Marine Raider Battalions: A Case Study in Distributed Operations

摘要

Distributed Operations offers the potential for Combatant Commanders to employ speed, flexibility, and agility, in a Marine Air Ground Task Force (MAGTF). Since 2004, its proponents have included Marine Corps Generals M. W. Hagee, J. N. Mattis, R. E. Schmidle, and E. Hanlon Jr.. Key conceptual documents of DO include A Concept for Distributed Operations (2005) and Distributed Operations (2006). Due to the lack of published historical DO case studies, this essay utilizes the history of the Marine Raider battalions from 1942-1944 in the Pacific War to provide context to distributed operations as a future operational concept. It applies those lessons to three DO options in the Fleet Marine Forces, the Marine Expeditionary Unit, and the Marine Special Operations Command.