061430Z MAR 17
MARADMIN 110/17
MSGID/GENADMIN/CMC WASHINGTON DC CDI//
SUBJ/COMMANDANTS INNOVATION CHALLENGE//
REF/A/MARADMIN 481/16//
AMPN/REF A IS MARADMIN 481/16, COMMANDANTS INNOVATION CHALLENGE.//
DIRECT ALL QUESTIONS TO PRIMARY POC/MS KINNEY, DESIREE/TECOM, TEL: 703-784-0342/EMAIL: DESIREE.L.KINNEY(AT)USMC.MIL/SECONDARY POC/MAJ SANTHUFF, ERIC/TECOM, TEL: 703-784-0425/EMAIL: ERIC.SANTHUFF(AT)USMC.MIL//
GENTEXT/REMARKS/1.  This message announces the second Commandants Innovation Challenge, sponsored by Deputy Commandant, Combat Development and Integration (DC,CD&I), and hosted by the Marine Corps Warfighting Lab/Futures Directorate.
2.  The focus of this Innovation Challenge is on training and education.  This MARADMIN provides the challenge question, eligibility and evaluation criteria, schedule, and instructions for submitting your ideas.  The Commandant will personally recognize Challenge winners in May, and the winner(s) may have the opportunity to partner with the appropriate Training and Education Command (TECOM) organization(s) for further concept development and/or implementation.
3.  Context for the Challenge.  In Commandants Message to the Force 2017, the Commandant reminds us that our Corps has enjoyed a long history of constant improvement and innovation.  Just as our adversaries are preparing for future conflicts, Marines must not only embrace change, but initiate it in order to stay ahead.
3.A.  This imaginative and innovative spirit is what enables us to think through the probable challenges of the future operational environment, out-think and out-pace our adversaries, and create capabilities that ensure we can fight and win our nations battles in every clime and place.  In his Service Strategy, the Commandant directs Marines to return to a maneuver warfare mindset per Marine Corps Doctrinal Publication 1 stating, “Our performance as an expeditionary force must be underpinned by the philosophy of maneuver warfare with a reliance on rapid and opportunistic decision-making and action, enabling distributed operations in all our tactical formations.”  This means pushing decision-making down to the tactical levels.
4.  The Challenge.  How can the Marine Corps enhance training and education (i.e. leverage technology, revise the way we conduct small unit training, improve Professional Military Education, increase force-on-force training) to improve the decision-making ability of small unit leaders?
5.  Evaluation Criteria.  TECOM will judge ideas according to the following evaluation criteria in descending order of priority:
5.A.  Relevance:  Idea pertains to Marine training and education (can go beyond training and education, but must include it).
5.B.  Applicability:  Idea addresses a clearly defined problem or need and specifies the population to which this idea would apply.
5.C.  Benefit:  Idea states plausible improvement(s).
5.D.  Creativity:  Idea is original or applies existing idea(s) to address a new or different problem set.
5.E.  Feasibility:  Idea states how it can realistically be implemented.
5.F.  Collaboration:  The submitter can demonstrate having consulted with others on their idea.
6.  Eligibility Criteria.  For purposes of this MARADMIN, this competition is open to the Marine Corps Total Force (military and civilian).  For further details on eligibility, visit the challenge website (see instructions below).
7.  Timeline.  Beginning 1 March 2017, this Innovation Challenge will be open for 30 calendar days to receive submissions (1-31 March 2017).  All submissions received after 31 March will be ineligible.  Responses will be reviewed 3-28 April and TECOM will notify challenge winner(s) in May.
8.  Instructions.  Submit ideas electronically through the challenge site or via other traceable means (e.g., certified mail) addressed to TECOM Headquarters, TECOM G/3/5/7 Innovation Challenge point of contact, 2079 Barnett Avenue, #200, Quantico, VA 22134.  To access the challenge site, you must first register as a user on our splash page at www.marines.mil/innovation which will then guide you to the challenge site.  Those registering from a non- .mil, .gov, or .edu email domain (or submitting via other traceable means) must include their 10-digit Electronic Data Interchange Personal Identifier also referred to as the Department of Defense Identification Number(found on the back of your Common Access Card), name, rank, and unit for validation.  Once registered, users can access the challenge site directly at www.mcwlchallenge.md5.net to submit their ideas.
9.  Travel funding for Innovation Challenge winners will be provided by DC, CD&I and TECOM.
10.  Submissions not selected will be sent to the appropriate Headquarters Marine Corps agencies for further consideration.
11.  Release authorized by Lieutenant General Robert S. Walsh, Deputy Commandant, Combat Development and Integration//