OKINAWA, JAPAN -- Over the last few months, II Marine Expeditionary Force personnel across the MAGTF had the unique opportunity to train and brief U.S. Navy Officers from the U.S. Navy Senior Amphibious Warfare Course as well as personnel from the Naval Surface and Mine Warfighting Development Centers as part of the Amphibious Warfare Tactics Instructor course from August to Sept. 2022.
Naval officers, participating in SAWOC, were guided through tours that encompassed discussions on warfighting concepts and tactics, showcased the capabilities of II MEF, and how these are being further developed and employed in support of the service-level initiative Force Design 2030. The emphasis of these types of training opportunities was to build shared understanding and further develop integration between Marine Corps and Navy counterparts.
“The tour provides the foundation amphibious doctrine, skills, training and practical application to ship executive officers, commanding officers, and amphibious squadron commodores.” U.S. Navy Cmdr. Tabitha Edwards, Course Manager, SAWOC, Amphibious Warfare Department
Personnel participating in the AWTI course visited various installations namely, Camp Lejeune, and Marine Corps Air Stations New River and Cherry Point to observe a variety of ground-based and aviation static displays. United States Marine Corps operators, maintainers, and planners were there to explain the current and future capabilities that the equipment and vehicles can provide for the fleet.
Keynote events included an infantry battalion fire team static display with its respective weapons systems, as well as an introduction to the Ground Combat Element unit organization, weapons, and associated vehicles. Additionally, aviation static displays at the air stations included a variety of rotary and tilt-rotor platforms including the CH-53E, MV-22B, UH-1Y, and AH-1Z to further bolster how Navy officers can incorporate Aviation Combat Element capabilities into their own planning considerations- capabilities that can further extend the reach and lethality of the joint force.
Navy personnel visited II MEF and subordinate commands in separate three-day iterations, benefitting and enabling them to build the basis of how to incorporate Marine Corps concepts and capabilities into their own planning processes. When they return to the surface and amphibious fleet, the intent is for Navy leaders to apply their baseline understanding to further enable the joint force, while also opening up Marine Corps capabilities to approaching dynamic and unique problem sets in the 21st century security environment.
Edwards continued to speak on how this knowledge will help Force Design 2030 and naval integration, “it is critical to understand our current capabilities. Technology gives us a solid foundation in doctrine and practical knowledge to thrive in the dynamic blue-green environment of naval integration.”
The opportunity presented to Navy leaders who participated in SAWOC and AWTI moves II MEF closer to continuously enhancing understanding and knowledge across the joint force and the Navy amphibious community officer corps, increasing future planning and coordination efforts, planning that will prove integral in the current competition environment and the future fight.