Marine Corps Implementation of the Urgent Universal Needs Process for Mine Resistant Ambush Protected Vehicles

摘要

At the request of the Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps (MC), we reviewed the MC decision making process to determine whether the decision makers responded appropriately and timely to the February 2005 Urgent Universal Need Statement (UUNS) submitted by field commanders for Mine Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP)-type vehicles. After June 2005 decision by Commandant of the Marine Corps to replace all High Mobility Multi-Purpose Wheeled Vehicles (HMMWV) in theater with the M1114 up-armored HMMWV, the Deputy Commandant for Installations and Logistics advised MC generals that the M1114 up-armored HMMWV was the best available, most survivable asset to protect Marine Corps forces. In reaction, the Marine Corps Combat Development Command (MCCDC) stopped processing the UUNS for MRAP-type vehicle capability in August 2005. Specifically, MCCDC officials did not develop a course of action for the UUNS, attempt to obtain funding for it, or present it to the Marine Corps Requirements Oversight Council for a decision on acquiring an MRAP-type vehicle capability. DoD was aware of the threat posed by mines and improvised explosive devices (IEDs) in low-intensity conflicts and of the availability of mine- resistant vehicles years before insurgent actions began in Iraq in 2003. Yet DoD did not develop requirements for, fund, or acquire MRAP-type vehicles for low-intensity conflicts that involved mines and IEDs. As a result, the DoD entered into operations in Iraq without having taken available steps to acquire technology to mitigate the known mine and IED risk to soldiers and Marines. We recommend that the Director, Joint Staff establish procedures to enable Service requirements developers to forward urgent requirements that may have joint- Service applicability directly to the appropriate combatant commander for endorsement and subsequent submission to the Joint Staff for validation as a Joint Urgent Operational Need.