Grasping 2010 with Naval Forces

摘要

This article focuses on how naval combat forces should be employed in 2010. Narrowing that focus presumes the Nation will want to maintain capable forces to underwrite its security and that of its allies and friends around the globe. It also accepts that use of force will be circumscribed by a variety of organizational, operational, legal, and moral constraints. Moreover, it emphasizes naval combat operations, not humanitarian operations or presence. Joint Vision 2010 provides an operational structure for operations in the early 21st century through four operational concepts: dominant maneuver, precision engagement, full dimensional protection, and focused logistics. These concepts are part of the Naval Operational Concept and Operational Maneuver from the Sea issued by the Navy and Marine Corps, respectively. For analytical purposes, they can be applied within the context of the accompanying illustration as a means of grasping 2010 with naval forces. While the concepts describe the environment of the future in terms of critical tasks being faced by naval forces, operations cannot be factored into its constituent parts because of inevitable overlap and duplication.