US Marines training to break apart command posts and move to survive a Pacific war
Five-day Hawaii exercise
Earlier this month, Marines from the 3rd Marine Littoral Regiment, part of the 3rd Marine Division, carried out a five-day exercise in Hawaii. A Marine Corps release said they tested how quickly they could establish and sustain command and control from dispersed locations.
The Marines formed independent command nodes and practiced rapid relocations using ground vehicles and MV-22B Osprey aircraft. The nodes oversaw littoral combat, reconnaissance and counter-reconnaissance, responses to air and surface threats, and coordination with partner forces.
Keeping operations moving
When a command-and-control node had to stop and relocate, other command posts took over, the service said. This handoff was intended to keep operations running without interruption. The nodes were designed to stay connected across distances and continue collecting information and making decisions while being set up or moving.
A wider military shift
US armed services have been practicing dispersed force operations in preparation for a possible Indo-Pacific conflict. The US Army designed its Next Generation Command and Control system, or NGC2, with that threat in mind.
Key points
- Marines from the 3rd Marine Littoral Regiment completed a five-day Hawaii exercise.
- Command nodes practiced moving by ground vehicle and MV-22B Osprey aircraft.
- Other command posts took over during relocations to keep operations running.
- The Army, Air Force and Marines are also preparing for dispersed operations.