NMCI is a Critical Vulnerability to the USMC

摘要

It is mid-afternoon and a Battalion Commander is busy looking over his e-mails while preparing for a work-up. Suddenly his computer stops. Not too long ago, the Communications Officer and his Marines had complete administrative control over the Battalion's computers and network. The data section was able to react immediately in support of the Commander, which provided the Commander with a Marine who had a vested interest in correcting the problem. Unfortunately, this no longer applies to the garrison network, or to the computers that ride across it. The Navy Marine Corps Intranet (NMCI) was the answer to the Navy's interoperability problems across the service and globe. Electronic Data Systems Corporation (EDS) is the company that runs the NMCI; it has assumed complete control over all Marine Corps garrison communications. This includes all end-user hardware like desktops, workstations, and printers. These are the same computers that deploying Marines will take into combat. During deployments, Marine communicators are tasked with the responsibility of maintaining and programming these computers. Before the NMCI, Marine communicators ran the garrison network and were proficient in this invaluable skill set. The NMCI has created the potential loss of a skill set that can critically affect the Marine Corps within the next four years. The Marine Corps must keep its communicators proficient in this skill set. All Marine communicators should be given the opportunity to train on the latest and greatest commercial technology that is driving the commercial world. This should be part of their professional military education.