The United States of America is a maritime nation. As a global power it employs sea power to protect US interests, shape a favorable security environment, foster global security and prosperity, signal US resolve, defend the homeland, and win decisively when required.1 The Marine Corps as a naval, expeditionary force in-readiness provides “flexible and sustainable options from sea to the littoral” for executing the essential naval functions: all domain access, deterrence, sea control, power projection, and maritime security.