• Forward deployed on
amphibious ships
• 6 hour response
• Can reach 75% of
world’s littorals in about
5 days
Commanded by:
Colonel

Western Way of War

Focused on the decisive battle
• Commanders' intuition and initiative hold the
key to success
• Concentrated forces focused on the destruction
of the enemy or the enemy’s means to wage war
• Discredits intelligence, deception, and surprise
• Focused on the operational and tactical level of
war
• Policy drives war, but once war begins, military
requirements (destruction of the enemy) should
be the state’s primary concern

Eastern Way of War

Focuses on all levels of war, but strategic level is
highly important
• Incorporates the state into all aspects of war
• Deception, surprise are key
• Maneuver is very important to destroy the enemy
in detail
• Rational intelligence and planning drive military
operations
• “Winning without fighting”

Western Politics

Politicians make decisions but
should remain OUTSIDE of the
tactical level
Politics can limit the ability of
troops

Eastern Politics

The military should always
serve the people and
politicians.