These four slides provide an overview on the shift of the USMC over the next decade, a shift referred to by the Corps as the distributed laydown. The distributed laydown started as a real estate move FROM Okinawa TO Guam but it clear that under the press of events and with the emergence of partnering opportunities the DL has become something quite different. It is about re-shaping and re-configuring the USMC presence within an overall strategy for the joint force and enabling coalition capabilities as well.
The distributed laydown fits the geography of the Pacific and the evolving partnership dynamics in the region. The Pacific is vast; with many nations and many islands. The expeditionary quality of the USMC – which is evolving under the impact of new aviation and amphibious capabilities – is an excellent fit for the island quality of the region.
The USMC is building out four major areas to operate FROM (Japan, Guam, Hawaii and, on a rotational basis, Australia.) But as one member of the MARFORPAC staff put it: “We go from our basic locations TO a partner or area to train. We are mandated by the Congress to train our forces, and in practical terms in the Pacific, this means we move within the region to do so. And we are not training other nation’s forces; we train WITH other nation’s forces to shape congruent capabilities.”
The basic template around which USMC training activities operate is at the intersection of three key dynamics: the required training for the USMC unit; meeting select PACOM Theater campaign priorities; and the partner nation’s focus or desires for the mutually training exercise or opportunity.
In effect, the training emerges from the sweet spot of the intersection of a Venn diagram of three cross cutting alignment of interests.
Nurturing Families, Empowering Lives: TDP's Vision for Family Welfare in Andh...
The USMC and the Distributed Laydown
1. Today’s USMC Pacific Presence
Before Rebalance
Japan
Hawaii
West
Coast
III
Marine
Expedi-onary
Force
HQ
3rd
Marine
Division
HQ
1st
Marine
Aircra;
Wing
HQ
3rd
Marine
Logis-cs
Group
HQ
31ST
Marine
Expedi-onary
Unit
Opera-onal
Ground
Forces
Opera-onal
Logis-cs
Forces
Fixed
and
Rotary
Wing
Aircra;
(Approx
24,200
in
Mainland
Japan
and
Okinawa)
Marine
Corps
Forces,
Pacific
HQ
Opera-onal
Ground
Forces
Opera-onal
Logis-cs
Forces
Rotary
Wing
Aircra;
(Approx
6,100)
I
Marine
Expedi-onary
Force
HQ
1st
Marine
Division
HQ
3rd
Marine
Aircra;
Wing
HQ
1st
Marine
Logis-cs
Group
HQ
11th,
13th,
15th
Marine
Expedi-onary
Units
Opera-onal
Ground
Forces
Opera-onal
Logis-cs
Forces
Fixed
and
Rotary
Wing
Aircra;
(Approx
45,000
in
California
and
Arizona)
2. Future USMC Pacific Presence
After Rebalance
III
Marine
Expedi-onary
Force
HQ
1st
Marine
Aircra;
Wing
HQ
3rd
Marine
Logis-cs
Group
HQ
31ST
Marine
Expedi-onary
Unit
Opera-onal
Ground
Forces
Opera-onal
Logis-cs
Forces
Fixed
and
Rotary
Wing
Aircra;
(Approx
15,000
in
Mainland
Japan
and
Okinawa)
Marine
Forces
Pacific
HQ
3rd
Marine
Division
HQ
Opera-onal
Ground
Forces
Opera-onal
Logis-cs
Forces
Rotary
Wing
Aircra;
(Approx
8,800)
Guam
Hawaii
West
Coast
Japan
Northwest
Australia
(Darwin
area)
3rd
Marine
Expedi-onary
Brigade
HQ
Opera-onal
Ground
Forces
Opera-onal
Logis-cs
Forces
Rotary
Wing
Aircra;
(Approx
4,700)
(Seasonal/Rota-onal
Presence)
Opera-onal
Ground
Forces
Opera-onal
Logis-cs
Forces
Rotary
Wing
Aircra;
(Approx
2,500)
I
Marine
Expedi-onary
Force
HQ
1st
Marine
Division
HQ
3rd
Marine
Aircra;
Wing
HQ
1st
Marine
Logis-cs
Group
HQ
11th,
13th,
15th
Marine
Expedi-onary
Units
Opera-onal
Ground
Forces
Opera-onal
Logis-cs
Forces
Fixed
and
Rotary
Wing
Aircra;
(Approx
43,000
in
California
and
Arizona)
3. MARFORPAC
HIGHLIGHTS
More
than
100
exercises
in
support
of
CMC,
PACOM,
MFP
&
MEF
priori;es
70%
are
unit
level
training
events
maintaining
MEB,
MEU,
DIV,
MAW
&
MLG
readiness
Ac;ve
engagements
in
24+
of
36
PACOM
Countries
Rota;onal
presence
at
incep;on
in
Australia
and
Guam
Rou;ne
presence
in
Japan,
Korea,
Australia,
Philippines
&
Thailand
Focused
on
Partner
Na;on
Amphibious
development
in
Japan,
Korea,
Australia,
New
Zealand
&
India
Suppor;ng
Marine
Corps/Naval
Infantry
development
in
Malaysia,
Indonesia,
Thailand,
Philippines,
Maldives
&
Tonga
An;cipate
~
35,000
Marines
deployed
in
support
of
PACOM
Theater
Security
Coopera;on
Ac;vi;es
Title
10
Training
Integrated
into
exercises/engagements
FY14
MARFORPAC
PACIFIC
ENGAGEMENTS
4. US Government /
PACOM Theater
Priorities
Areas of Partner
Nation s’ Interests
Maintaining Marine
Corps unit readiness
through realistic training
Overlap areas are where
we have common and
mutually beneficial interests
OUR
WORK:
ALIGNING
INTERESTS
We train WITH our
partners to develop
and maintain our
readiness.