1ST QTR FY-19 COMMANDANTS INNOVATION CHALLENGE
Date Signed: 10/24/2018 | MARADMINS Number: 609/18
MARADMINS : 609/18
R 241614Z OCT 18
MARADMIN 609/18
MSGID/GENADMIN/CMC WASHINGTON DC CDI//
SUBJ/1ST QTR FY-19 COMMANDANTS INNOVATION CHALLENGE//
POC/RYAN STEENBERGE/CAPT/MCRCO/-/TEL: 703-939-4853/EMAIL: RYAN.STEENBERGE@USMC.MIL//
GENTEXT/RMKS/1.  This message serves as an announcement for the 1st Quarter FY-19 Commandants Innovation Challenge, sponsored by the Marine Corps Rapid Capabilities Office (MCRCO).  The purpose of the challenge is to solicit innovative ideas from Marines, Sailors, and Government civilians from across the Marine Corps.
2.  Background:
2.A.  The future operational environment and the standoff required due to the proliferation of intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) systems and precision weaponry has made it prohibitive to maneuver in the littorals with our current and planned capabilities.  Additionally, the resultant degradation of throughput capacity creates dilemmas to how our Naval Forces generate and sustain combat power during amphibious operations.
2.B.  Littoral Operations in the Contested Environment (LOCE) and Expeditionary Advance Base Operations (EABO) are emerging naval operational concepts that are representative of the next paradigm of U.S. Joint expeditionary operations.  The concept is adversary based, cost informed, and advantage focused.  LOCE and EABO call for an alternative, difficult to target, forward basing infrastructure that will enable U.S. Naval and Joint Forces to create a more resilient forward based posture to persist, partner, and operate within range of adversary long range precision fires.  The alternative forward posture enabled by Expeditionary Advance Bases (EABs) is designed to mitigate the growing threat posed by the abundant quantity, expanded range, and enhanced precision of potential adversary weaponry, particularly ballistic and cruise missiles designed to attack critical joint fixed forward infrastructure and large platforms.  EABs provide a dispersed and largely mobile forward basing infrastructure that enables a persistent alternative force capability set that is similarly designed to be difficult to target and inherently resilient.  The resilient, reduced signature infrastructure of EABs, combined with Naval Forces designed and structured to persist and operate within the arc of adversary anti access/aerial denial (A2AD) capabilities enables Naval commanders to conduct EABO to support Joint Force Maritime Component Commander (JFMCC), and Fleet Commanders in the fight for sea control, by exploiting the opportunities afforded by key maritime terrain, particularly in close and confined seas.  EABO advances, sustains, and maintains the naval and joint sensor, shooter, and sustainment capabilities of dispersed forces to leverage the decisive massed capabilities of the larger joint force with enhanced situational awareness, augmented fires, and logistical support.  The EABO Concept enables U.S. Naval Forces to exercise 21st Century naval operational art, meet new enemy A2AD threats with new capabilities, and operate and thrive in and around close and confined seas.
3.  Challenge:  Identify a Doctrine, Organization, Training, Materiel, Leadership, Personnel, Facilities and Policy (DOTMLPF-P) solution that addresses a maneuver, logistic, or force protection challenge specific to Marines operating as part of a forward Naval Force.
4.  Evaluation Criteria:  Submissions will be evaluated based on four criteria.
4.A.  Did the submission meet the challenge parameters?
4.B.  How original/innovative is the submission?
4.C.  Is the submissions solution suitable, feasible, and complete?
4.D.  What is the submissions evaluated impact on the Marine Corps?
5.  Beginning 22 October 2018, Marines (active and reserve), Sailors, and Government civilians from across the Marine Corps will have the opportunity to participate in this Innovation Challenge.  Ideas can be submitted until 18 November 2018 at: http:(slant)(slant)www.marines.mil/innovate.  Submitted ideas will be carefully reviewed and winners will be selected as well as noteworthy submissions identified.  Challenge winners will be announced via MARADMIN, the website, and e-mail beginning 12 December 2018.
6.  Individuals are encouraged to work and submit as teams.  Everyone is encouraged to comment on ideas throughout the submission period to continue the development of ideas.  A submission is not required prior to commenting on the site.  Individuals are allowed to submit more than one idea.
7.  Release authorized by Lieutenant General D. H. Berger, Deputy Commandant, Combat Development and Integration.//