3/C Spring PCA

Chapter 7: 

1. Understand the function and capabilities of the Marine Littoral Regiment (MLR)

• An MLR is a self deployable ,multi domain force optimized for the contact and blunt layers. It will persistently operate across the competition continuum to support the Joint Force’s role in assuring allies and partners, deterring adversaries, conducting and enabling Joint Force contact, blunt, and surge activities. 

• Capable of the following missions: 

  • Conduct expeditionary advanced base operations 

  • Conduct strike 

  • Coordinate air and missile defense actions 

  • Coordinate air and missile defense actions 

  • Support maritime domain awareness

  • Support surface warfare

  • Support operations in the information environment 

2. Know the purpose and features of and be able to identify the additional weapons and platforms of the U.S. Marine Corps.

a. M777 Howitzer

• Timely, accurate, continuous firepower to support infantry

• Long range fire support 

• Lighter, more maneuverable, improved transportability/mobility than the predecessor

• Moved with 7 ton trucks, lifted by MV-22 Osprey and CH-53E Super Stallion

b. High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle (HMMWV)

• Most used marine vehicle for wide variety of missions 

• Command and control, troop transport, shelter carrier, towed weapons mover, armament carrier, TOW missile system carrier, ambulance 

• Several kits can be installed depending on mission 

• 6.2 L, V8 diesel engine, 3 speed, automatic transmission, 4 wheel drive

• Can be mounted with M2 .50 Cal, M240, M249 machine gun 

• Fording kit, armored plating and bullet resistant glass can be mounted

c. Joint Light Tactical Vehicle (JLTV)

• Improve mobility and payload of light tactical vehicles, increase survivability 

• Joint effort between Army and Marine Corps, will replace portion of HMMWV fleet 

• Lighter and faster than HMMWVs, comparable protection/fire power 

• Transportable by fixed and rotary wing aircraft 

• Scalable crew system, automatic fire protect, fully integrated C4ISR 

• 3500-5100 lbs payload, very adaptable

d. M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS)

• Transportabled by the KC-130 Hercules 

• Most advanced artillery system 

• Delivers precise strikes from over 40 miles away 

• Provides fire support for marines 

• Accurate within 26 ft from 40 miles out 

• 6 tubes hold 200 pound rockets 

• Crew: 3 marines, 24000 pounds 

• Fires M270 artillery rockets and anti aircraft missiles

• Consists of launcher, carrier, and fire control system

e. Amphibious Combat Vehicle (ACV)

• Replacement for the AAV 

• Designed to transport a squad size element from ship to shore and onto overland objectives across a contested landing zone 

• Possess ground mobility and speed and can provide direct fire support to infantry 

• Supports expeditionary and survivable mobility capability and capacity 

• 8x8 wheeled vehicle

• Land speed: 65 mph, water speed: 6-7 knots 

• Armed with a M2 .50 cal or Mk-19 40 mm 

• V shaped hull and blast seats 

• Crew: 3 marines, 13 embarked troops 

3. Know the primary function and effective range, and be able to identify the individual weapons of the U.S. Marine Corps.

a. M4 Carbine

• Infantry weapon, shorter and lighter than M16 → short distance/confined space

• Range: Area TGT - 600 m, Point TGT - 500 m

b. M27 Infantry Automatic Rifle (IAR)

• Automatic weapon in support of the Fire Team. Lightweight, magazine fed, enhance automatic rifleman's maneuverability and displacement speed 

• Range: Area TGT - 800 m, Point TGT - 550 m

c. M240B Medium Machine Gun

• Continuous and high rate of fire for long range targets. Tripod is typically employed. 

• Range w/ tripod - 1800 m

• Max range - 3725 m

d. M32A1 Multi Shot Grenade Launcher (MSGL)

• Lightweight grenade launcher, 6 rounds in 3 seconds 

• Range: Area TGT - 400 m, Point TGT - 250 m

e. MK-153 Shoulder Launched Multipurpose Assault Weapon (SMAW)

• Portable anti armor rocket launcher. Destroy bunkers and fortifications (dual mode rocket) and destroy main battle tank (HEAA rocket) 

• Range: 1x2 m target- 250 m, tank target - 500 m

f. MK19 Mod 3 Automatic Grenade Launcher

• High volume suppressive fire support. Destroys light armored vehicles, protect supply convoys, defend hovering rotary craft → delivers massive direct or indirect fire 

• Ideal weapon against armored, mechanized, and enemy infantry forces

g. 50 Caliber Machine gun

• Automatic weapon suppression fire for offensive and defensive. Used against enemy personnel, light armored vehicles, slow low flying aircraft 

• Max range - 1829 m with tripod mount

h. FGM-148 Javelin

• Maneuverability and firepower. You can fire and move to a new location, fire and forget. 

• 2 modes: top attack against armored vehicles, direct attack against buildings and targets under obstruction

• Peak altitude: 500 ft (top attack mode) and 190 ft (direct mode)

i. BGM71 TOW Missile

• Anti tank missile capable of penetrating armor 30 in thick at more than 3000 m 

• Also found on helicopters 

j. 60mm Mortar

• High angle suppressive fire on targets you can’t always see 

• Lightweight, portable artillery 

• 3500 m range

• Capable of firing: 

  • High explosive shells (light armored targets, fortifications) 

  • Smoke rounds (screening/signaling) 

  • Illumination rounds (night missions requiring illumination)

4. Know and understand the role of the infantry and how non-combat arms MOS support the infantry.

• Provide administrative and technical services to ensure combat and combat support forces are adequately manned, armed, fed, fueled, maintained, etc. 

Chapter 8: NSW and EOD

1. Know the visual identification, mission, and capabilities of the Naval Special Warfare Craft:

a. Mark VIII SEAL Delivery Vehicle (SDV)

• Mission: deliver up to 6 combat swimmers/equipment. Carried in a dry deck shelter on a sub. 

• 6 kts, 70 mile range, two operators 4 passengers 

b. Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected Vehicle (MRAP)

• Mission: ground mobility vehicle to carry SEALS, designed to protect from explosives 

• 420 mile range, 60+ mph, payload varies 

c. Rotary Wing and Tilt Rotor Aircraft

• Mission: Dedicated support and general support aircraft, precision overland/water insertion and extraction, ISR, fire support 

• Rotary wing used by snipers as overwatch platforms for fire support 

• RW: 110-170 kts, TR: 250 kts

d. Combatant Craft: Assault (CCA) / Medium (CCM) / Heavy (CCH)

• Mission: insertion/extraction of seals in medium-high level environments

e. Lightweight Tactical All-Terrain Vehicle (LT-ATV)

• Mission: move operators and equipment in technical terrain 

• Payload: 2-4 operators

2. Know the tools and equipment Navy EOD Technicians use as listed in the Pro-Book.

3. Know the difference and relationship between EOD Technicians and Officers.

• All attend the same training pipeline: Dive school, NAVSCOLEOD, jump school, expeditionary combat skills, EOD tactical training

• All graduates of NAVSCOLEOD are issued basic EOD badge

• Enlisted EOD Techs spend 2 years before taking a board to become senior EOD techs 

• 30 day board process to earn master EOD badge

• EOD officers graduates NAVSCOLEOD then spend 18-24 months demonstrating EOD proficiency and leadership before completing a board 

  • Same as master EOD tech badge except it’s gold 

Chapter 9: China

1. Describe the strength of the Chinese fleet and the geographical location of the PLAN's fleets.

• PLAN (People’s Liberation Army Navy) 

  • North Fleet: based in the Yellow Sea, HQ in Qingdao Naval Base 

  • East Sea Fleet: based in the East China Sea, HQ in Ningbo Fleet Headquarters 

  • South Sea Fleet: based in South China Sea, HQ in Yulin Naval Base

2. Understand the Chinese Military Modernization plan to include future milestones and end-state goals.

• Goal: establish a world class military as strong as the US by 2027

  • Including being prepared to invade Taiwan

• Yearly defense budget has increased significantly over time

• PLA Rocket Force: continues bolstering ballistic long range land attack and anti ship missile capabilities

• Space Program: improving spaced based ISR, sat comms, sat navigation, and human spaceflight, continues to develop counter space capabilities 

• PLAAF: modern fighters like the J20, extending range and capability of bomber force

• PLAN: robust shipbuilding program with new subs, cruiersers, aircraft carrier 

• Investing heavily in AI

• End State Goals: 

  • Be able to defeat the US

  • Join operability with russia 

3. Know the weapons capabilities of the Chinese military to include their nuclear weapons, and potential to produce chemical and biological weapons.

• Nuclear Arsenal

  • nuclear warhead stockpile has surpassed 400 and continues to increase

  • Could triple by 2035

  • Continues to improve its pursuit of nuclear triad, wants a “launch on warning”posture 

• Chemical/Biological Agents

  • Claims to neve research produce or possess biological weapons but engaged in potential dual use biological activities

  • could produce biological agents on a large scale 

  • chemical infrastructure is insufficient

Chapter 10: Russia 

1. Understand U.S. and other Western Allies' involvement in the conflict in Ukraine.

• US and US aligned world powers have imposed sanctions on Russia and supported Ukraine with aid 

• No country has sent troops to aid in the defense of Ukraine

• Unified and strong response of NATO (Sweden and Finland joined)

2. Know the geographic location of Russia relative to China, Ukraine, the South China Sea and Iran.

Chapter 11: North Korea and Iran

1. Understand Iran's (North Korea’s?) interactions with national states in the region to include, Syria, Iran and Israel.

• Syria

• Iran

• Israel

2. Understand the threats to US military forces and allies from Iran’s actions in the Strait of Hormuz, including the threat of mining, FAC/FIAC, and missiles.

• Strait of Hormuz: one of the most critical chokepoint in the world

  • ⅓ of all oil passes through the opening between oman and iran

  • Every time Iran feels threatened, they bring up closing it

  • harassment, disrupting traffic 

• Mining: 

  • Iran’s navy has hundreds of ships with mine laying capabilities 

  • Iran has thousands of mines both old and new 

  • Deploying mines from subs is stealthier but the shallow waters makes it tricky 

  • Deploying from ships is easier but also easier to detect

• Iran has the largest ballistic missile force in the Middle East 

  • Can strike targets as far as 2000 km 

  • Domestically producing medium range SAM, developing long range SAM

• FAC/FIAC: 

  • Fast Attack Craft: smaller, faster vessels with weapons systems 

  • Fast Inshore Attack Craft: outfitted with machines guns/rockets, conduct swarm tactics 

    • US Navy developing an AUW Littoral Defensive Anti Surface Warfare doctrine 

3. Describe Iran's military modernization plans for both IRGCN and IRIN.

• Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy 

  • Asymmetric doctrine to ensure national security 

• Islamic Republic of Iran Navy 

  • Forward presence and naval diplomacy 

• Naval Reorganization: 

  • Both: 

    • Dynamic acquisitions program 

    • Supplemented by other branches with air launched cruise missiles, anti ship ballistic missiles 

  • IRGCN: smaller, faster platforms with sophisticated weaponry 

  • IRIN: replacing its aging surface fleet, augmenting sub force

Chapter 12: Cyber, Space, and Transnational Threats

1. Demonstrate knowledge of different instances of Chinese and Russian cyber operations in recent years.

• China: 

  • Leverages cyber espionage operations 

  • Digital Silk Road will provide China with long term access to global IT networks 

  • Reorganized into the Strategic Support Forces: increased operational security and sophistication of attacks

• Russia: 

  • Leverages cyberspace to establish dominance, damage western influence, expand global influence

  • Federal Security Service (FSB): counterintelligence operations, targets government, defense, aerospace, energy sectors

  • Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR): human intelligence, works with FSB and GRU for cyber attacks

  • Main Directorate of the general Staff of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation (GRU): all other intelligence devices, attacking government and defense industries (like Pentagon network in 2015 or DNC in 2016), also disabled power grids in Georgia and Ukraine

2. Explain the different missions of space operations.

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3. Identify the geographic locations where ISIS and Al-Qa'ida are located.