Enhancing Military Sustainment and Capability: Lessons Learned and Recommendations

1. NDIA / USMC War Game 2006 “Adapting to Change” Cell 3 Outbrief

2. D. O. Sustainment • Strong Points • Burn rates are predictable • Pooled resources / assets belong to theater • Training and experience of NCOs and JOs in field • Weak Points • Distributed supply for remote operators • Future Automated Pull System is still in development • How do you service and supply a distributed network vs. a single unit? • Delivery – potential reliance on Air Support • What is the distribution system? • Handling and casualty procedures • Priority of Resources

3. D. O. Sustainment (Cont) • Capability Shortfalls • Integrated sustainment with Joint / Inter operations • Supply / Distribution of remote operators • Situationally dependent – covert vs overt and METT • Communications shortfalls

4. D. O. Sustainment (Cont) • Recommendations • Archived lessons learned from other forces / Afghan success story? • Joint doctrine to address Battle Space Management • Log Mod as advertised will adapt

5. MARSOC • Strong Points • MARSOC Knowledge, Skills, and Technology transfer to USMC / FMF • MARSOC Knowledge, Skills, and Technology transfer to SOCOM and component services • Enhanced Joint and MEUSOC Warfighting Capability • Strong Intel / CI / Fire Support capability • Enhancing SOF Presence - Force Multiplier for GWOT – Additional Assets and Capabilities

6. MARSOC • Weak Points • Standup and sustainment funding commitments – plan for shortfalls? • Training Funds • MILCON Shortfalls • Personnel Lifecycle deployment and special compensation – pay scale and incentive disparity – re-enlistment, etc • Command Relationships immature • Undefined Mission Prioritization • Aggressive Timeline – Risk of sacrifice / shortcuts to make FOC • Personnel force structure • Career Path • Command Plan • Short-term challenge due to capability transfer – USMC end strength • Clearance (TS/SCI) requirement and plan to address

7. MARSOC (Cont) • Capability Shortfalls • Lack of organic aviation support and support infrastructure shortfalls (ex: 1 boat mechanic) • Language limitation for planned operational deployment requirements • Logistics Support and prepositioning required for MARSOC deployment • Manpower requirement needed to staff MARSOC – high demand personnel • Staffing to support SOCOM Component Command (Title 10) responsibilities • Insufficient organic assets • Boats / Maritime • Air • Ground • SSN Lock-in / Lock-out

8. MARSOC (Cont) • Recommendations • Funding – Need to legislatively address remedies for long-term impacts of MARSOC – training, sustainment, personnel, etc – where’s the budget? • Increase Force Structure – MARSOC and Backfill USMC • Identify and Focus on Capability Gaps of SOCOM – What’s the requirement MARSOC will fill? Near-term and Long-term plan • Develop Joint Doctrine for Integration of MARSOC into SOCOM, while retaining conventional / traditional MEUSOC capabilities • Long-term educational training plan integrated with SOCOM and USMC • Stand-up SOF Greybeard Panel to leverage legacy lessons learned from other services from SOCOM stand-up