Troops will need to stage gear and operate from small bases far outside the reach of long-range precision fire, and the Marine Corps wants your help to solve some of the biggest safety issues likely to accompany those missions.
The Corps' newest innovation challenge calls on leathernecks, sailors and Defense Department civilians to take their best crack at proposing a solution "that addresses a maneuver, logistic, or force protection challenge specific to Marines operating as part of a forward Naval Force," according to Marine administrative message 609/18.
The contest is part of the 2019 Commandant's Innovation Challenge, and solutions can come in the form of new training, policies, gear, manpower and more. Participants are encouraged to work in teams and can submit more than one idea.
It's getting harder for Marines to move ashore with adversaries' new, sophisticated intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance systems or missile threats. The sea services have long-standing workarounds, including prepositioning ships, but top brass say the concepts are outdated.
Related content:
-
5 Ways Rank-and-File Leathernecks Are Disrupting the Marine Corps
- Air Force to Give Each Squadron Up to $30,000 for Innovation
- Service Secretaries Now Having Breakfast Meetings to Talk Innovation
Decades ago, it was "a brilliant idea to pre-stage" gear afloat, Lt. Gen. David Berger, head of Marine Corps Combat Development Command, said at a National Defense Industrial Association conference last week.
"Now, I think it's time to change that," he said. "Here's why: Those giant roll-on, roll-off ships are not survivable. They aren't compatible with the places we're going to have to pull them into in the future. … They were perfect for landing in Desert Shield/Desert Storm. They are not perfect for competing with China."
Berger, who signed the call for submissions to the innovation challenge, admitted that he doesn't know what the answer is. That's where ideas from Marines, sailors and others come in.
Innovation-challenge submissions are due by Nov. 18 and will be evaluated on whether they meet the contest parameters, innovativeness, feasibility and the overall impact they might have on the Marine Corps.
Last year's first-quarter innovation-challenge winner was Capt. Jacob Rittenhouse, with 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing, who won for suggesting Marines get access to a personal real-time translation tool.
Seventy-one people submitted proposals during that challenge, which called for concepts that would make Marines more effective in urban environments.
-- Gina Harkins can be reached at gina.harkins@military.com. Follow her on Twitter at @ginaaharkins.
