Post on 10-Oct-2014
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UNITED STATES NAVAL ACADEMY Duty…. Honor…. Loyalty….
Character development and training
2011-2012 Edition
Class of 2015,
Welcome to the academic year and the next phase of your professional development. An integral part of
the training that you will receive as a plebe — and later teach as an upperclassmen — is the Character
Development and Training program. This program will introduce you to a working knowledge of the Navy
and Marine Corps‘ missions, organization and capabilities. Additionally, you will have the opportunity to
explore an in depth view of the Honor Concept of Midshipmen and understand how honor is at the core of
what we do, both here at the Academy and in the Fleet. The purpose of this manual is to provide the
information you need to gain a better understanding of ―the big picture‖ of the Navy and Marine Corps
mission, and organization, as well as a thorough knowledge of the values and high standards that set this
institution apart from any other.
Take pride in learning this information. Good luck in the challenges that you are about to face!
Respectfully,
The Brigade Training Staff
Week Date Exam date Professional Topic
1 22 Aug-26 Aug 26 Aug Watch Standing
2 29 Aug- 02 Sep 02 Sep Military Customs and Courtesies
3 *06 Sep-09 Sep 09 Sep Naval Academy Uniforms
4 12 Sep-17 Sep 17 Sep Guiding Principles for the Brigade of Midshipmen
5 19 Sep-23 Sep 23 Sep United States Naval Academy History
------------------ACADEMIC RESERVE PERIOD -----------------
6 03 Oct-07 Oct 07 Oct Naval Service Mission and Organization
7 *11 Oct-14 Oct 14 Oct U.S. Naval Service Enlisted
8 17 Oct-21Oct 21 Oct USMC History and Traditions
9 24 Oct-28Oct 28Oct USMC Personnel, Training, and Individual Weapons
------------------ACADEMIC RESERVE PERIOD------------------
10 07 Nov-10 Nov **10 Nov Warfare Communities and Mission Areas
18 Nov END OF SEMESTER EXAM
11 09 Jan-13 Jan 13 Jan Surface Warfare
12 *17 Jan-20 Jan 20 Jan Undersea Warfare
13 23 Jan-27 Jan 27 Jan Air Warfare
14 30 Jan-03Feb 03 Feb Strike Warfare
15 06 Feb-10 Feb 10 Feb USMC Structure and Organization
16 *21 Feb-24 Feb 24 Feb USMC Operations and Platforms
------------------ACADEMIC RESERVE PERIOD------------------
17 27 Feb-02 Mar 02 Mar Special Warfare
18 05 Mar-08 Mar **08 Mar Explosive Ordinance Disposal
19 19 Mar-23 Mar 23 Mar Restricted Line / Staff Corps Officers
20 26 Mar-30 Mar 30 Mar Computer Network Operations
16 Apr-20Apr Professional Review Boards Notes: 1. ―Come-arounds‖ will focus on teaching and instructing plebes with an emphasis on preparation for the Friday knowledge exams. ―Come-arounds‖ will be held from 0630-0700 Monday through Friday. The period following noon meal and from 1915-1945
are the alternative come-around period for athletes with morning workouts. The knowledge exams will be administered on Friday
from 1915-2000.
2. Dates keyed with a star (*) denote Monday holidays/observed holidays. For these weeks, Third Class ―come-arounds‖
will take place Tuesday and Wednesday, Second Class on Thursday, and First Class on Friday.
3. Dates keyed with two stars (**) denote a Friday holiday. For these weeks 3/C ―come-arounds‖ will take place on Monday and Tuesday, 2/C on Wednesday, and 1/C on Thursday. The exam will be administered on Thursday from 1915-2000.
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WEEK 1: WATCH STANDING
I. Watch Standing and Security
One of your first duties at the Academy and one that will stay with you the rest of your naval career, will
be the watch. The importance of this duty both in the Fleet and here at the Academy cannot be
overemphasized; therefore, one of the purposes of the Naval Academy watch organization is to indoctrinate
you in this important duty.
The Watch has many purposes. Specifically, the Bancroft Hall Watch Organization serves to:
1. Provide a Chain of Command within the Hall 24 hours a day, responsible to the Commandant for
handling emergencies and executing the Plan of the Day.
2. Provide security within Bancroft Hall.
3. Introduce Midshipmen to watch standing and to the Personnel Qualification System.
4. Empower Midshipmen to lead the Brigade.
5. Provide consistency on a daily basis.
6. Improve accountability.
7. Provide leadership opportunities for all classes
8. Provide a watch structure that is adaptable to daily requirements.
9. Improve the Bancroft Hall professional environment.
II. General Orders
Though often quoted, the General Orders are not often discussed. Review the following orders and
think about how they relate to your watch positions with in the Brigade. What implications do they have to
your duties as Company Mate of the Deck, as Main Officer Messenger, as AT/FP personnel?
1. To take charge of this post and all government property in view.
2. To walk my post in a military manner, keeping always on the alert and observing everything that
takes place within sight or hearing.
3. To report all violations of orders I am instructed to enforce.
4. To repeat all calls from posts more distant from the guardhouse than my own.
5. To quit my post only when properly relieved.
6. To receive, obey, and pass on to the sentry who relieves me all orders from the commanding
officer, officer of the day, and officers and non-commissioned officers of the guard only.
7. To talk to no one except in the line of duty.
8. To give the alarm in case of fire or disorder.
9. To call the commander of the relief in any case not covered by instructions.
10. To salute all officers, and all colors and standards not cased.
11. To be especially watchful at night, and during the time of challenging, to challenge all persons on
or near my post and to allow no one to pass without proper authority.
III. General Guidance
Midshipmen on watch are responsible for the security and safety of the Brigade of Midshipmen. They
are responsible for the smart and timely execution of the daily routine prescribed by the Deputy
Commandant in the Plan of the Day.
Midshipmen on watch shall remain alert and conduct their duties in a highly professional manner. The
Naval Academy is one of the most highly visible commands in the U.S. Navy. For this reason, the highest
degree of professionalism is expected during watch.
Midshipmen on watch are responsible for maintaining high standards of smartness and cleanliness in
Bancroft Hall and all associated high visibility areas. Deficiencies are to be either reported or corrected
immediately whenever observed.
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Most of the watches in the Navy are of 4 hours duration. Normally, watches start on the even hours,
such as 0400, 0800, or 1200. However, you should arrive at your station at least 15 minutes ahead of time
to receive any pertinent information from the person you are relieving.
Regardless of the type of watch you stand, observe proper military bearing. Proper grooming standards
and uniform standards and appearance are a must.
Stand your watch in strict adherence to the eleven general orders of the sentry.
Know the chain of command as it relates to watch standing. If there is an emergency, it‘s important to
know who and when to call.
IV. The Deck Log
Probably the most important log you will maintain is the deck log. The basic requirements for
maintaining the deck log are contained in the U. S. Navy Regulations and Standard Organization and
Regulations of the U.S. Navy. The deck log is a complete daily record of every event of importance or
interest about the crew and the operation and safety of the unit.
A deck log has both historical importance and legal standing. At times, it may be used in naval,
admiralty, and civil courts. In an incident involving the unit, the log may be the only available evidence on
which to base a legal decision. At sea, the ship‘s deck log is kept by the quartermaster of the watch
(QOOW). In-port, chronological entries are made by the officer of the watch (OOW) or their designated
watchstanders, in our case the Midshipman Officer of the Watch, the Midshipmen in Charge of Main
Office, the Main Officer Messengers, or Company Mates of the Deck.
All entries are handwritten using a black, ball-point pen. Entries must be neat and legible. Use only
standard navy phraseology. Because the log may be used as evidence in legal proceedings, do not erase an
entry. If you make a mistake, draw a single line through the original entry (so that it remains legible), insert
the correct entry, and place your initials in the margin.
As CMOD, the following are entries that are always recorded:
1. The arrival and final departure that day of the Company Officer and Company Senior Enlisted.
2. The arrival and departure of any Battalion Officer, the Deputy Commandant of Midshipmen, the
Commandant of Midshipmen, or an officer senior to the Commandant of Midshipmen.
3. Assuming and relieve of the watch. Signature of the off going watch stander is required.
4. Any injuries occurring on deck.
5. The Company Duty Officer whenever relieved.
6. Log the time that the following make their round of inspection in and about the deck: The Officer
of the Watch, Assistant officer of the Watch, Midshipman Officer of the Watch, Staff Duty
Officer, Company Duty Officer or Assistant Company Duty Officer.
7. Results of CMOD tours of the deck.
8. Messages sent from main office or general announcements of concern to the company.
V. Bancroft Hall Watch Organization
One Duty Section, divided by class, will be assigned duty each day of the semester, as promulgated by
the 1st Regimental Adjutant at the beginning of the semester. All weekday duty days will be 24 hours in
duration. A weekend duty period runs from 0600 Friday until 0600 Monday. In the event of a long
weekend, the duty section assigned will extend to cover the Monday, turning over the duty at 0600 on
Tuesday. Daily 0800 Reports will be prepared and submitted for each weekend day.
All personnel assigned to the day‘s duty section, whether standing a posted watch or in a standby status,
are not authorized liberty. Yard liberty may be granted by the CDO, and a person on Yard liberty must
sign out in the Company Duty Log, stating where they are going and how they can be reached. Yard
liberty will be within the gated area. Activities which take place off the yard (e.g. golf, sailing, town runs)
are not permitted. The duty section must be available to meet emerging needs as dictated by the day‘s
routine or unique circumstances. The CDO will not be permitted to sign out on Yard Liberty and must be
available throughout the duty day.
Midshipmen who fail to show up for duty (or leave during their duty day), as well as those who fail to
show up for their assigned watches, will be held accountable under the conduct system.
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All exchanges of duty and changes to the approved watch bill must be approved by the original
approving authority (e.g. Brigade, Regiment, Battalion, Company Commander) Special request chits to
exchange duty must be signed by both parties and routed to the approving authority at least two working
days in advance of the duty day in question. THERE ARE NO DUTY EXCUSALS.
The Midshipmen Watch structure is as follows:
MOOW
2nd Reg.
RMOOW
1st Batt.
BOOW
(MCBO)
2nd Batt.
BOOW
(MCBO)
3rd Batt.
BOOW
(MCBO)
4th Batt.
BOOW
(MCBO)
5th Batt.
BOOW
(MCBO)
6th Batt.
BOOW
(MCBO)
1ST Reg
RMOOW
Duty
Sections
CDOs
Companies
26-30
Duty
Sections
CDOs
Companies
21-25
Duty
Sections
CDOs
Companies
16-20
Duty
Sections
CDOs
Companies
11-15
Duty
Sections
CDOs
Companies
6-10
Duty
Sections
CDOs
Companies
1-5
VI. Midshipmen 4/C Watch Standing
Main Office Messenger. The Main Office Messenger (MOM) is responsible for assisting visitors,
answering telephone calls, delivering messages and making log entries for the AMCMO. One assigned
MOM will also be available to assist the OOW, MOOW, CMOOW or RMOOWs on their rounds. This
watch will by stood by Midshipmen Third and Fourth Class.
Eating is not authorized on watch at any time with the exception of midrats while on Main Office
Watch. Main Office watch standers are allowed to consume midrats in the middle office space of
Main Office, but in no case will food or drink be visible in the main compartment of Main Office.
Midshipmen on watch in Main Office will not place their feet up on furniture or walls.
Main office watch standers are also responsible for the security of the following areas:
a. Main Office passageway to include the model room
b. Duty Office bunkroom adjacent to Main Office
c. Rotunda area
d. Memorial Hall
e. Smoke Hall
f. Commandant‘s Office area to include all office spaces from the entry hatch from the
Rotunda to the hatch that exits to the 3-1 passageway
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g. Mitscher Levy Center (from 1800-0600)
Company Mate Of The Deck. The Company Mate of the Deck (CMOD) is responsible for safety and
security of all personnel and material in their respective company area.
The Company Mate of the Deck (CMOD) shall sound attention on deck upon the arrival of all
Officers O-5 and above and the Officer of the Watch (OOW). After that officer orders "carry on,"
the CMOD will approach the officer, salute, and sound off as follows:
"GOOD MORNING/AFTERNOON/EVENING SIR/MA'AM, MIDSHIPMAN FOURTH
CLASS _______, __ COMPANY MATE OF THE DECK. MAY I BE OF ANY ASSISTANCE
SIR/MA'AM?"
Any other commissioned officer who enters the company area shall be approached by the CMOD
who will salute and sound off as above.
On watch, salutes may be dispensed with after the first daily meeting, except for those rendered to
the OOW, Battalion Officers, the Deputy Commandant of Midshipmen, the Commandant of
Midshipmen, and any officer senior to the Commandant.
The CMOD shall stand while on watch.
Company Mates of the Deck will challenge everyone on their deck who is not in uniform, unless
that person is recognizable as a member of the Brigade of Midshipmen.
Civilian personnel who work in Bancroft Hall must display their identification. Their name and
employee number will be logged in the Mate‘s Log. Random checks of civilian identities may be
conducted by CMODs by calling in worker identification numbers to the Bancroft Hall First
Lieutenant for verification.
If the CMOD, or any other Midshipman, observes suspicious activity, or suspects that an
unauthorized person is on deck, they shall immediately contact Main Office, then their CDO. The
CMOD should note any details about the person (clothing, height, weight, race, unique features)
and attempt to remain aware of the location, so they can provide this information to the USNA
Security Department personnel when they arrive.
CMODs will seek the assistance of their CDO or Main Office in any situation they judge to
require additional authority.
VII. Terrorism
Terrorism is the unlawful use of threatened use of force or violence against individuals or property.
Terrorists intend to coerce or intimidate governments or societies. Acts of terrorism directed against naval
personnel, activities, or installations can destroy critical facilities and injure or kill personnel.
Terrorists use many methods of operations, which may include bombings, ambush, armed attack,
sabotage, or taking hostages. The two most publicized terrorist methods are bombings and taking hostages.
The terrorist method generally used toward military forces is bombing.
Indications and warning of terrorist activity against naval installations or personnel are normally
received from U.S. security authorities or through the security agencies of host countries. These warnings
usually come in the form of threat conditions. Threat conditions range from THREATCON ALPHA (the
lowest degree of readiness) to THREATCON DELTA (the highest degree of readiness).
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VIII. Bomb Threats
When detonated or ignited, a bomb can injure or kill personnel and damage material. Bombs are
classified as explosive or incendiary. An explosive bomb causes damage by fragmentation, heat, and blast.
The heat produced often causes a secondary incendiary effect. An incendiary bomb generates fire-
producing heat without substantial explosion when ignited. Bombing
occurs when an explosive bomb detonates or an incendiary bomb ignites.
A bomb threat may happen anytime or anywhere. It can be made by a terrorist group or a disgruntled
employee. Many bomb threats are unfounded (not real). False bomb threats make people complacent (at
ease). Don‘t assume a bomb threat is a hoax (not real) until you‘re sure. Safety is the major concern!
Bomb threat. A bomb threat is a message delivered by telephone or letter. A bomb may be delivered
through the mail as a letter or a suspicious package. A bomb threat may or may not contain then following
information:
• The bomb‘s location
• The time for detonation/ignition
• An ultimatum related to the detonation/ignition or concealment of the bomb
Bomb incident. A bomb incident is the detonation/ignition of a bomb, discovery of a bomb,
or receipt of a bomb threat.
There are a few things you can do to reduce vulnerability of your ship or station to a bomb
threat/incident. You can—
• Strictly comply with your command‘s procedures for personnel identification and
access control procedures to department/division spaces,
• Be suspicious of all articles whose origin is unknown or obviously ―out of place‖ within the
space,
• Maintain tight control of locks and keys,
• Lock all rooms/spaces when not in use or manned by authorized personnel, and
• Immediately report suspicious personnel and their actions.
Each telephone at your command should have a copy of the Telephonic Threat Complaint, OPNAV
Form 5527/8 (fig. 22-8). When a bomb threat is received by telephone, the person receiving the call should
take the following actions:
• Try to keep the caller on the line and obtain as much information as possible. Complete the
Telephonic Threat Complaint form while the caller is on the line or immediately thereafter.
• Record in writing the exact words of the caller.
• Try to identify the location of the bomb, the type of device, what it looks like, and the expected
time of detonation.
• Attempt to determine the sex, approximate age, and attitude of the caller.
• Note any background sounds that may provide clues to the caller‘s location.
• Note any accent or peculiarity in speech that may help identify the person.
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The proceeding information has been taken from NAVEDTRA 14325 Basic Military
Requirements and COMDTMIDNINST 1601.10F
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WEEK 2: MILITARY CUSTOMS AND COURTESIES
I. Qualifications of a Naval Officer
“It is by no means enough that an officer of the Navy should be a capable mariner. He must be that, of
course, but also a great deal more. He should be as well a gentleman of liberal education, refined
manners, punctilious courtesy, and the nicest sense of personal honor.
He should be the soul of tact, patience, justice, firmness, kindness, and charity. No meritorious act of a
subordinate should escape his attention or be left to pass without its reward, even if the reward is only a
word of approval. Conversely, he shouldn’t be blind to a single fault in any subordinate, though at the
same time, he should be quick and unfailing to distinguish error from malice, thoughtlessness from
incompetence, and well meant shortcoming from heedless or stupid blunder.
In one word, every commander should keep constantly before him this great truth, that to be well
obeyed, he must be perfectly esteemed.”
II. Civility.
Civility – Courteous behavior, politeness; the act of showing regard for another.
“The sum of the many sacrifices we are called to make for the sake of living together. When we
pretend that we travel alone, we can also pretend that these sacrifices are unnecessary.”
- Stephen Carter
Civility is more than good manners. Civility is an attitude. Civility expresses dignity and respect for our
fellow man. Being civil does not show weakness. On the contrary, civility requires strength. Just like
effective leadership, civility requires us to sacrifice, to place the needs of others before our own. Acts of
civility express the depth of our character.
III. Why Civility?
To empower our leadership.
―…to be well obeyed, he must be perfectly esteemed.‖
to be well obeyed = to be an affective leader
be perfectly esteemed = to be regarded with the utmost respect, to be greatly appreciated
Others often have very little information to judge another‘s character on. Most of what we perceive of
another comes directly through their actions. How one treats others and disciplines themselves, speaks
volumes of their character.
By placing ourselves under the governance of good conduct, we show the composition of our
character. Through our good character, we gain the respect and admiration of those around us.
And with that respect, we empower our leadership.
IV. Aspects of Civility
Decorum – Propriety and good taste in conduct or appearance as well as the correctness and dignity of
behavior.
Etiquette – The rules of correct behavior in society or among the members of a profession.
Protocol – A code prescribing strict adherence to correct etiquette and precedence (as in diplomatic
exchange and in the military service).
You will find that Navy life creates many situations, not found in civilian life, that require special
behavior on your part. The following are examples as outlined in OPNAVINST 1710.7A. The goal is to
have a solid understanding and working knowledge of Military Customs and Courtesies. You need NOT
memorize the following verbatim.
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V. Saluting
It isn‘t enough to now how. You must know WHEN. The following are some of the major points you
should remember when rendering a salute:
- Salute all officers in an active or reserve status regardless of service.
- Salute all officers of foreign military service. At USNA, all foreign military staff and faculty are
officers. So, if you see an unfamiliar uniform, assume they are foreign officers and salute.
- Salute all officers who are close enough to be recognized as officers whether they are wearing a
uniform or civilian clothes.
- If possible, always use your right hand. Use your left hand only if your right hand is injured. Use
your left hand to carry objects and to leave your right hand free to salute.
- Accompany your salute with a cheerful, respectful greeting.
- Always salute from the position of attention. If you are walking, you need not stop; but hold
yourself erect and square. If on a double, slow to a walk when saluting.
- Look directly into the officer‘s eyes as you salute.
- If you are carrying something in both hands and cannot render the hand salute, look at the officer
as though you were saluting and render a verbal greeting as previously described.
- If using a cell phone, pause, drop the phone to your side, stand at attention, and render the salute.
- Salute officers even if they are uncovered or their hands are occupied. Your salute will be
acknowledged by a verbal greeting.
- Army and Air Force policy, unlike the Navy‘s, is to salute when uncovered. Suppose you are in
an office with several Army personnel, and all of you are uncovered. An officer enters and the
soldiers rise and salute. You should do likewise; to do otherwise would make you seem ill-
mannered or disrespectful.
- If you are walking with or standing by a commissioned officer (always walk on the left of an
officer) and the occasion for a salute arises, do not salute until the officer salutes. Assume that
you are walking with a lieutenant. A commander approaches. Do not salute the commander until
the lieutenant salutes; but as soon as the lieutenant starts to salute, you should quickly do the same.
- Likewise, if you are walking with an officer and they are being saluted by a junior, join the officer
in returning the salute.
- When approaching a senior officer, start your salute far enough away from the officer to allow
time for your salute to be returned. A good rule of thumb is 6 paces. Hold your salute until
returned or until 6 paces past the officer.
In a group:
- If standing in a group and a senior officer approaches, the first to see the senior should call out
―Attention,‖ and all face the officer and salute.
Overtaking:
- Never overtake and pass an officer without permission. If it becomes necessary to pass, you
should do so to the left, salute when abreast of the officer, and ask, ―By your leave, sir/ma‘am?‖
The officer should reply, ―Very well,‖ and return the salute.
In vehicles:
- You salute all officers riding in vehicles, while those in the vehicle both render and return salutes,
as required. The vehicle‘s driver only salutes if the vehicle is stopped; to do so while the vehicle is
in motion endangers the safety of the occupants and may be omitted.
At crowded gatherings:
- At crowded gatherings or in congested areas, you normally salute only when addressing or being
addressed by officers
VI. Colors
At commands ashore and aboard ships of the navy not under way, the ceremonial hoisting and lowering
of the national flag at 0800 and sunset are known as morning and evening colors. Every navy shore
command and every ship not under way, performs the ceremony of colors twice a day.
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You will render honors as follows:
- If you are in ranks, you will be called to attention and the individual in charge of the detail will
renter the hand salute.
- If you are in uniform but not in ranks, face the colors and give the hand salute.
- If you are driving a vehicle, stop and sit at attention but do not salute.
- If you are in civilian clothes, face the colors at attention and salute by placing your right hand over
your heart.
Conduct of colors is as follows:
- 5 minutes before morning and evening colors, the ―Preparative‖ signal is sounded.
- If a band is available for colors ceremonies, ―Attention‖ is sounded, followed by the band playing
the National Anthem. ―Carry on‖ is sounded at the completion of the music.
- The hand salute is rendered at the first note of the National Anthem and terminated on the last
note.
- If a band is not available for colors as is often the case at USNA, ―To the Colors‖ is played on the
bugle at morning colors, and ―Retreat‖ is played at evening colors. The hand salute is rendered as
prescribed for the National Anthem.
- At morning colors, hoisting the ensign begins when the music starts. It is hoisted smartly to the top
of the flagstaff. At evening colors, lowering of the ensign also starts at the beginning of the music.
Hoisting and lowering the ensign are completed at the last note of the music. The national flag is
always hoisted smartly and lowered ceremoniously.
- In the absence of music, ―Attention‖ and ―Carry on‖ shall be the signals for rendering and
terminating the salute. ―Carry on‖ shall be sounded as soon as the ensign is completely lowered.
The National Anthem:
- Whenever the National Anthem is played, all naval service personnel not in formation shall stand
at attention and face the national ensign.
- In the event that the national ensign is not displayed, they shall face the source of the music.
- When covered, they shall come to the salute at the first note of the anthem, and shall remain at the
salute until the last note of the anthem.
- Persons in formation are brought to order arms or called to attention as appropriate. The formation
commander shall face the direction of the ensign or music as appropriate and render the salute.
- If you are in civilian clothes, render the hand-over-the-heart salute.
Parades or Ceremonial Displays:
- The rules for saluting the flag passing in a parade are simple: come to attention, face the flag, and
salute as appropriate.
- If you are in a vehicle, stop the vehicle, and remain seated at attention.
VII. Boarding and Leaving a Naval Vessel
You cannot just walk on and off a ship as you would enter and leave your home. You must follow
certain procedures. When you are in uniform and boarding any ship and the national ensign is flying, you
halt at the gangway, face aft, and salute the ensign. You then turn to the OOD and salute. If you are
returning to your own ship, you say, ―I request permission to come aboard, sir/ma‘am.‖ The OOD returns
both salutes and says, ―Come aboard‖ or a similar expression.
When you salute the OOD in boarding a ship other than your own, you say, ―I request permission to
come aboard, sir/ma‘am.‖ You should then add the purpose of your visit: ―to visit a friend‖ or ―to go to
small stores.‖
When you leave a ship, the order of saluting is reversed. You salute the OOD first and say, ―I request
permission to leave the ship, sir/ma‘am.‖ After receiving permission, you then face and salute the ensign (if
it is flying) and depart. If you are not in the liberty uniform, state your reason for wanting to leave the ship:
―I request permission to go on the pier to check the mooring lines, sir/ma‘am.‖
When boarding a ship in civilian attire and the national ensign is flying, you will halt at the gangway, at
attention, and face aft. You then turn to the OOD at attention. If you are returning to your own ship, you
say, ―I request permission to come aboard, sir/ma‘am.‖ The OOD salutes and says, ―Very well‖ or a similar
expression.
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When you board a ship other than your own, you say, ―I request permission to come aboard, sir/ma‘am.‖
You should then add the purpose of your visit. The OOD will then say, ―Permission granted‖ or
―Permission not granted.‖
When you are leaving a ship in civilian attire, the procedure is reversed. You stand at attention in front
of the OOD first and say, ―I request permission to leave the ship, sir/ma‘am.‖ After receiving permission,
you then stand at attention facing the ensign (if it is flying) and depart.
Sometimes it is necessary for destroyers, submarines, and other ships to tie up in nests alongside a
repair ship, tender, or pier. In this case, you may have to cross several ships to go ashore or return to your
own ship. When you have to cross one or more ships to reach the pier, to reach another ship or to return to
your own ship, you should use the following procedure: Upon boarding a ship that you must cross, salute
the colors (if flying), then turn toward and salute the OOD, and request permission to cross. After receiving
permission, proceed to cross without delay. When you depart that ship, it is not necessary to salute the
colors or OOD again. Repeat this crossing procedure until you reach your destination.
On many ships, particularly those of destroyer size and smaller, there may be a first-class or chief petty
officer instead of an officer on the quarterdeck. Although you do not salute enlisted personnel, you must
salute an enlisted person who is the OOD because you are saluting the position and authority represented—
not the individual. If you are part of a working party that will be using the quarterdeck when loading
supplies, you normally salute only when first leaving the ship.
VIII. Conduct in Uniform
If you are going to wear a uniform, you cannot simply act however you want. Numerous rules and
regulations apply to members of the armed forces while wearing a uniform. A good rule to live by is:
―If there is a doubt, there is no doubt.‖
This means that if you are uncertain about an action or activity, err on the side of conservatism. Do
nothing to discredit yourself or the service.
Gum – don‘t chew it in uniform.
Food – never walk and eat at the same time.
Hands in pockets – don‘t do it.
Bags– Bags such as briefcases, gym bags, backpacks, lunch bags, suit cases, and garment bags, but not
including women's handbags shall generally be hand carried in the left hand to facilitate saluting.
Sea bags, backpacks, and gym bags may NOT be carried or worn on the shoulders when wearing
service dress uniforms, e.g., Service Dress Blue. They shall also not be carried over the shoulders when
wearing a uniform with shoulder boards, e.g., Service Dress Whites, Reefer, Overcoat.
Computer bags, brief cases, and backpacks may be worn across the left shoulder of service or working
uniforms to facilitate saluting. When wearing a bag, the strap must be worn across the left shoulder (fore
and aft) with the bag hanging on the same side of the body. The case or bag will not be worn with the
strap and bag on the opposite shoulders when wearing the working uniform (e.g., coveralls, utilities,
summer working blues, winter working blues, PE gear, Blue & Gold jogging suites, team warm-ups or
when required for medical reasons)
Cell phones – while the Navy allows the use of cell phones in uniform, it is not always appropriate to do
so. Always be aware of your surroundings. Ensure that the cell phone does not impede with your ability
to render appropriate honors. They are never to be a distraction. If talking on a phone in uniform, use
your left hand to do so. If you need to salute, drop your phone to your side, stand at attention, render the
appropriate greeting. Per COMDTMIDNINST 5400.6K, Midshipmen will NOT talk on a phone
while walking and wearing a uniform. Covers – Outdoors, personnel remain covered at all times unless ordered to uncover, or during religious
services not associated with a military ceremony. Personnel may remove their cap or hat when traveling
inside a private automobile or riding a bicycle off base. A cover is mandatory when entering or within a
military reservation, unless wearing the cap is impractical or hazardous. Additionally, if eating at an
outdoor dining establishment, it is appropriate to remove your cover. However, a bench or seawall where
you stop to sit and eat is NOT a dining establishment. Keep your cover on.
Sources: Service Etiquette Guide
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WEEK 3: NAVAL ACADEMY UNIFORMS
I. Appearance
What does your uniform say about you? How about your grooming standards? Does your appearance
express confidence and competence? What does your uniform say about this institution? What does it say
about the Navy, about the Nation?
In order to express confidence, you must know the rules and regulations. Competence allows
confidence.
Perhaps the easiest way to look after your appearance is to understand the concept of a ―complete
uniform.‖ Wearing a complete uniform means you wear your uniform in its entirety as outlined in the
uniform regulations. SDB Blouses remain on at all times. Ties remain tied. Buttons remain buttoned.
Sleeves remain rolled down. Covers remain on at all times, even when seated on a bench.
In Bancroft Hall, complete uniforms are required during working hours and in all public spaces.
Outside Bancroft Hall, a complete uniform is always required. What are the implications? We wear
regulation PT gear outside.
Many of your uniforms mirror the uniforms used in the fleet and marine force. Specifically each service
has the following basic categories of uniforms: Formal and Dinner Dress, Ceremonial, Service Dress,
Service, and Working uniforms. Knowing the occasions for wear of USNA uniforms will help you
understand the uniforms of our fleet and marine force, both officer and enlisted.
The following pages are to serve as guidance as to when to wear uniforms. Specific guidance on exact
uniform components and HOW to wear a uniform can be found in Midshipmen Uniform Regulations
COMDTMIDNINST 1020.3B.
Know the rules. Uphold them. Enforce them…represent yourself and this institution well.
II. Formal and Dinner Dress Uniforms
Dinner Dress Blue / White Jacket
Worn to official functions when civilians
normally wear Black Tie.
The Blue Jacket is a prescribable Winter Uniform
while the White Jacket is a prescribable Summer
Uniform.
Miniature medals and warfare insignia are worn
as applicable 3 inches below the lapel notch.
Overcoats or raincoats may be worn with the
Dinner Dress Jacket uniform. If doing so, the white
combination cover shall be worn as well.
White gloves are also prescribable.
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Dinner Dress Blue
Worn to official functions when civilians normally
wear Black Tie by those midshipmen who do not
have the Dinner Dress Blue Jacket.
Dinner Dress Blue is a prescribable Winter
Uniform
Miniature medals and warfare insignia are worn as
applicable.
The equivalent summer uniform is Service Dress
White with miniature medals and insignia.
The white combination cover is always worn.
White gloves are also prescribable.
III. Ceremonial Uniforms
Full Dress Blues / Whites
Worn on the following formal occasions:
Assuming or relinquishing Command, or
participating in the Ceremony.
Official visits with honors as prescribed
in Navy regulations.
- Visits of Ceremony to Foreign Men-of-
War and Foreign Officials.
Occasions of State, Ceremonies, and
Solemnities.
Large medals and breast insignia are worn over
the left breast.
The white combination cover is always worn.
White gloves are worn.
Ribbons with no associated medal are worn over
the right breast in Full Dress Whites.
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IV. Service Dress Uniforms
Service Dress Blue (SDB) / White
May be prescribed for wear to all official
functions when Formal Dress, Dinner Dress or Full
Dress Uniforms are not prescribed and civilian
equivalent dress is coat and tie.
Service Dress Blue may be worn year-round
and is the uniform of the day in the winter season.
Service Dress White may be worn in the
summer.
V. Service Uniforms
Summer White
Worn in Summer for office work, watchstanding,
liberty, or business ashore when prescribed as
uniform of the day.
Summer White is the uniform of the day in the
summer season.
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Service Khaki
Service Khaki is worn in Summer and Winter for office work, watchstanding, liberty, or business ashore
when prescribed as uniform of the day.
Service Khaki shirts and trousers will be made of cotton and nylon twill (CNT) or a polyester and wool
blend (Poly-wool). Service Khaki is never cotton or ―wash‖ khaki material.
Service Khaki is very similar to Working Khaki except that ribbons and breast insignia are worn in
addition to the name tag.
VI. Working Uniforms
Winter Blue / Summer Blue
Working uniforms are prescribed when other
uniforms would be unsafe or become unduly
soiled. Working uniforms are not replacements
for service uniforms. Therefore they are NOT
worn on liberty, leave, or when reporting for
official business.
Winter Blues are to be worn to classes during
the winter uniform period.
Summer Blues are to be worn to classes
during the summer uniform period.
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Working Khaki
Prescribed when other uniforms would
be unsafe or become unduly soiled.
Working Khakis are worn for Summer
Cruise, Plebe Summer Detailers, and
other Summer Training Programs.
Working Khaki is either cotton or a polyester
and wool blend making it safe for use aboard a
ship where a fire may be present.
Camouflage Utilities
Utilities are worn year-round when
directed for specific training or
evolutions.
Platoon or larger sized units may
authorize temporary modifications to
regulation utilities for activities outside of
Bancroft Hall. Ex: Leatherneck may run
as a unit in utility trousers, green T-shirt
and combat boots. The Company Officer
or O-REP of the unit must approve the
uniform modification in advance of the
evolution.
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PE Gear
Regulation Physical Education Gear
includes:
(1) Blue rim T-shirt with blue mesh
shorts displaying USNA.
(2) Issue grey USNA sweatsuits that are
not to be cut or hemmed. Top or
bottom may be worn independently.
(3) All Regulation PE Gear clothing
items shall be in good repair.
Discolored or torn items shall not be
worn. Blue rim T-shirts with visible
writing on the outside are not
authorized for wear.
Varsity and athletic gear may be worn
during team practices or competition.
When appropriate, midshipmen shall
transit to and from Bancroft Hall in
uniform and change into their athletic
gear in the team locker room. The
Deputy Commandant, via the O-REP,
will approve exceptions on a case-by-case
basis.
Midshipmen shall not transit T-Court,
Stribling Walk, or any other ceremonial area in
PE Gear.
Blue and Gold Jogging Suit
The only authorized shirt for blue and gold
jogging suits is the issued blue rim t-shirt.
Athletic shoes must be worn.
The jogging suit is authorized in
Bancroft Hall living spaces after 1830 or
to academic classes for those on a valid
medical chit requiring uniform
modifications due to injury or for
convalescent purposes.
It is not authorized from Friday, 1205
until Evening Meal Formation, Sunday
(or equivalent day during long
weekends).
Midshipmen shall not transit T-Court or
Stribling Walk in Blue and Gold Jogging Suits
until after evening colors.
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VII. Special Occasions
Weddings
Military Wedding
Bride and Groom The formality of the wedding is a decision made by the bride and groom. The formality of the wedding
determines the uniforms worn. Uniform choice of bride and groom must be matched by their military
attendants who wear uniforms. Civilians also conform to level of formality.
Formal Military Wedding Attire: Dinner Dress Blue or Dinner Dress White
Informal Military Wedding Attire: Service Dress Blue, Summer White
Best man: Military Attire: Same uniform as groom or uniform equivalent
Civilian Attire: Formal: Black Tie: Tuxedo
Informal: Dark Suit or light suit depending on climate/region/venue
Maid of honor: Military or civilian will follow the guidelines above.
Ushers and bridesmaids: All uniformed participants should wear the equivalent uniform which
may be different from those worn by the groom, best man, bride, or maid of honor.
Immediate family: Uniformed participants wear uniforms which correspond to the uniform of
the groom or bride.
Military guests: Wear appropriate service dress uniforms, if desired. If not, follow the guidelines
above for appropriate civilian attire.
Civilian guests: Follow guidelines above.
Civilian Wedding: For civilian weddings, follow these guidelines:
Participant: If acting as a participant, wear the appropriate civilian attire corresponding to
accepted civilian customs.
Guests: If attending a ceremony in a personal capacity as a guest, you may wear the appropriate
service dress uniform.
Funerals
Uniform
The appropriate uniform for either participating in or
attending a funeral as a midshipman is Full Dress Blue or
Full Dress White depending on the season. Service Dress
Blue or Service Dress White may also be worn if the
civilian equivalent is a coat and tie. Service Dress Blue is
always appropriate regardless of season.
Mourning band
Uniformed officers in an official capacity will wear a
mourning band on the left sleeve of the outer garment
halfway between the shoulder and elbow. If armed with a
sword, its hilt will be affixed with the mourning knot.
Mourning bands may be worn by the family or very close
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family friends, if desired.
White gloves
Uniformed personnel in an official formal military funeral capacity will wear white gloves.
VIII. General Guidance Articles
Bags such as briefcases, gym bags, backpacks, lunch bags, suit cases, and garment bags, but not
including women's handbags shall generally be hand carried in the left hand to facilitate saluting.
Sea bags, backpacks, and gym bags may not be carried or worn on the shoulders when wearing service
dress uniforms, e.g., Service Dress Blue, or Summer Whites.
Backpacks may be worn on the back with both straps over the shoulders in service or working uniforms.
Computer bags and brief cases may be worn across the left shoulder of service and working uniforms to
facilitate saluting. When wearing a bag, the strap must be worn across the left shoulder (fore and aft) with
the bag hanging on the same side of the body. The case or bag will not be worn with the strap and bag on
the opposite shoulders when wearing the working uniform (e.g., coveralls, utilities, summer working blues,
winter working blues, PE gear, Blue & Gold jogging suits, team warm-ups or when required for medical
reasons)
Covers
The Midshipman cover is an integral part of the uniform and is to be worn, not carried.
Indoor Wear
Covers should not be worn indoors except when on watch and during indoor formations or when under
arms. When in uniform, Midshipmen shall remove covers (to include ballcap/watch cap) when transiting
public spaces inside buildings, such as passageways.
Outdoor Wear Outdoors, personnel remain covered at all times unless ordered to uncover, or during religious services not
associated with a military ceremony. Personnel remain covered during invocations or other religious
military ceremonies such as changes of command, commissioning ceremonies, launchings, and military
burials, etc. The chaplain conducting a religious ceremony will guide participants following the customs of
the church. Personnel on crutches shall be covered outside and handle their covers once indoors in
accordance with paragraph 2 above.
Special Circumstances
Midshipmen may remove their cover when traveling inside a private automobile off base. A cover is
mandatory when entering or within the Naval Academy Yard, unless wearing the cap is impractical or
hazardous. Additionally, if seated at an outdoor dining establishment, it is appropriate to remove your
cover when eating. A bench or seawall in town does NOT constitute a dining establishment.
Shoes
Only athletic shoes are authorized for wear with the jogging suit. Any conservative athletic shoe may be
worn. Flip-flops, sandals, boat shoes, and any other faddish civilian shoe will not be worn.
Skirts
Skirts may be prescribed for attending Forrestal Lectures, professional receptions, and church or chapel.
Plebe women will wear slacks to evening meal formation but have the option to wear skirts or slacks to
town liberty or when departing on leave. Upperclass female Midshipmen have the option of wearing skirts
with SDB's on leave, liberty, evening meal formations and after 1800 when pants or skirts are not
prescribed.
Outerwear
Gloves
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Black leather gloves shall be worn with overcoats and reefers (optional with black relaxed fit jacket).
Scarf The scarf is worn folded lengthwise twice with one inch of the folded side protruding above the collar of
the overcoat. The scarf will follow the contour of the overcoat allowing the white shirt collar and necktie
to show.
SDB Blouse Unlike the overcoat, reefer, raincoat, or relaxed fit jacket, the blouse for the Service Dress Blue (SDB)
uniform is integral to the uniform. It is not a protective layer to be taken off when the wearer comes inside
from out of doors or sits down in a social environment. Midshipmen shall wear their SDB blouses in King
Hall and in the classrooms. Midshipmen shall not remove the SDB blouse in public (e.g., in restaurants,
theaters, and other public or social settings). The SDB blouse can be removed in someone's room in their
company area and when moving temporarily around or inside a company area, or in a private residence of a
family member or sponsor. In the classrooms, the blouse shall be worn unless there is a lab, during which
there could be damage to the blouse. The blouse may then only be removed for the portion of the lab where
it is impracticable to wear.
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WEEK 4: GUIDING PRINCIPLES FOR THE BRIGADE OF MIDSHIPMEN
The Naval Academy‘s legacy is one that produces leaders with a strong moral foundation. They have a
desire to continually refine their personal character and pass those attributes on to the men and women they
serve. The following are three documents that define the purpose of the Naval Academy as well as outline
the expectations of a Naval Academy Midshipman. They serve as guiding principles for every
Midshipman to follow.
I. The Mission Statement:
To develop Midshipmen morally, mentally and physically and to imbue them with the highest ideals of
duty, honor and loyalty in order to graduate leaders who are dedicated to a career of naval service and
have potential for future development in mind and character, to assume the highest responsibilities of
command, citizenship and government.
II. Honor Treatise:
As a Brigade we cherish the diverse backgrounds and talents of every Midshipman yet recognize the
common thread that unites us: the trust and confidence of the American people. They have appointed us to
defend our country by developing our minds, our bodies, and most especially, our moral character.
It is our responsibility to develop a selfless sense of duty that demands excellence both of ourselves and
of those with whom we serve. We must honor our loyalties without compromising our ultimate obligation
to the truth. Our leadership must set a standard that reflects loyalty t our goals and the courage to stand
accountable for all our actions, both those that lead to success and those that end in failure. We will never
settle for achieving merely what is expected of us but will strive for a standard of excellence that reflects
the dedication and courage of those who have gone before us. When we attain our goal, we will raise our
expectations; when we fall short, we will rise up and try again. In essence, we espouse leadership by
example, a leadership that will inspire others to follow wherever we may lead.
Countless challenges and trials lie before us. We believe that those with the strongest moral foundation
will be the leaders who best reflect the legacy of the Naval Academy. This is our call as Midshipmen; it is
a mission we proudly accept.
The Honor Treatise represents the larger picture; it describes the guiding principles to which we must
adhere to as Midshipmen. Honor is not merely the codification of a set of rules, but rather a dynamic
process in which we strive to make the right decision regardless of personal cost.
III. The Superintendent’s Vision
The United States Naval Academy: Building Tomorrow’s Leaders, Today
The Naval Academy is, and must remain, the premier educational institution for developing future
naval leaders from diverse backgrounds to serve in an increasingly interdependent and dynamic world.
Core Themes
Develop Honorable Leaders. Above all, midshipmen must be persons of integrity. Moral development is
purposely listed first in our mission statement to underscore the importance the Navy and Marine Corp
place upon ethical leadership.
We are engaged in the critical mission of shaping leaders who will one day be entrusted with not just
the lives of our enlisted Sailors and Marines, but with the future security of our country. In order for our
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graduates to effectively lead, they must inspire the trust of those who will follow. Developing a strong
ethical foundation is the key to building that trust - and the foundation of trust is honor.
The Naval Academy must reinforce to the Brigade the importance of embracing integrity as a core
element in their lives and in their leadership styles.
Prepare for Careers of Service: The Naval Academy exists to prepare young men and women as leaders to
serve our nation. Graduating and earning a commission are significant accomplishments, but they are just
the beginning of careers of service in the Navy, Marine Corps, and beyond.
The military service of Naval Academy graduates varies from a minimum requirement of five years to
more than 30 years for those in senior leadership positions. Following their military careers, many of our
graduates will continue serving our nation in positions of importance in industry and government.
Exemplify the Navy and Marine Corps: Our Navy and Marine Corps team is an intelligent, professional
and dedicated all-volunteer force. As leaders, we owe them our absolute best. The highest possible degree
of moral, mental and physical development will allow Midshipmen to lead from the front, setting the
example as innovative, articulate, and honorable officers.
Focus Areas
Build Resilience and Instill Competitive Drive: The Naval Academy‘s demanding four-year program must
motivate midshipmen to compete and excel – in the classroom, in athletic events and in extra-curricular
activities. Our goal is to challenge the Brigade so that upon graduation, they will be prepared to
successfully lead Sailors and Marines, and motivate others to excel. Building an unwavering resilience and
a competitive drive forms the basis for what we aspire to produce in our graduates, enabling successful
naval careers and ultimately, victory in battle.
Increase Technical Proficiency and Foster Creativity: Today‘s naval forces are continuously adapting to
maintain strategic, operational, and tactical superiority over our enemies. We must be equally innovative
and adaptive, beginning with a solid foundation in science, technology, engineering, and math. We must
build creative, imaginative leaders who are not just good at rote memorization, but also have mastered the
skill of how to learn.
Enhance Cultural Awareness: The Naval Academy seeks to enhance the cultural awareness of midshipmen
in order to prepare them to succeed in an increasingly interdependent and volatile world. We proactively
seek and facilitate opportunities that build knowledge and understanding regarding strategically important
geographic regions and foreign languages.
By excelling in your professional development, you are taking your place among the leaders of this
nation whose intelligence, creativity and leadership will be the foundation of our future. During your
training you will see that being a midshipman means much more than memorizing facts and dates - it’s
about becoming part of something bigger than yourself.
IV. The Commandant’s Standing Orders
We are a nation at war and when our time here together ends we will be called upon to lead Sailors and
Marines into dangerous, complex and challenging situations in support of national objectives or defense of
national interests. Our Sailors and Marines do not get to choose their leaders, but they and our nation
expect the very best of each one of us that have had the honor and privilege to wear the Navy Blue & Gold.
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Reaching our individual and collective potentials in the Moral, Mental, and Physical mission areas must be
our focus and exceeding expectations our routine.
There are five ideals that I feel are fundamental to success, and each of us, at all levels of the chain of
command, should routinely reflect on these ideals and adopt their underlying principles.
• Fighting Spirit. Approach each and every day with a burning desire to improve upon the success
of those who came before us by maintaining and pushing ourselves and others with a sense of
commitment and resolve. Each of us has a potential for excellence, and can accomplish anything
with hard work, dedication and sacrifice. Strive to reach your potential for excellence and in turn
you will be catalytic in the improvement of our collective potential for excellence. Hope is not a
military plan of action - be proactive in all endeavors, not reactive.
• Integrity. Demand total honesty and forthrightness in our words and deeds. Never be afraid to
admit a mistake, and always learn from your mistakes and the mistakes of others. We will do what
is right and not always what is easy, no matter what the ramifications.
• Respect. Respect yourself, others, and our Academy. Our appearance, demeanor, and
environment will be second to none. Others will know us by what we do, how we act, how we
treat others and how we look. We will not leave a fallen comrade in the field, so don‘t let a fellow
Midshipman stray down a path that would be detrimental to our Moral, Mental, or Physical
mission areas – be a true Shipmate!
• Safety. Maintaining a safe environment, or doing an evolution safely must be at the forefront of
everything we do. Training, formality, procedural compliance, and supervision are essential to
ensure day-to-day safety. Never pass up an opportunity to mentor or train.
• Teamwork. We all have contributions to make, and conversely we all have things to learn. No
one person has all the answers, and no one person can solve all the problems. Maintain a
questioning attitude during every evolution and always have the courage to point out shortfalls in
order to ensure safety and mission accomplishment. Foster teamwork and exercise forceful backup
to ensure success - if properly placed and executed it is Peer Leadership that will be the guiding
light for success.
We have a unique bond to United States Naval Academy graduates of the past by a sense of service to
our country through honor, courage, and commitment. It is a privilege to be a member of the U. S. Naval
Academy family, and it is each and every one of our responsibilities to ensure our actions and deeds honor
those that have come before us and the sacrifices they have made. I am honored and extremely humbled to
be the 84th Commandant of Midshipmen, and look forward to the challenges and successes that we will
face together in the future. We will motivate and drive each other in the pursuit of excellence, while
tempering our passion with the understanding that we will make mistakes, but with those mistakes we will
learn and become better professionals, warriors, and eventually leaders of the greatest Maritime Force on
the face of the earth!
Be The Best & Go Navy!
84th Commandant of Midshipmen
Sources: USNA Mission: http://www.usna.edu/StrategicPlan/htmls/sp_mission.html
Honor Treaties: http://intranet.usna.edu/OfficerDevelopment/honor/honortreatise.html
Commandant‘s Standing Orders: http://intranet.usna.edu/Commandant/
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WEEK 5: UNITED STATES NAVAL ACADEMY HISTORY
I. USNA Beginnings
Having just sworn the oath of office of a Midshipman in the United States Navy and received countless
hours of instruction regarding the mission of the Naval Academy, each of you is well aware of the words of
that mission. Simply put, the United States Naval Academy exists to ―graduate leaders…‖ This is the
expressed purpose for the existence of this institution. As a newly appointed Midshipman in the United
States Navy, you have willfully accepted to submit yourself to an age-old curriculum that is specifically
designed to produce military officers of the highest caliber to serve the United States in any capacity to
which they are called. This curriculum includes a rigorous academic course of study, practical military
training, physical exercise and instruction, experiential leadership opportunities, and much more. Though
diverse and constantly evolving, the Naval Academy program is focused around the production of leaders
to the armed forces and to the country and has been dedicated to this same purpose for over a hundred and
fifty years. It is important to consider the appointment that you have received to this institution and
consider all of the implications of such a charge. It is the duty of each midshipman to carefully consider the
purpose of their appointment to the Naval Academy. You are here to serve as an officer in the armed forces
of the United States and your entire experience at this historic institution will be centered on this reality.
While some of the most knowledgeable and experienced faculty and officers are dedicated to facilitating
this transformation of midshipman to officer, the bulk of the mission lies with each individual midshipman.
It is imperative to take advantage of the opportunities placed before you to prepare yourself to enter the
military as an officer. For this very purpose was the United States Naval Academy established so many
years ago and since its creation it has never strayed nor diverted from this mission. It is important to
examine the beginnings of this institution in order to remind each midshipman of their singular purpose of
the next four years and beyond. The following is a brief synopsis of the beginnings of the United States
Naval Academy and its evolution as the primary means of production of officers in the United States Navy
and Marine Corps.
As sea power became a more apparent necessity of the young United States, it became evident that a
training school for naval officers on the shore would be necessary to produce competent officers to lead the
Navy and protect the interests of the nation at sea. Previously, midshipmen embarked on a school ship and
were trained and schooled at sea. After several unsuccessful endeavors with such a method, it was
determined that a naval school should be established very similar to the Military Academy in West Point,
New York.
Through the efforts of the Secretary of the Navy George Bancroft, the Naval School was established
without Congressional funding, at a 10-acre Army post named Fort Severn in Annapolis, Maryland, on
October 10, 1845, with a class of 50 midshipmen and seven professors. The curriculum included
mathematics and navigation, gunnery and steam, chemistry, English, natural philosophy, and French.
In 1850, the Naval School became the United States Naval Academy. A new curriculum went into effect
requiring midshipmen to study at the Academy for four years and to train aboard ships each summer. That
format is the basis of a far more advanced and sophisticated curriculum at the Naval Academy today. As
the U.S. Navy grew over the years, the Academy expanded. The campus of 10 acres increased to 338. The
original student body of 50 midshipmen grew to a brigade size of 4,000. Modern granite buildings replaced
the old wooden structures of Fort Severn. The Naval Academy today serves as one of the primary supply of
officers to the Navy and Marine Corps, graduating over a thousand new officers each year.
II. Notable Graduates
The Naval Academy is a historical institution dedicated to producing officers of the highest caliber for
the nation. Graduates of the United States Naval Academy have emerged as leaders in both military and
civilian careers. The following are only a handful of distinguished graduates who embody the mission of
the United States Naval Academy in its entirety. Take heed of the example set by these distinguished
graduates and strive for the same excellence with which they served.
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Colonel John W. Ripley, USMC
Colonel John W. Ripley served 35 years active duty in the Marines. After serving one year in the
Marine Corps after high school, he entered the United States Naval Academy, obtaining an appointment
from the Secretary of the Navy. In June of 1962, he graduated with a Bachelor‘s of Science degree in
electrical engineering and was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant.
Col. Ripley had an illustrious military career both in combat and command. Some highlights include
commanding "Lima" Company of 3rd Battalion, 3rd Marines just below the demilitarized zone (DMZ) in
the northern sector of South Vietnam, I Corps where he saw much action in the famous "Leatherneck
Square" area (Dong Ha, Con Tien, Khe Sanh). Perhaps his most famous tour of duty was as the Senior
Advisor to the 3rd Vietnamese Marine Battalion, which operated along the DMZ. He was at Dong Ha with
his battalion during the 1972 North Vietnamese Easter Invasion. It was during this invasion that Col.
Ripley heroically performed the action at the Dong Ha Bridge, for which he was awarded the nation‘s
second highest honor, the Navy Cross (the Navy's equivalent of the Distinguished Service Cross). Col.
Ripley‘s heroic action at the Dong Ha bridge was selected as a single act to memorialize the actions of all
Naval Academy graduates during the entire Vietnam War. In Memorial Hall at the Naval Academy, a large
diorama titled "Ripley at The Bridge" represents the noble and gallant actions of all Naval Academy men
who fought there.
Col. Ripley has earned six valorous and fourteen personal decorations including the Navy Cross, the
Silver Star, two awards of the Legion of Merit, two awards of the Bronze Star with Combat "V", the Purple
Heart, the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, the President Unit Citation, the Navy Unit Citation, the
Combat Action Ribbon, the Vietnamese Distinguished Service Order and the Cross of Gallantry with Gold
Star.
Col. Ripley passed away on October 28, 2008 at his home in Annapolis, Maryland. His memory will
forever be etched into the stones of the United States Naval Academy and the legacy of his life will
constantly serve as a guiding example for all those who follow after Colonel Ripley into harm‘s way in
defense of the United States of America.
Vice Admiral James B. Stockdale, USN
After graduating from the Naval Academy in 1946, he attended flight training in Pensacola, FL and in
1954 was accepted to the Navy Test Pilot School where he quickly became a standout and served as an
instructor for a brief time. Stockdale‘s flying career took him west, and in 1962 he earned a Master‘s
Degree in International Relations from Stanford University. He was the first to amass more than one
thousand hours in the F-8U Crusader, then the Navy‘s hottest fighter, and by the early 1960‘s Stockdale
was at the very pinnacle of his profession when he commanded a Navy fighter squadron.
On September 9, 1965 the 40-year-old Stockdale, currently serving as Commanding Officer, VF51 and
Carrier Air Group Commander (CAG-16) was catapulted from the deck of the USS Oriskany. While
returning from the target area, his A-4 Skyhawk was hit by anti-aircraft fire. Stockdale ejected, breaking a
bone in his back. Upon landing in a small village, he badly dislocated his knee, an injury that would remain
visible in his step for the rest of his life.
Stockdale was placed in Hoa Lo Prison, the infamous ―Hanoi Hilton‖, where he spent the next seven
years as the highest ranking naval officer and leader of American resistance against Vietnamese attempts to
use prisoners for propaganda purposes. Despite being kept in solitary confinement for four years, in leg
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irons for two, physically tortured more than 15 times, denied medical care and malnourished, Stockdale
organized a system of communication and developed a cohesive set of rules governing prisoner behavior.
Codified in the acronym BACK U.S. (Unity over Self), these rules gave prisoners a sense of hope and
empowerment, which many credited with giving them the strength to endure their lengthy ordeal.
Told he was to be taken ―downtown‖ and paraded in front of foreign journalists, Stockdale slashed his
scalp with a razor and beat himself in the face with a wooden stool knowing that his captors would not
display a prisoner who was disfigured. Later, after discovering that some prisoners had died during torture,
he slashed his wrists to demonstrate to his captors that he preferred death to submission. This act so
convinced the Vietnamese of his determination to die rather than to cooperate that the Communists ceased
the torture of American prisoners and gradually improved their treatment of POWs.
He was one of the most highly decorated officers in the history of the Navy, wearing twenty six personal
combat decorations, including two Distinguished Flying Crosses, three Distinguished Service Medals, two
Purple Hearts, and four Silver Star medals in addition to the Medal of Honor. He was the only three-star
Admiral in the history of the Navy to wear both aviator wings and the Medal of Honor.
VADM Stockdale passed away at 81 years old after a lengthy battle with Alzheimer‘s disease. Upon his
retirement in 1979, the Secretary of the Navy established the Vice Admiral Stockdale Award for the
Inspirational Leadership presented annually in both the Pacific and Atlantic fleet. Admiral Stockdale was a
member of the Navy‘s Carrier Hall of Fame and the National Aviation Hall of Fame, and he was an
Honorary Fellow in the Society of Experimental Test Pilots. Vice Admiral Stockdale‘s exhibition of
courage, leadership, and dedication throughout his entire career is an example that every young Naval and
Marine Corps officer should strive to follow. Stockdale held himself above and beyond the call of duty,
keeping with the heart of the mission of the great institution from which he came.
Mr. Henry Ross Perot
Ross Perot was born on June 27, 1930 in Texarkana, Texas. Perot entered the United States Naval
Academy with the class of 1953 and excelled during his time as a midshipman. He was elected the
President of the Class of 1953 and with his position he worked with several midshipmen and officers to
help establish the honor concept of the Naval Academy. Perot discovered that there was no uniform policy
for dealing with midshipmen who had violated their class‘ conception of honor and he worked diligently to
establish the program. After graduation, Perot served with distinction as a surface warfare officer.
Following the completion of his commitment, Perot resigned his commission to explore other opportunities
in the business world.
He went he went to work for IBM‘s data processing division as a salesman and quickly excelled as a
salesman. After leaving IBM, he founded EDS, a one-man data processing company. The company
ultimately became a multi-billion dollar corporation employing more than 70,000 people. Perot sold EDS
in 1984 to General Motors for $2.5 billion and promptly started another equally successful data processing
firm named Perot Systems Corporation, Inc., which he still chairs today. Through his massive influence in
the business realm, Perot worked closely with many governmental agencies to improve the United State‘s
intelligence abilities abroad. Perot was also called upon to improve education capacities at home in his own
state of Texas. An ardent philanthropist, Perot is well known for his generous donations of his money to
various charitable and civil causes, giving over $100 million.
Perot‘s political career climaxed with his bid for the American Presidency in the 1992 and 1996
elections. Perot ran as an independent candidate, using some $57 million of his personal funds to finance
the entirety of his campaign. Perot appealed to the American public as a reformer and a refreshing political
outsider and won nineteen percent of the vote in 1992. In the 1996 election, he formed the Independence
Party, now called the Reform Party, and won the nomination to run for President again, achieving eight
percent of the national vote. Ross Perot is among the most distinguished of graduates of the United States
Naval Academy, displaying excellence both in and out of service in the armed forces. His perseverance,
intelligence, and leadership are representative of the caliber of graduates that this institution strives to
provide to the United States of America.
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Major General William A. Anders, USAF
William Anders was born October 17, 1933, in Hong Kong. He received a Bachelor of Science degree
from the United States Naval Academy in 1955 and a Master of Science degree in Nuclear Engineering
from the Air Force Institute of Technology at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, in 1962. He
completed the Harvard Business School Advanced Management Program in 1979. Anders was cross-
commissioned into the United States Air Force after graduation from the Naval Academy and served as a
fighter pilot in all-weather interception squadrons of the Air Defense Command and later was responsible
for technical management of nuclear power reactor shielding and radiation effects programs while at the
Air Force Weapons Laboratory in New Mexico.
In 1964, Anders was selected by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration as an astronaut
with responsibilities for dosimetry, radiation effects and environmental controls. He was backup pilot for
the Gemini XI, Apollo 11 flights, and was lunar module pilot for Apollo 8 -- the first lunar orbit mission in
December 1968. He has logged more than 6,000 hours flying time.
From June 1969 to 1973 he served as Executive Secretary for the National Aeronautics and Space
Council, which was responsible to the President, Vice President and Cabinet-level members of the Council
for developing policy options concerning research, development, operations and planning of aeronautical
and space systems.
On August 6, 1973, Anders was appointed to the five-member Atomic Energy Commission where he
was lead commissioner for all nuclear and non-nuclear power R&D. He was also named as U. S. Chairman
of the joint US/USSR technology exchange program for nuclear fission and fusion power.
Following the reorganization of national nuclear regulatory and developmental activities on January 19,
1975, Anders was named by President Ford to become the first Chairman of the newly established Nuclear
Regulatory Commission responsible for nuclear safety and environmental compatibility. At the completion
of his term as NRC Chairman, Anders was appointed United States Ambassador to Norway and held that
position until 1977.
Anders left the federal government after 26 years of service and went to work for several large
corporations that supplemented his former career as a pilot and astronaut. He worked to manufacture
products to include aircraft flight and weapon control systems, cockpit instruments, aircraft electrical
generating systems, airborne radars and data processing systems, electronic countermeasures, space
command systems, and aircraft/surface multi-barrel armament systems. Major General William A. Anders‘
patriotism and service to our country is a testament to not only the caliber of his personal character but also
that of the institution that helped cultivate the seeds of greatness that continually blossomed throughout his
entire career.
III. Notable Buildings on the Yard
Wesley Brown Field House is named after Lt. Cmdr. Wesley Brown, USN (ret.), the first African
American Midshipman to graduate from the United States Naval Academy in 1949. The field house‘s
140,000-square-foot, structure houses facilities for physical education, varsity and intramural athletics, club
sports and personal fitness. The field house incorporates some of the most advanced technology for
personal condition and combat preparedness.
King Hall is the 55,000-square-foot dining area or wardroom in which the entire brigade is seated and
served. The building is named after Fleet Admiral Ernest King, who served as Commander-in-Chief of
Naval Forces and Chief of Naval Operations during WWII, as well as a member of the Joint Chiefs of
Staff. The United States Navy‘s victories during WWII were due in large part to the leadership and tenacity
of Fleet Admiral Ernest King.
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Bancroft Hall is named in honor of George Bancroft, Secretary of the Navy from 1845–1846, and founder
of the Naval Academy. This mammoth complex is the heart of the Naval Academy. It encompasses thirty-
three acres of floor space and 4.8 miles of corridors. Within the home of the Brigade are rooms dedicated to
midshipmen who have received the Medal of Honor for their valor in our nation‘s wars.
Nimitz Library is named in honor of Fleet Admiral Chester W. Nimitz who was Commander-in-Chief of
the U.S. Pacific Fleet during WWII, and later, Chief of Naval Operations, succeeding Fleet Admiral King
in 1945. Fleet Admiral Nimitz commanded numerous successful engagements in the Pacific Theatre,
including the battles of Midway and Coral Sea. The library has all of the best features and services that one
could expect to find in a contemporary college library. It is located between Maury Hall and Rickover Hall.
Lejeune Hall is named after Lieutenant General John Lejeune, Commandant of the Marine Corps from
1920–1929 and a graduate of the United States Naval Academy Class of 1888. Commissioned a 2nd Lt of
Marines in 1890 he served in various assignments culminating with his participation as a junior field
commander, 4th
Brigade of Marines assigned to the U.S. Army‘s Second Division, and eventually
command of the entire Second Division, the first Officer of Marines to command an Army Division. While
serving as Commandant, he was the primary advocate for maintaining the Marine Corps‘ close ties with the
Navy and focused resources with an emphasis on fleet landing operations that eventually led to the
amphibious doctrine developed in the 1930s used to great effect during WWII. It is the first Naval
Academy building to be named after a member of the Marine Corps. It is located between the eighth wing
of Bancroft Hall and Halsey Field House and houses he swimming, water polo, and wrestling teams.
IV. Modern History
Since 2001, the United States has been engaged in a global conflict to combat the forces of terrorism
that threaten the nation and her allies. This conflict, knows as the Global War on Terrorism, is the reality
which the officers from this institution enter upon graduation. Each one of you will serve to support the
prosecution of the Global War on Terrorism in some way, just as those who have gone before you
answered the call of the nation in her time of need. Below is a list of graduates who gave the ultimate
sacrifice in service to this call in the Global War on Terrorism.
Major William Randolph Watkins III, USAF (Class of 1989) – Major Watkins was the weapons system
officer of an F-15E that went down April 7, 2003, during a combat mission in Iraq.
Lieutenant Kylan Alexander Jones-Huffman, USN (Class of 1994) –Lieutenant Jones-Huffman was
killed in action on August 21, 2003 while assigned to temporary duty with the I Marine Expeditionary
Force in Iraq.
Lieutenant Colonel David Scott Greene, USMC (Class of 1986) – Lieutenant Colonel Greene was killed
in action on July 28, 2004 when the AH-1W Cobra helicopter he was piloting took ground fire over Al
Anbar Province in Iraq.
First Lieutenant Ronald Dominick Winchester, USMC (Class of 2001) – First Lieutenant Winchester
was killed in action on September 3, 2004 when a roadside bomb exploded as his unit traveled on foot
outside Baghdad, Iraq.
Second Lieutenant James Patrick Blecksmith, USMC (Class of 2003) – Second Lieutenant Blecksmith
was killed in Iraq's Al Anbar Province on November 11, 2004 while leading his platoon as it cleared
surrounding buildings of enemy insurgents.
Lieutenant Commander Erik Samsel Kristensen, USN (Class of 1995) – Lieutenant Commander
Kristensen died June 28, 2005, when his helicopter was shot down in Afghanistan. He was a member of
Seal Team 10 that was part of the special forces team sent to rescue a small team engaged in heavy
fighting.
Lieutenant Michael Martin McGreevy, Jr., USN (Class of 1997) - Lieutenant McGreevy died alongside
Lieutenant Commander Kristensen on June 28, 2005, when their helicopter was shot down in during the
rescue operation in Afghanistan.
Sergeant Steve Morin, Jr., USANG (former member of the Class of 1997) – Sergeant Morin was killed
in action on September 28, 2005 west of Umm Qasr, Iraq, when an improvised explosive device detonated,
overturning the Humvee in which he was riding.
Major Megan Malia McClung, USMC (Class of 1995) - Major McClung died on December 6, 2006,
while supporting combat operations in Al Anbar province, Iraq.
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First Lieutenant Travis Joseph Manion, USMC (Class of 2004) –First Lieutenant Manion was killed in
action on April 29, 2007 by enemy sniper fire in the Al Anbar Province of Iraq while fighting to defend
against an enemy ambush.
Captain Jennifer Jean Harris, USMC (Class of 2000) – Captain Harris died on February 7, 2007 when
the CH-46 Sea Knight helicopter she was piloting crashed as a result of enemy action in Anbar province,
Iraq.
Major Douglas Alexander Zembiec, USMC (Class of 1995) – Major Zembiec died on May 11, 2007
while leading his Iraqi troops in a raid on insurgents in Baghdad, Iraq. He was serving his fourth tour in
Iraq.
The Annapolis Conference The Annapolis Conference was a Middle East peace conference held on November 27, 2007, at the
United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland, United States. The conference marked the first time
a two-state solution was articulated as the mutually agreed-upon outline for addressing the Israeli-
Palestinian conflict. The major issues that were addressed and discussed included the borders and Israeli
settlements, the status of Jerusalem, and the Palestinian right of return. Over forty individual nations were
invited to attend the peace conference including China, members of the Arab League, Russia, the European
Union and the other members of the United Nations. In opposition to the conference was the leadership of
Hamas as well as the nation of Iran, both of whom boycotted the event. Though the dispute was not
resolved with the closing of the conference, significant ground was gained in organizing a two-state
solution to peacefully end the historical conflict. The United States Naval Academy is honored to have
hosted such a historical event and will continue to serve the nation in similar capacities for years to come.
This, briefly, is the story of the United States Naval Academy, which, through six major wars, has
continued to furnish the core of line officers to the naval service. She is a proud school, the mother of a
proud service. The responsibility to preserve this pride rests with you—remember this whenever you
appear in the uniform of a Midshipman of the United States Naval Academy.
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WEEK 6: NAVAL SERVICE ORGANIZATION AND THE MISSION OF THE
NAVAL SERVICE
I. National Military Structure The President of the United States serves as the Commander in Chief (CINC) of all U.S. military forces.
The President is responsible to the citizens of the United States for maintaining a military that performs our
nation‘s security needs.
The Secretary of Defense is the principal defense policy adviser to the President and is responsible for
the formulation and execution of general defense policy. Subordinate to the Secretary of Defense are the
individual service secretaries, including the Secretary of the Navy.
The Joint Chiefs of Staff advise the CINC. There are six four-star officers on the Joint Chiefs of Staff:
1. Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff ADM Michael G. Mullen, USN
2. Vice-Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen James E. Cartwright, USMC
3. Commandant of the Marine Corps Gen James F. Amos, USMC
4. Chief of Naval Operations ADM Gary Roughead, USN
5. Chief of Staff of the Army GEN Martin E. Dempsey, USA
6. Chief of Staff of the Air Force Gen Norton A. Schwartz, USAF
The Chairman is the principal military adviser to the President, Secretary of Defense, and the National
Security Council (NSC); however, all JCS members are military advisers by law.
Since the National Security Act of 1947, the Joint Chiefs of Staff serve as planners and advisers,
although they have no executive authority to command combatant forces.
The National Security Act of 1947 also established the National Security Council to consider national
security issues that require Presidential decision. The National Security Council is formed of four statutory
members: the President, the Vice President, the Secretary of State, and the Secretary of Defense. The
Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (CJCS) and the Director of National Intelligence serve as statutory
advisers to the NSC.
II. Department of the Navy Leadership The Secretary of the Navy has authority over both the Navy and Marine Corps. The Secretary of the
Navy is responsible for conducting all the affairs of the Department of the Navy, including: recruiting,
organizing, supplying, equipping, training, mobilizing, and demobilizing. The Secretary also oversees the
construction, outfitting, and repair of naval ships, equipment, and facilities.
The Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) is the senior military officer in the Navy. The CNO is a four-star
admiral and is responsible to the Secretary of the Navy for the command, utilization of resources, and
operating efficiency of the operating forces of the Navy and of the Navy shore activities assigned by the
Secretary. ADM Gary Roughead is the current CNO.
The Commandant of the Marine Corps (CMC) is the senior military officer in the Marine Corps.
The Commandant is a four-star general and is responsible to the Secretary of the Navy for the command,
utilization of resources, and operating efficiency of the operating forces of the Marine Corps. Gen James F.
Amos is the current CMC.
III. Chain of Command
Administrative Chain of Command
The administrative chain of command is tasked with manning, training, and equipping forces and is
responsible for personnel management, supply, services, maintenance, certification, and other matters not
directly related to the operational chain of command.
The Navy administrative chain of command is:
1. President of the United States____________________________ President Barack H. Obama
2. Secretary of Defense___________________________________ The Honorable Leon E. Panetta
3. Secretary of the Navy___________________________________ The Honorable Ray Mabus
4. Chief of Naval Operations_______________________________ Admiral Gary Roughead
5. Component Commanders - responsible for the administrative control of all Fleet elements assigned to
their geographic area (e.g. COMLANTFLT, COMPACFLT).
6. Force Commanders - establish policy, control funds, and perform all administrative functions in
34
their respective warfare specialties.
a. Ships: COMNAVSURFFOR
b. Air: COMNAVAIRFOR
c. Subs: COMSUBFOR
7. Type Commanders - establish policy, control funds, and perform all administrative functions in
their respective warfare specialties in their geographic area.
a. Ships: COMNAVSURFLANT and COMNAVSURFPAC
b. Air: COMNAVAIRLANT and COMNAVAIRPAC
c. Subs: COMSUBLANT and COMSUBPAC
8. Group Commanders - responsible to Type Commanders (TYCOM) for administrative control of
similar types of Fleet elements (e.g., carrier, cruiser-destroyer, etc.) in homeport areas.
9. Squadron Commanders - responsible to Group Commanders for administrative control of a squadron
of similar ship types.
10. Unit Commanders - ship or aviation squadron Commanding Officers responsible to squadron
commanders for administrative control of their ship.
Operational Chain of Command
The operational chain of command is tasked with using the forces provided by all four services to carry
out the orders of the National Command Authority.
The Navy operational chain of command is:
1. The President of the United States (with the Secretary of Defense, and the JCS acting as advisors.)
2. Unified Commanders - (EUCOM, CENTCOM, USPACOM)
3. Component Commanders - responsible to unified commanders for the tactical employment of naval
forces in their assigned geographical region. (COMLANTFLT, COMPACFLT)
4. Numbered Fleet Commanders – 2nd, 3rd, 5th, 6th, 7th See Below for more information.
5. Designated Task Force Commanders - Used for multi-Battle Group forces (ie. CTF60, Commander,
Task Force 60)
6. Task Group Commander - Battle Group Commanders (CTG60.1, CTG60.2, CTG75.2, etc.)
7. Task Unit Commander - Warfare Commanders within the Battle Group (CTU60.1.1, CTU75.2.3, etc.)
8. Task Element Commander - An individual ship or group of ships with a special purpose such as a
Surface Action Group (SAG). (CTE60.1.1.2, CTE75.2.3.2, etc.)
IV. Unified Commands
Unified Combatant Commands are composed of forces from two or more services, have broad and
continuing missions and are normally organized on a geographical basis. The number of unified combatant
commands is not fixed by law and may vary from time to time. There are currently ten unified commands;
Six have regional responsibilities, and four have functional responsibilities.
Regional Responsibilities:
1. U.S. European Command (EUCOM)- US forces in Europe and parts of the Middle East.
Headquartered at Patch Barracks in Stuttgart, Germany.
2. U.S. Pacific Command (PACOM)- US forces in the Pacific Ocean and Indian Ocean areas.
Headquartered at Camp H. M. Smith in Honolulu, HI.
3. U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM)- US forces in Central America and South America.
Headquartered in Doral (Miami),, FL.
4. U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM)- US forces in the Middle East. Headquartered at MacDill
AFB in Tampa, FL.
5. U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM)- U.S. Forces in Africa. On February 6, 2007, President Bush
and Defense Secretary Robert Gates announced the creation of U.S. Africa Command. Previously
held under the realm of EUCOM, the new AFRICOM enables DoD to better focus its resources to
support and enhance existing U.S. initiatives that help African nations, the African Union, and the
regional economic communities succeed. The command began its independent operations on 1
October 2008. Headquartered at Kelley Barracks in Stuttgart, Germany.
6. U.S. Northern Command (NORTHCOM)- Homeland defense and also serve as head of the North
American Aerospace Defense Command, a U.S.-Canada command. NORTHCOM's area of
operations include the United States, Canada, Mexico, parts of the Caribbean and the contiguous
35
waters in the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. Headquartered at Peterson AFB in Colorado Springs,
CO.
Functional Responsibilities:
7. U.S. Special Operations Command (SOCOM)- Directs special forces activities for all US
Forces. Headquartered at MacDill AFB in Tampa, FL.
8. U.S. Transportation Command (TRANSCOM)- Directs all air and sea transportation resources.
Headquartered at Scott AFB in St. Clair County, IL.
9. U.S. Strategic Command (STRATCOM)- All air, land, and sea based strategic forces and
Space forces. Headquartered at Offutt AFB in Omaha, NE.
10. U.S. Joint Forces Command (USJFCOM)- US forces in the Atlantic Ocean areas and
responsible for transforming U.S. military forces. Headquartered in Norfolk, VA.
UNIFIED COMMANDS
V. Fleet Commands
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Unified Naval Component and Headquarters Operational Fleet(s)
Navy forces are divided into numbered Fleets and assigned to unified commands.
OPERATIONAL
FLEET (S)
AREA OF
OPERATION
HEADQUARTERS
OF FLEET CDR
FLAG SHIP UNIFIED
COMMAND
SECOND Atlantic Ocean Norfolk, Virginia USS IWO
JIMA
USJFCOM
THIRD Eastern and
Central Pacific
Point Loma, San
Diego, California
N/A PACCOM
FOURTH Caribbean Ocean,
surrounding waters
of Central and
South America
Mayport, Florida N/A SOUTHCOM
FIFTH Middle East (Red
Sea, Arabian Sea,
Persian Gulf)
Manama, Bahrain N/A CENTCOM
SIXTH Mediterranean Sea Naples, Italy USS MOUNT
WHITNEY
EUCOM
SEVENTH Western Pacific
and Indian Ocean
Yokosuka, Japan USS BLUE
RIDGE
PACCOM
VI. A Cooperative Strategy for 21st Century Seapower
Never before have the maritime forces of the United States—the Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast
Guard—come together to create a unified maritime strategy. This strategy stresses an approach that
integrates Seapower with other elements of national power, as well as those of our friends and allies. The
security, prosperity, and vital interests of the United States are increasingly coupled to those of other
nations. Our Nation‘s interests are best served by fostering a peaceful global system comprised of
interdependent networks of trade, finance, information, law, people and governance. The United States
Seapower will be globally postured to secure our homeland and citizens from direct attack and to advance
our interests around the world. We do this to accomplish six important tasks:
1. Limit regional conflict with forward deployed, decisive maritime power.
2. Deter major power war.
3. Win our Nation’s wars.
4. Contribute to homeland defense in depth.
5. Foster and sustain cooperative relationships with more international partners.
6. Prevent or contain local disruptions before they impact the global system.
To successfully implement this strategy, the Sea Services must collectively expand the core capabilities
of U.S. Seapower to achieve a blend of peacetime engagement and major combat operations capabilities.
The core capabilities include our forward presence, deterrence capability, Sea control, power projection,
maritime security and humanitarian assistance and disaster response. This strategy is derived from a
thorough assessment of the Nation‘s security requirements. It does not presume conflict but instead
acknowledges the historical fact that peace does not preserve itself.
Sources: Joint Chiefs of Staff Official Web Site: http://www.jcs.mil/page.aspx?id=2
The US Navy Organization: http://www.navy.mil/navydata/organization/org-top.asp
General James F. Amos: http://www.marines.mil/unit/hqmc/cmc/Pages/OfficialBiography.aspx
Chiefs of Staff of the Army: http://www.army.mil/leaders/csa
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WEEK 7: U.S. NAVAL SERVICE ENLISTED
I. Introduction Enlisted Sailors of our modern Navy have a higher level of training and education than ever before.
Many of our Sailors have acquired college credits and degrees either before entering the Navy or as a
result of self-development. Today the Navy requires unprecedented technical proficiency and expertise of
its enlisted Sailors. Officers are tasked with leading these motivated individuals and developing them into
a cohesive team with mission accomplishment as the highest priority. Given the quality and diversity of
these sailors, officers will find leading them both challenging and rewarding. The trust and
professionalism shared between an officer and his or her Sailors starts with an appreciation and respect for
the value of these individuals and a desire to know them beyond their productivity levels. Therefore, it is
essential that each officer learn about his or her Sailors, how they are trained, and how they are advanced.
II. Rates, Rating , and Paygrade Every member of the Navy is either nonrated, rated, or a commissioned officer. Men and women who
enlist in the Navy begin as nonrated personnel. A combination of experience and specialized training will
allow them to move up into a rated category and to advance through a number of levels. Rated personnel
are called ―petty officer.‖ Nonrated and rated personnel together are referred to as ―enlisted personnel.‖
Paygrade
Everyone wearing a Navy uniform has a paygrade. A paygrade defines a person‘s relative standing in
the Navy and, of course, determines how much money he or she will be paid. A new recruit enters the
Navy as an E-1 which is the first enlisted paygrade. Paygrades E-1 through E-3 are the nonrated
paygrades, meaning that they are not tied to a specific occupation. However, based upon screening and
testing, they are placed within a broad occupational category – known as a general apprenticeship (such as
seaman, airman, fireman, hospitalman, or constructionman – for advancement through the nonrated
paygrades. Specific advanced occupational training leads to advancement into the rated paygrades (E-4
through E-9).
General Apprenticeship Color of Stripe
Seaman (SN) White on Black/Black on White
Hospitalman (HN) White on Black/Black on White
Airman (AN) Green
Constructionman (CN) Light Blue
Fireman (FN) Red
Rating
A rating is an occupational specialty in the Navy. In order to qualify for a rating, a Sailor must work
through the general apprenticeship levels (E-1 through E-3) or attend a service school. A Sailor seeking to
advance into a specific rating is considered a ―striker‖ and is required to achieve a significant level of
experience and/or training toward a particular rating to be formally recognized as a ―designated striker.‖ A
rating abbreviation is formally assed to the general rate and paygrade (i.e. BMSA, YNSR, etc…). There
are three categories of ratings, general, service, and emergency. The general ratings are occupations for
paygrades E-4 through E-9. Each general rating has a distinctive badge. Examples are OS, GM, ET.
Service ratings are those general ratings that are subdivided into specific services. Examples are Gas-
turbine systems Technician (GS), which is subdivided into GSE (electrical) and GSM (mechanical).
Emergency Ratings can be created in times of war or national emergency and are ratings not normally
needed by the Navy. There are currently no emergency ratings active today.
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The following is a list of ratings found on the yard and which you are expected to know by name,
abbreviation, and insignia worn:
AB (Aviation Boatswain‘s Mate) CS (Culinary Specialist)
AG (Aerographer‘s Mate) CT (Cryptologic Technician)
AM (Aviation Structural Mechanic) DC (Damage Controlman)
AT (Aviation Electronics Technician) EO (Equipment Operator)
AW (Aviation Warfare Systems Operator) ET (Electronics Technician)
BU (Builder) GM (Gunner‘s Mate)
HM (Hospital Corpsman) OS (Operations Specialist)
IT (Information Systems Technician) RP (Religious Programs Specialist)
LN (Legalman) ST (Sonar Technician)
MM (Machinist‘s Mate) YN (Yeoman)
MU (Musician)
Petty Officers
E-4 to E-6 are considered to be non-commissioned officers (NCOs), and are specifically called Petty
Officers in the Navy. Petty Officers perform not only the duties of their specific career field but also serve
as leaders to junior enlisted personnel. They must take responsibility for their subordinates, address
grievances, inform the chain of command on matters pertaining to good order and discipline, and may even
have to place personnel on report. The title Petty Officer comes from the French word petit or something
small. In medieval England, villages had several "petite" or "petty" officers who were subordinate to major
officials. Thus, Petty Officers are assistants to senior officers. Petty Officers are identified by a
combination of letters and /or numbers that represent the individual‘s paygrade and rating. This is known
as an enlisted personnel‘s rate. The first two or three letters represent the general or service rating; the
number or letter(s) following indicate the paygrade. An enlisted person who identifies him/herself as BM2
Smith, would be a Boatswain‘s Mate Second Class. The ―Boatswain‘s Mate‖ is the general service rating
and the 2 is the paygrade.
Chief Petty Officers
E-7 to E-9 are still considered NCOs, but are considered a separate community within the Navy, unlike
other branches of service. They have separate berthing and dining facilities (where feasible), wear separate
uniforms similar in appearance to a commissioned officer uniform, and perform separate duties.
Advancement to Chief Petty Officer (E-7) or above requires a peer review by existing Chief Petty Officers
beyond the normal examination score and performance evaluation process. The proper form of address to a
Chief Petty Officer is "Chief", "Senior Chief", or "Master Chief" according to their rating. In the U. S.
Navy, the Chief is specifically tasked, in writing, with the duty of training Junior Officers (Ensign,
Lieutenant (j.g.), Lieutenant, and Lieutenant Commander) — one of the major differences between a Chief
in the Navy and his/her counterparts in the senior NCO corps in the Army, Marine Corps, and Air Force.
CMC
After obtaining Master Chief Petty Officer, servicemembers may choose to further their career by
becoming a Command Master Chief Petty Officer (CMC). A CMC is considered to be the senior-most
enlisted service member within a command, and is the special assistant to the Commanding Officer in all
matters pertaining to the health, welfare, job satisfaction, morale, utilization, advancement and training of
the command's enlisted personnel. CMC insignia are similar to the insignia for Master Chief, except that
the rating symbol is replaced by an inverted five-point star, reflecting a change in their rating from their
previous rating.
III. Uniform Insignia
Enlisted personnel will wear rating badges or insignias on all uniforms with the exception of non-rated
personnel when wearing utilities and coveralls. Insignias and badges with no rating specific markings will
be worn on utilities or coverall for E-4 and above personnel. Personnel in paygrades E-7 through E-9 wear
collar devices (i.e. gold anchors with USN and fouled chain). A Senior Chief will have one silver star
above the anchor, and a Master Chief will have two silver stars. When wearing either the peacoat or outer
39
jacket, rating badges or collar devices will be worn with the exception of non-rated personnel. An E-4
(Petty Officer Third Class) wears one chevron on his/her rating badge, an E-5 (Petty Officer Second Class)
has two, and an E-6 (Petty Officer First Class) has three.
The insignia show below is for that of a Boatswain‘s Mate (BM). The crossed anchors below the ―crow‖
identify the individual as a BM on the rating badge. Notice the star in the place of the anchors on the
insignia of the Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy. The star shows the individual is a CMC.
Non-Commissioned Officer and Enlisted Rate Structure of the United States Navy
Master Chief
Petty Officer of
the Navy
Master Chief
Petty Officer
Senior Chief
Petty Officer
Chief Petty
Officer
Petty Officer First
Class
E-9 E-9 E-8 E-7 E-6
Petty Officer Second
Class
Petty Officer
Third Class Seaman
Seaman
Apprentice
Seaman
Recruit
E-5 E-4 E-3 E-2 E-1
No insignia
IV. Naval Enlisted Classification (NEC) Codes NEC is a special code used to identify a skill, knowledge, aptitude, or qualification not included in
general or service rating training. For example, not all Boatswain‘s Mates (BM) are qualified tugmasters.
They would go through the qualification process and earn the NEC BM-0161. This tells the detailer – the
administrative personnel at Navy Personnel Command (NAVPERSCOM) in Millington, TN, who match
individuals to specific assignments (billets) in the Navy- that this particular Sailor can be assigned the
tugmaster billet anywhere in the Navy. With few exceptions, NECs are assigned to personnel by the
Enlisted Personnel Management Center (EPMAC) in New Orleans. There are six type of NEC codes:
entry series, rating series, special series, alphanumeric, numerical, and planning.
V. Service Schools For some ratings, graduation from a particular service school is necessary for advancement. Selection
for a service school depends on the rate, time in service, current duty assignment, school quotas, and the
operational schedule of the Sailor‘s unit.
The five types of enlisted service schools are:
1. Class A – Provides the basic technical knowledge required for job performance and further
specialized training. An NEC may be awarded to identify the skill.
2. Class C – Advanced skills and techniques needed to perform a particular job are taught. An NEC
may also be awarded to identify the level of skill.
3. Class E – Designated for professional education leading to an academic degree.
4. Class F – Trains fleet personnel who are en route to, or are members of ships‘ companies. Also
provides individual training such as refresher, operator, maintenance, or technical training
of less than 13 calendar days. A NEC is not awarded.
5. Class R – This is the basic school that provides initial training after enlistment, also known as ―boot
camp‖ or ―recruit training.‖ It prepares the recruit for early adjustment to military life by
inculcating basic skills and knowledge about military subjects. Class R schooling for all
recruits is now conducted at Recruit Training Center, Great Lakes, IL.
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VI. Enlisted Advancement Advancement in the Navy means better pay. More privileges, greater responsibility, and increased
pride. Advancement to petty officer rate in the Navy are made through centralized competition.
General Requirements.
1. Advancement to E-2 and E-3 is based on Time-In-Rate (TIR), 9 months in length, and performance.
2. Advancement to E-4 through E-9 is based on a combination of time in service, TIR, awards,
performance (evaluations), and score on the annual/semi-annual exams held in March and September
for E-4 through E-6. For E-7 the advancement exam is held annually, in January. A selection board is
convened in July and results are posted in early August. For E-8 and E-9, advancement is based on
performance and board selection.
3. Meet all appropriate citizenship or security clearance requirements for advancement in certain rates or
ratings.
4. Fulfill special requirements for certain ratings.
5. Meet all physical readiness/body fat standards.
6. Be recommended by the Commanding Officer.
Sources: Enlisted Rating Insignia: http://www.navy.mil/navydata/navy_legacy_hr.asp?id=259
US Navy Ranks and Rates: http://www.navy.mil/navydata/ranks/rankrate.html
Navy Enlisted Promotion Chart: http://usmilitary.about.com/od/navy/l/blpromchart.htm
Chief Petty Officer Heritage: http://www.history.navy.mil/faqs/faq46-1.htm
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WEEK 8: USMC HISTORY AND TRADITIONS
I. Origins
Birth of the Marine Corps
The US Marine Corps is a direct descendent of the British Royal Marines, who were founded in 1664.
When the 2nd Continental Congress drew up plans for a Navy, it also established a Continental Marine
Corps. November 10, 1775 marks the United States Marine Corps‘ official birthday. Tun Tavern in
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania is recognized as the birthplace of the Marine Corps.
Samuel Nicholas, a Philadelphia merchant, was commissioned a Captain and ordered to raise the
required number of Marines to form the two battalions. He is considered the first traditional Commandant
of the Marine Corps.
II. History and Traditions
First Amphibious Landing
The attack on New Providence, Bahamas was led by Samuel Nicholas and was the first amphibious raid
in the history of the Marine Corps. Landing on 3 March 1776, the Marines made the first amphibious
assault, taking the British defenders completely by surprise. The British withdrew from Fort Montague and
the Marines captured the fort without firing a shot.
Early Traditions
Quatrefoil – One of the traditions, which evolved from the late 1700s and early 1800s, was the use of
the Quatrefoil. It enabled our sharpshooting Marines in the riggings of sailing ships to distinguish
between friend and foe. Our boarding parties attached a cross design piece of rope to the top of their
covers. From this evolved the Quatrefoil, today the cross-shaped braid is worn on top of the Officer's
barracks cover.
Leatherneck – The Marines long-standing nickname "Leatherneck‖ goes back to the leather collar, or
neckpiece, which was worn from 1775 to 1875, that was intended to ensure the Marines kept their
heads erect, and to protect their necks from sword slashes. The high collar on the blue dress uniforms
commemorates it today.
Rank Of Sergeant Major – In 1798 Congress established the rank of Sergeant Major. The first
Sergeant Major in the Marine Corps was Sergeant Major Archibald Sommers.
Marine Corps Band – The Marine Band was also established in 1798 and has played for every
president except George Washington. Thomas Jefferson gave them the nickname "The President's
Own".
Mameluke Sword – In 1805, the Ruler of Tripoli, Prince Hamet, presented the Mameluke sword to
Lieutenant O'Bannon as a token of gratitude for the Marines‘actions during the Barbary Pirate Wars. A
replica of that sword was adopted for use and carried by all Marine officers. The Mameluke Sword is
the oldest weapon still in use today by any of the US Armed Forces.
The Scarlet Stripe – The red scarlet trouser strip first appeared on uniform trousers in 1798, and
reappeared in 1840 and 1859, partly as a result of the military fashions of the day. The popular story,
which cannot be supported by fact, is: In the battle of Chapultepec during the Mexican War in1847,
90% of the Marine officers and noncommissioned officers were casualties. Thirteen of the twenty-
three Marine officers participating in this battle were decorated for bravery. Thus the scarlet stripe, or
"blood stripe", worn today on the blue dress trousers is to commemorate all the officer and
noncommissioned officer casualties at the battle.
“The Grand Old Man of the Marine Corps” – Archibald Henderson was appointed the 5th
Commandant of the Marine Corps in 1820 and remained commandant until 1859, a period of 38 years,
and is known as ―the Grand Old Man of the Marine Corps‖.
Marine Corps Emblem– During the post-Civil War period in 1868 Marine Corps emblem was
adopted. The emblem consisted of an eagle with spread wings sitting on top of a globe of the Western
Hemisphere with an anchor in the background. The eagle symbolizes the nation, the globe worldwide
service, and the anchor naval traditions.
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Two Medal of Honor Recipients – Gunnery Sergeant Dan Daly and Major Smedley Butler are the
only Marines who have won two Medals of Honor for two separate actions. Gunnery Sergeant Dan
Daly was awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions during the Boxer Rebellion in China in 1900 and
the Banana Wars in Haiti in 1915. Is is also known for saying, "Come on, you sons of bitches! Do you
want to live forever?" during the Battle for Belleau Wood in WWI. Major Smedley Butler was
awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions during the Mexican War in 1914 and the Banana Wars in
Haiti in 1915.
Father of Marine Aviation – The development of Marine aviation began in 1912. 2nd Lieutenant
Alfred A. Cunningham was the first Marine to earn naval aviation wings. Lieutenant Cunningham
worked to establish Marines as aviators and is considered the father of Marine Corps aviation.
World War I (1917)
The Marine Corps underwent a drastic transformation in World War I from a small force of anti-
guerrilla fighters to a large conventional force capable of sustained combat. To have enough troops to cross
the Atlantic Ocean with the expeditionary forces in World War I, the Marine Corps had to expand its
numbers dramatically. The Marines fielded two brigades to fight in Europe.
After 54 days of trench warfare, the Marines pulled out and received orders to protect Paris. They met
the Germans at a place called Bois de Belleau (Belleau Wood). As Marines moved to the front, retreating
French soldiers encouraged them to "fall back… retreat…" telling them that advancement was impossible.
In classic Marine fashion Capt. Lloyd Williams reportedly answered, "Retreat hell, we just got here!" At
Belleau Wood, the 4th Marine Brigade suffered enormous casualties while saving Paris from the Germans.
The French commander ordered Belleau Wood renamed as "Bois de la Brigade de Marine," the Woods of
the Marine Brigade and the French government awarded the 4th Marine Brigade France's highest award,
the Croix de Guerre. Devil Dog – German soldiers feared the Marines, calling them "Teufelhunden" or "Devil Dog", a name
which is still used by Marines to this day. The German high command classified the Marines as
"Shock Troops," a classification reserved only for the finest military organizations.
Post-World War I
During and after World War I, the Marines were consistently called upon to protect American interests
and provide security in such places as Haiti, Nicaragua, and the Dominican Republic. During this same
period the concept of close air support was implemented for the first time and the serious study of the
amphibious assault was undertaken. This study generated the first Manual for Landing Operations.
Thirteenth Commandant – Perhaps the most significant event of this period was the appointment of
Major General John A. Lejeune as the 13th Commandant of the Marine Corps. His major
accomplishments as Commandant include:
i. Guiding the Corps toward the amphibious assault role.
ii. Establishing the Marine Corps Institute.
iii. Enhancing the officer corps through the Company Grade Officer's School and the Field Grade
Officer's School.
iv. Organizing Headquarters Marine Corps.
Women In The Corps – Women entered the ranks of the Marine Corps for the first time in 1918,
when 277 reservists and Women Marines joined the Corps, beginning with Opha Mae Johnson.
Amphibious Development
During the 1920s the advanced base concept was being studied as the future role of the Marine Corps.
To lend credence to the advanced base concept, General Russell established the Fleet Marine Force (FMF)
in 1933. Lieutenant Colonel Ellis, a progressive thinker and visionary, was preparing ideas 20 years ahead
of his time. His ideas and those of others greatly contributed to important developments and changes to the
Marine Corps that took place before Word War II.
The charter for the FMF was published between the US Naval Fleet and the newly formed FMF.
Publication of the "Marine Manual for Landing Operations" established the first guidelines for
conducting amphibious operations.
Development of the Higgins boat, as the first truly successful landing craft for combat, allowed
Marines to conduct amphibious operations with greater success.
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The Island Hopping Campaign of World War II
Guadalcanal
On 7 August 1942, the First Marine Division, consisting of 16,000 Marines, made the first amphibious
landing of World War II. This was the first time that the principles established by the 1938 Fleet Training
Publication 167 were applied. When the Marines came ashore, the Japanese launched a sea attack against
the US Navy amphibious ships. The operation was not yet complete when the Navy decided to withdrawal
from Guadalcanal with thousands of Marines and critical equipment aboard. Instead of spearheading an
offensive operation, the Marines assumed a defensive perimeter until the rest of the Marines aboard the
ships could return. By February of 1943, the Marines had full control of Guadalcanal and the US
concentrated on the offensive in the Pacific.
Tarawa
There were over 4,800 Japanese on Tarawa manning 32 large coastal artillery pieces, 106 machine
guns, and 14 tanks. On 20 November 1943, the 2d Marine Division attacked Tarawa. The reefs surrounding
the island stopped the majority of the landing craft. The Marines waded to the shore, some 500 hundred
yards distant, in the face of machine gun and mortar fire. 76 hours after the start of the assault on Tarawa,
the 2d Marine Division captured the island at the cost of 1,100 dead and 2,300 wounded Marines.
The significance of Tarawa was that the Japanese commander claimed, "a million men assaulting for a
hundred years could not take Tarawa". It took the Marines just 76 hours. Only 17 Japanese surrendered; the
rest fought to the death. The US Marine Corps learned two important lessons from the Battle for Tarawa:
Higgins Boats. The Marine Corps relied heavily on the Higgins Boat up to this point in the war. At
Tarawa these flat-bottom boats became stuck on the coral reefs, forcing Marines to wade ashore under
murderous fire.
Landing Vehicle Tracked (LVT). The 2d Marine Division had brought along an experimental
amphibious landing craft, the Landing Vehicle Tracked. They were tracked vehicles with the capability
of riding over coral reefs and continuing to shore. There were only 93 LVTs at Tarawa, not enough to
transport the Marines to shore as quickly as needed. After Tarawa the United States Marine Corps
adopted the exclusive use of the LVT.
Iwo Jima
Iwo Jima was needed in order to provide a clear flight path for American B-29 strategic bombers. The
Japanese spent almost 20 years preparing for the defense of this island. On the morning of 19 February
1945, the men of the 4th and 5th Marine Divisions landed on Iwo Jima. It was the largest Marine
amphibious landing to date, and the costliest. The Marines sustained more than 26,000 casualties while
fighting the 21,000 Japanese soldiers that defended the barren, rugged terrain. Many of the 1500 caves and
pillboxes on the island had reinforced walls ten feet thick.
In recognition of the Marines‘ heroism in the battle on Iwo Jima, Navy Admiral Chester A. Nimitz said,
"Among the Americans who fought and died at Iwo Jima, uncommon valor was a common virtue."
During this battle Marines raised the American flag on Mount Suribachi. An Associated Press
photographer, Joe Rosenthal, snapped a picture, which has taken its place with the most famous pictures
and paintings of our country's history. This picture was the inspiration for the Iwo Jima Memorial in
Washington D.C.
Okinawa
The final great land offensive in the Pacific area was the invasion of Okinawa by the combined forces
of the Marine Corps and the Army. The Marine Corps landed the 1st and 6th Marine Divisions on the
western beaches of Okinawa, with the 2d Marine Division held in reserve. Defending this mighty fortress
were 117,000 Japanese. However, on 21 June 1945, after three months of fighting, Japanese resistance
ended. The successful conquest of the island of Okinawa enabled our ships, planes and submarines to
tighten the blockade around Japan's home islands.
The Korean War
The Pusan Perimeter
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After World War II, Korea was split, North and South, along the 38th parallel. The North became
Communist and the South became a Democratic Republic. In the summer of 1950, North Korean troops
supplied with Russian and Chinese equipment and advisors crossed the 38th Parallel attacking South
Korea. The US Army‘s 24th Division was immediately dispatched from Japan along with other United
Nations (UN) forces.
The South Korean and US Army‘s 24th Division was pushed back to a small perimeter around the port
city of Pusan. Within days, the 1st Provisional Marine Brigade sailed from San Diego for Pusan. This rapid
deployment of a combat ready Marine contingent again displayed the Marine Corps' concept of being a
"Force in Readiness".
The North Korean onslaught was so swift and powerful that by the time the Marines arrived on 2
August 1950, elements of the US Army were already surrounded within the Pusan Perimeter. The 1st
Provisional Marine Brigade, composed of the 5th Marines and MAG-33, was used to plug holes in the
perimeter defense. The Marines then pushed the North Koreans back 26 miles along the left flank. On 8
August, a call came to pull the Marines back to the Pusan perimeter.
Seventy-five miles to the north, the North Koreans pushed across the Naktong River and threatened the
entire perimeter. As the Marines moved in as a blocking force, the North Korean division attacked.
The following day the 3d Battalion, 5th Marines attacked the left flank of the North Korean division and
the rest of the regiment soon took the ridges overlooking the river. On 3 September the North Koreans
attacked the perimeter again. The 5th Marines moved in and, after three days of tough fighting they pushed
the North Koreans back 6 miles, securing the perimeter.
The Battle for Inchon
Nearly all high-ranking officials in the Department of Defense, including the Joint Chiefs of Staff,
opposed the decision to land at Inchon. It was considered too difficult, too risky and almost impossible.
The landing at Inchon was unlike any of the landings during World War II. There were several
obstacles to overcome. The city of Inchon had tidal variation of 33 feet, was surrounded by large mud flats
and, an island fortress named Wolmi-do protected it. Lastly, Inchon was surrounded by an 8-foot sea wall,
which the Marines had to scale from their landing craft.
On 15 September 1950, the Marines fought for the city in hand-to-hand combat, using flame-throwers,
and any weapon at their disposal. After 2 days of fighting the Marines captured Inchon and prepared to
advance onto the South Korean capital of Seoul.
The Battle for Seoul
As the North Koreans withdrew, the Marines pushed forward into the city. 10,000 Korean soldiers
defended Seoul, but the 5th Marines cleared every street in the city. General MacArthur‘s plan worked
perfectly and the North Korean Army suffered a devastating defeat. The North Koreans were destroyed by
the massive firepower of the Marines. Seoul was taken on 26 September after 3 days of heavy fighting.
The Battle for the Chosin Reservoir
The Marines pushed north for the Yalu River toward the border between North Korea and Communist
China as winter arrived. As the Marines moved north through the frozen mountainous terrain, the
Communist Chinese Forces (CCF) prepared to move south. The Marines marched to the west of a man-
made reservoir called Chosin. Colonel Lewis B. "Chesty" Puller was there as the commanding officer of
the 7th Marines.
On the night of 2 November, just south of the Chosin Reservoir, the 12th Chinese Communist Division
attacked the 7th Marine Regiment who was the lead element for the 1st Marine Division. The Marines
fought off the attack for five days until the Chinese broke contact and simply disappeared.
On 27 November, eight Chinese Divisions out-flanked the Marines. The Army units on the Marine‘s
left flank were crumbling and the Marines were dangerously exposed. The UN forces crumbled and
retreated. The Marines were left alone with their supply lines cut off, 70 miles from the sea. There was only
one choice for the Marines, to fight their way back down the supply lines to the sea. This is when General
Smith, Commanding officer of the 1st Marine Division, stated, "We are not retreating, we're just attacking
in a different direction." It was a testament of the Marines‘ fighting spirit.
As the 1st Marine Division began their controlled withdrawal from the Chosin Reservoir, the weather
became just as fierce as the enemy. As the Marines withdrew from the Chosin Reservoir, they took all of
their men and equipment, evacuated all the dead and wounded, and left nothing to aid the Chinese
divisions.
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Reaching the port city of Hungnam was considered a miracle. The 1st Marine Division was the only
unit to come out of the Chosin Reservoir intact. Colonel ―Chesty‖ Puller was awarded his fifth Navy Cross
at the Chosin Reservoir for his leadership and bravery. Chesty Puller is the only Marine who has been
awarded five Navy Crosses.
In February, plans for a new offensive were drawn up. The Marines acted as the spearhead for the
assault and pushed north. As the Marines pushed north they did so without air cover. Higher headquarters
decided to pull the close air support away from the Marine Division for employment elsewhere. As a result,
casualties began to increase all along the front. The UN halted ground offensive operations, and planned to
bomb the Chinese out of the war.
The war quickly came to a stalemate. For several months, Marines conducted limited operations. The
overall situation changed little in the months to come as the Chinese offered to negotiate. A truce was
signed on 27 July 1953.
Three Developments from the Korean War
Use of lightweight body armor in the latter stages of the war. This is the origin of the flak jackets used
in the fleet today.
Introduction of the thermal boots. Because of the intense cold, frostbite injuries, and the problem of
fighting in an arctic environment, all Marine replacements for Korea were sent to Bridgeport,
California for extensive cold weather training prior to departure for Korea.
Introduction of the helicopter into a combat environment. The Marine Corps pioneered the doctrine of
Vertical Envelopment; also known as the helicopter assault.
Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps
In 1957, the 21st Commandant, General Pate, established the billet of Sergeant Major of the Marine
Corps as the Commandant‘s senior enlisted advisor. The first Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps was
Sergeant Major Bestwick.
The Vietnam War
Da Nang
As air strikes went deep into North Vietnam, the Americans established an airbase in the northern part
South Vietnam at Da Nang. The US suspected the Viet Cong would attack this air base, so the Marine
Corps were called in to protect it. On March 8, 1965 the 9th Marine Expeditionary Brigade landed at Da
Nang, they were the first ground combat forces to deploy to South Vietnam.
Beginning of Offensive Operations
Initially, there were two conflicting strategies on how to conduct the war. The first of these was the
Army's ―search and destroy‖ missions against the Viet Cong. The second was the Marine strategy called the
"Ink Blot". This strategy involved establishing coastal enclaves, such as Da Nang, and then gradually
expanding through "clear and hold" operations.
One of the most effective tactics the Marines used in winning the trust of the Vietnamese people was
the Combined Action Platoon (CAP). CAPs consisted of a South Vietnamese Popular Forces platoon of 38
men combined with a US Marine rifle squad and a medical corpsman.
Operation Starlite
In late July of 1965, intelligence reports indicated that the 1st Viet Cong Regiment, some 2,000 strong,
was preparing to attack Chu Lai. Acting on this information, the Marines initiated the first regimental-sized
operation since the Korean War; 7th Marines took on the mission. On 18 August 1965, a three pronged
attack named Operation Starlite was launched.
One battalion attacked on foot from the north, another battalion conducted a helo borne assault from the
west, and a third conducted an amphibious assault from the southeast. Each battalion converged on the 1st
Viet Cong Regiment at the same time. The significance of Operation Starlite was that the Marines dealt the
Viet Cong its first major defeat of the war and denied the Viet Cong sanctuaries along the coast.
Khe Sanh
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The Quang Tri province bordered the demilitarized zone (DMZ) and was one of the key objectives of
the North Vietnamese Army (NVA) in 1967. Defense of the DMZ was centered on the Khe Sanh combat
base; the NVA had to control this base in order to control the province.
Northwest of Khe Sanh was a group of hills, #881 North and South, that overlooked the base and was
used by the NVA to launch mortar and rocket attacks. The 2d and 3d Battalions of the 3d Marine Regiment
attacked the NVA to push them off the high ground. The significance of the ―Hill Fights‖ was that the
Marines denied the NVA control of Quang Tri Province and at the same time enhanced the security of Khe
Sanh.
Tet Offensive In search of a victory, the NVA conducted a large-scale operation that coincided with the Vietnamese
Lunar New Year called Tet. The main objectives of the Tet Offensive were to capture the Vietnamese cities
of Saigon, Hue, Khe Sanh, and Da Nang.
The NVA managed to infiltrate and gain control of Hue city. The Marines had to fight house-to-house
and street-to-street to retake the city; it was the first time since Korea that the Marines fought in this
manner. After twenty-four days of fighting, the NVA forces were defeated and the city secured.
The NVA had to find another way to take Khe Sanh. Khe Sanh came under siege by three NVA
divisions during January 21 to March 30, 1968. Tet related battles continued for four more months, but the
communists suffered a stunning defeat and lost more than 80,000 NVA casualties. However, the Tet
offensive provoked a political crisis in the US that changed the Vietnam War.
Marine Scout Sniper Program
GySgt Carlos Hathcock, a Marine sniper with 93 confirmed kills, gained notoriety for his outstanding
marksmanship. He once recorded a kill from two thousand five hundred meters using an M2 .50 caliber
machinegun. He and other Marines clearly demonstrated the worth of snipers as a cost efficient and highly
effective tool in combat. As a result, sniper training became a permanent part of the USMC organization.
Lebanon
On 25 August 1982, the 32d Marine Amphibious Unit (MAU) landed in Beirut, Lebanon. The country
was engaged in an intense civil war between various political factions. The 32d MAU's mission was to help
evacuate the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) to help stabilize the situation. By 31 August, all of
the PLO members were evacuated from the city of Beirut. After completing their mission, the 32d MAU
departed the city.
When the civil war worsened, the Marines returned to Lebanon and conducted a combined surface and
helicopter landing into the Beirut International Airport. On 23 October 1983 the Marine barracks at the
Beirut International Airport was bombed. At 0622 that Sunday morning, a suicide terrorist drove a five-ton
truck loaded with explosives into the lobby of the Marine barracks. The resulting explosion leveled the
four-story building used by the Marines as a barracks and headquarters. 241 Marines and Sailors died in the
attack.
Grenada
In October 1983, President Reagan ordered a joint Marine and Army force to land on the small
Caribbean island of Grenada. The President was concerned about the safety of American lives and the
deteriorating political situation.
Operation "Urgent Fury" began at 0500 on 25 October. Marines from the 24th MAU, embarked aboard
the USS Guam, landed ashore in order to rescue American medical students held captive in Grenada. By 28
October, all organized resistance had ceased and the mission was accomplished.
Panama
Relations between Panama's leader Manuel Noriega and the US government deteriorated in the 1980‘s
due to his alleged drug involvement and election fraud.
On 20 December 1989, President Bush ordered US forces to invade Panama and to apprehend Manuel
Noriega. This operation was named Operation "Just Cause". The mission had several objectives: To install
the rightfully elected officials in the Panamanian government, to apprehend Noriega and bring him to
justice, and to restore peace to the Panamanian people.
Marine and Army units searched Panama City for days trying to capture the evasive Noriega. Noriega
sought refuge in the Vatican embassy, which was then surrounded by US forces. After a 12-day stalemate
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and through the use of psychological warfare, Noriega surrendered to American forces. After Noriega's
deportation, the duly elected government was installed as the ruling government of Panama.
Persian Gulf War
On 2 August 1990, Iraqi President Saddam Hussein ordered his armed forces to invade its southern
neighbor Kuwait and annex it as Iraq's 19th province. Immediately, President Bush ordered a military
buildup in the region in concert with the government of Saudi Arabia to halt further aggression by Hussein.
The deployment of US forces was called operation "Desert Shield." During "Desert Shield", Marines at
sea helped enforce a maritime blockade of Iraqi shipping. The Navy and Marine Corps team conducted
many highly publicized amphibious "rehearsals" to show the Iraqis their capabilities. Because of these
demonstrations, the Iraqis committed three divisions to defending the Kuwaiti coast against an amphibious
landing.
Coalition forces, headed by the US armed forces took up positions in the Persian Gulf and the
surrounding countries. Operation Desert Storm was the largest combat operation in Marine Corps history.
On 16 January 1991 the war began. The US first established air supremacy and then started the ground
campaign. The 1st and 2d Marine Divisions‘ mission was to conduct a frontal attack through two Iraqi
minefield/obstacle belts. The Marine forces at sea executed an amphibious demonstration, done to divert
Iraqis' attention to the fake amphibious landing. The Army was then able to hit the Iraqis with a "left hook",
advancing around their left flank deep into Iraq. The abandoned Saudi frontier town of Al-Khafji was the
site of the first ground engagement with Iraqi forces.
Operation Desert Storm was a success. The 100-hour battle proved the lethal effectiveness of our well-
trained and disciplined Marines.
Somalia
Somalia is an East African nation that lost half a million people to starvation and drought in the late
1980‘s. Somalia's government disintegrated after an uprising of armed warrior clans began in the north in
1988. By 1991, anarchy reigned as fourteen clans vied for control.
The Marines landed in Mogadishu on 9 December 1992. Their mission was to secure the port complex,
airport, and the abandoned US Embassy. Once ashore, Marines broke the gridlock of food distribution and
established humanitarian relief sectors in central and southern Somalia. By 1993 the Marines successfully
stopped the widespread starvation. The UN took command of the operation and the Marines withdrew.
After a two-year absence, the Marines returned in 1995 during Operation United Shield. The UN failed
to restore order to Somalia so they called on the US to help withdraw UN forces from the country. The
Marines were engaged in 27 firefights during the evacuation of UN forces.
In December 1992, Marines landed in Somalia marking the beginning of a two-year humanitarian relief
operation in that famine-stricken and strife-torn nation. In another part of the world, Marine Corps aircraft
supported Operation Deny Flight in the no-fly zone over Bosnia-Herzegovina. During April 1994, Marines
once again demonstrated their ability to protect American citizens in remote parts of the world when a
Marine task force evacuated U.S. citizens from Rwanda in response to civil unrest in that country.
Urban Warfare
The Marine Corps continued its tradition of innovation to meet the challenges of a new century. The
Marine Corps Warfighting Laboratory was created in 1995 to evaluate change, assess the impact of new
technologies on warfighting, and expedite the introduction of new capabilities into the operating forces of
the Marine Corps. Exercises such as ―Hunter Warrior,‖ and ―Urban Warrior‖ were designed to explore
future tactical concepts, and to examine facets of military operations in urban environments.
Humanitarian and disaster relief Humanitarian and disaster relief operations were also conducted by Marines during 1998 in Kenya, and
in the Central American nations of Honduras, Nicaragua, El Salvador, and Guatemala. In 1999, Marine
units deployed to Kosovo in support of Operation Allied Force. In December, 2004, a tsunami struck
numerous nations in the Indian Ocean region killing more than 150,000 and causing enormous devastation.
Marine units from III MEF were immediately deployed to Thailand, Indonesia, and Sri Lanka to assist in
disaster relief operations. In September and October of 2005, nearly 3000 Marines and sailors conducted
search and rescue, humanitarian relief, and disaster recovery operations in Louisiana and Mississippi in the
aftermath of hurricanes Katrina and Rita.
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Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) Soon after the September 2001 terrorist attacks on New York City and Washington, D.C., Marine units
deployed to the Arabian Sea and in November set up a forward operating base in southern Afghanistan as
part of Operation Enduring Freedom. Global War on Terrorism (GWOT)
The Marine Corps has played a key role in the Global War on Terrorism. Marines operated in diverse
locations, from Afghanistan, to the Arabian Gulf, to the Horn of Africa and the Philippines. Early 2003 saw
the largest deployment of Marine forces since the Persian Gulf War of 1990-91 when 76,000 Marines
deployed to the Central Command area for combat operations against Iraq.
Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF)
The I Marine Expeditionary Force, including Task Force Tarawa and the United Kingdom‘s 1st
Armored Division, were the first conventional ground units to enter Iraq in late March as part of Operation
Iraqi Freedom. Fixed-wing and helicopter aircraft from the 3d Marine Air Wing provided continuous close
air and assault support to Marine and coalition units as they drove deeper into Iraq. On the ground, Marines
from I MEF moved nearly 400 miles from the Kuwait border to Baghdad and Tikrit, Iraq, and eliminated
the last organized resistance by Iraqi military forces. Although I MEF would transition to stabilization and
security operations and then redeploy to the U.S. by late September, I MEF began preparing for a return to
Iraq in early 2004.
In early 2005, the II Marine Expeditionary Force replaced I MEF in Iraq as the primary focus began to
shift to partnership operations with the Iraqi Security Forces. Marine units continued to provide air and
ground support to Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan.
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WEEK 9: USMC PERSONNEL, TRAINING, AND INDIVIDUAL WEAPONS
I. Culture and Mentality The close integration of dissimilar Marine units stems from an organization culture centered around the
infantry. Every other Marine capability exists to support the infantry. Unlike many Western militaries, the
Corps remained conservative against theories proclaiming the ability of new weapons to win wars
independently. For example, Marine Aviation has always been focused on close air support and has
remained largely uninfluenced by airpower theories proclaiming that strategic bombing can single-
handedly win wars.
This focus on infantry is matched with the fact that ―Every Marine is a rifleman,‖ emphasizing the
infantry combat abilities of every Marine. All enlisted Marines receive training first and foremost as a
rifleman; all officers receive training as infantry platoon commanders. The value of this culture has been
demonstrated many times throughout history.
II. Officer Ranks
Marine Corps officer ranks are subdivided into company-grade officers (0-1 to 0-3), field-grade officers
(0-4 to 0-6), and generals (0-7 to 0-10).
Warrant Officers, who come primarily from the senior Non-Commissioned Officer ranks, provide
leadership and training in specialized fields and skills.
III. Enlisted Ranks
Enlisted Marines in the pay grades E-1 to E-3 make up the bulk of the Corps‘ ranks. Although they
don‘t technically hold leadership ranks, the Corps‘ ethos stresses leadership among all Marines, and junior
Marines are often assigned responsibility normally reserved for superiors.
Those in the pay grades E-4 and E-5 are Non-Commissioned Officers (NCOs). They primarily
supervise junior Marines and act as a vital link with the higher command structure, ensuring that orders are
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carried out correctly. Marines E-6 and higher are Staff Non-Commissioned Officers (SNCOs), charged
with supervising NCOs and acting as enlisted advisors to the command.
The E-8 and E-9 levels each have two ranks per pay grade, each with different responsibilities. The
First Sergeant and Sergeant Major ranks are command-oriented, with Marines of these ranks serving as the
senior enlisted Marines in a unit, charged to assist the commanding officer in matters of discipline,
administration, and morale and welfare of the unit. Master Sergeants and Master Gunnery Sergeants
provide technical leadership as occupational specialists in their specific MOS. First Sergeants typically
serve as the senior enlisted Marine in a company, battery, or other unit at similar echelon, while Sergeants
Major serve the same role in battalions, squadrons, or larger units.
The Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps is a unique rank conferred on the senior enlisted marine of the
entire Marine Corps, personally selected by the Commandant of the Marine Corps. The Sergeant Major of
the Marine Corps wears unique chevrons with an Eagle, Globe, and Anchor at the center, flanked by two
five-point stars.
IV. Training
Every year, approximately 1600 new Marine officers are commissioned, and 38,000 recruits accepted
and trained. Basic training for Marine Corps takes place at the following locations:
Officer: The Basic School Marine Corps Base Quantico, VA
Enlisted: Marine Corps Recruit Depot MCRD San Diego, CA
MCRD Parris Island, SC
Officers
Following commissioning, all Marine commissioned officers, regardless of accession route or further
training requirements, attend The Basic School (TBS) at Marine Corps Base Quantico, VA. There, they
spend six months learning to command a rifle platoon. The Basic School is an example of the Corps‘
approach to furthering the concept that ―Every Marine is a rifleman.‖
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Enlisted Enlisted Marines attend recruit training, or boot camp, at either MCRD San Diego or MCRD Parris Island.
Women only attend the Parris Island depot, in the Fourth Recruit Training Battalion, while males who train
at Parris Island comprise the First through Third Battalions. Historically, the Mississippi River served as
the dividing line which delineated who would be trained where. All recruits must pass an Initial Strength
Test to start training. Marine recruit training is the longest among the American military services; it is 13
weeks long, compared to the U.S. Army‘s 9 weeks.
Following recruit training, enlisted Marines then attend the School of Infantry training at Camp Geiger or
Camp Pendleton, generally based upon where the Marine received their recruit training. Infantry Marines
begin their Military Occupational Specialty (MOS) training immediately within the Infantry Training
Battalion (ITB), while Marines in all other MOSs train for 29 days with the Marine Combat Training
(MCT), learning common infantry skills, before continuing on to their MOS schools.
V. Rifle Platoon Organization The goal of all initial Marine Corps training is to make each Marine a competent element of a Rifle
Platoon, either as a platoon commander or a platoon member.
Mission
The primary mission of a Marine Rifle Platoon is to locate, close with, and destroy the enemy by fire and
maneuver or to repel his assault by fire and close combat.
Characteristics The rifle platoon is the basic maneuver element of the rifle company. Its characteristics are essentially
those of the rifle company. Employment The rifle platoon usually fights as part of the rifle company. When circumstances require, it can be
appropriately reinforced to operate independently for limited periods 1. In the attack the platoon's rifle squads, assisted by organic and/or external supporting fires,
maneuver to positions from which they can close with and destroy the enemy. 2. In the defense, the rifle platoon defends as part of the rifle company. Assisted by non-organic
planned fires, it organizes to deny the enemy access to terrain by use of organic fires and close
combat. Rifle platoon makeup The platoon has a triangular structure composed of three rifle squads. Each squad is a balanced
group consisting of three fire teams.
1 Platoon = 3 rifle squads = 9 fire teams
The USMC summarize its fire team organization with the mnemonic “ready-team-
fire- assist”, the following being the arrangement of the fire team when in column:
Rifleman – acts as a scout for the fire team
Team Leader – team lead and act as grenadier carrying the M203 grenade launcher
Automatic Rifleman – carries the M249 SAW and serves as second in command for
the fire team
Assistant Automatic Rifleman – carries extra ammunition
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Headquarters element of a Rifle platoon The headquarters element of a rifle platoon consists of a platoon commander, platoon sergeant,
Hospital Corpsman and a radio operator. 1. Platoon Commander is responsible to the company commander for the training, combat
efficiency, discipline, administration, and welfare of his platoon. Everything the platoon
does or fails to do in garrison or in combat is the platoon commander's responsibility. He
is also responsible for the first echelon maintenance, safeguarding, and economical use of
all equipment on charge to the platoon and its individual members. 2. Platoon Sergeant, as second in command, performs the duties assigned by the platoon
commander. He assumes command in the absence of the platoon commander. He assists
in all aspects of supervision and control of the platoon.
VI. Basic Weapons of a Rifle Platoon The basic infantry weapon of the USMC is the M16 assault rifle family, with a majority of Marines
being equipped with the M16A2 or M16A4 service rifles, or more recently the M4 carbine – a compact
variant. Suppressive fire is provided by the M249 SAW. In addition, indirect fire is provided by the M203
grenade launcher in fire teams.
M16A2 / M16A4 Service Rifle
This is an A2
This is an A4
Primary Function: Infantry Weapon
Caliber: 5.56x45mm NATO
Length: 39.6 inches
Effective Range: Area TGT – 800 meters, Point TGT – 550 meters
Rate of Fire: Rapid Rate is 45 rds/min and sustained is 12-15 rds/min
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M249 Squad Automatic Weapon
Primary Function: Infantry Weapon – hand-held light machine gun
Caliber: 5.56x45mm NATO
Length: 41 inches
Effective Range: Area TGT - 1,000 meters, Point TGT – 800m
Rate of Fire: Cyclic 850 rds/min, Rapid 200 rds/min, Sustained 85 rds/min
M16A4 w/M203 Grenade Launcher
M203
Caliber: 40mm
Effective Range: Area TGT - 350m, Point TGT - 150 meters
Rate of Fire: 7-9 rounds/min
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M4 Carbine
Primary Function: Infantry Weapon *
Caliber: 5.56x45mm NATO
Length: 33 inches
Effective Range: Area TGT – 600 meters, Point TGT – 500 meters
Rate of Fire: 750-900 rounds/min
*The United States Marine Corps has ordered its officers (up to the rank of lieutenant colonel) and NCOs
to carry the M4A1 carbine variant instead of the M9 Beretta pistol.
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WEEK 10: WARFARE COMMUNITIES OF THE FLEET AND MARINE
FORCES
I. Mission of the U.S. Navy
The mission of the Navy is to maintain, train and equip combat-ready Naval forces capable of winning
wars, deterring aggression, and maintaining freedom of the seas.
As a part of this mission, the United States Marine Corps (USMC) is responsible for
providing power projection from the sea, utilizing the mobility of the U.S. Navy to rapidly deliver
combined-arms task forces to global crises.
II. Operational Mission Areas
To achieve this mission, operations are focused in but not limited to the following major areas:
1. ANTI-AIR WARFARE (AAW) The detection, tracking, destruction or neutralization of enemy
air platforms and airborne weapons.
2. ANTI-SUBMARINE WARFARE (ASW) The detection, tracking, and destruction or
neutralization of enemy submarines.
3. ANTI-SURFACE WARFARE (ASUW) The detection, tracking, and destruction or
neutralization of enemy surface combatants and merchant ships.
4. CLOSE AIR SUPPORT (CAS) Fire support for troops in contact with enemy forces.
5. COMBAT SEARCH AND RESCUE (CSAR) Operations carried out to retrieve, rescue and
provide assistance to downed aircrews or allies behind enemy lines
6. COMMAND, CONTROL, AND COMMUNICATIONS (CCC) Providing communications and
related facilities for coordination and control of external forces, and control of own unit's
capabilities.
7. COMMAND AND CONTROL WARFARE (C2W) The integrated use of computer network
operations (CNO), psychological operations (PSYOP), military deception (MILDEC), operations
security (OPSEC), electronic warfare (EW), and physical destruction; mutually supported by
intelligence, to deny information to, influence, degrade, or destroy adversary C2 capabilities while
protecting friendly C2 capabilities against such actions.
8. FLEET SUPPORT OPERATIONS (FSO) Naval forces and designated shore facilities
providing supporting services other than logistics replenishment to fleet units.
9. INTELLIGENCE, SURVEILLANCE, AND RECONNAISSANCE (ISR) The collection,
processing, and evaluation of information to determine location, identity, and capability of hostile
forces through the employment of reconnaissance, surveillance, and other means.
10. THEATRE AIR AND MISSILE DEFENSE (TAMD) The defense of all forward-deployed
forces through evolved, long-range standard missiles and a reconfigured SPY-1 radar system.
11. STRIKE WARFARE (STW) The destruction or neutralization of enemy targets ashore through
the use of conventional or nuclear weapons. This includes, but is not limited to, strategic targets,
building yards, and operating bases from which the enemy is capable of conducting air, surface, or
subsurface operations against U.S. or allied forces.
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12. MARITIME INTERDICTION OPERATIONS (MIO) Boarding, inspection, and seizure (if
necessary) of vessels suspected of smuggling, piracy, terrorism, or sanction violations. MIO
operations are conducted by trained Boarding Teams consisting of the ship‘s crew and supported
by embarked aircraft (SH-60 B) and Coast Guard Law Enforcement Detachments (LE Dets).
13. MINE WARFARE (MIW) The use of mines for control/denial of sea or harbor areas, and mine
countermeasures over, under, or upon the surface.
III. Warfare Communities
To achieve this mission, the Fleet utilizes the following warfare communities:
1. Surface Warfare
2. Amphibious Warfare (Surface and Marine Corps assets)
3. Undersea Warfare (Submarine and Mine assets)
4. Air Warfare
5. Special Warfare (SEALs)
6. Expeditionary Warfare (EOD, Construction, Riverine)
7. Cyber Warfare / Information Dominance
8. Space Warfare
We will define and discuss the majority of these communities in the following chapters.
IV. Maritime Strategy
The following summary of our Maritime Strategy is found at http://www.navy.mil/maritime/. Visit this
same site to find the document in its entirety.
“A Cooperative Strategy for 21st Century Seapower” was presented by the Chief of Naval Operations
and the Commandants of the U.S. Marine Corps and U.S. Coast Guard at the International Seapower
Symposium in Newport, R.I. on Oct 17, 2007.
The result of over a year‘s work, this new enduring strategy will apply maritime power to the crucial
responsibility of protecting U.S. vital interests in an increasingly interconnected and uncertain world.
Signed for the first time by the service chiefs of all three sea services, the strategy draws the Navy,
Marine Corps and Coast Guard even closer together in working to protect and sustain the American
way of life.
The Maritime Strategy is about Security, Stability and Seapower
Security: Maritime forces are first line of defense with ability to deploy quickly, reach difficult
locations
Prosperity: 70% of the world is water, 80% of the world lives on or near the coastline and 90% of our
commerce sails across it. Any disruption in that chain caused by instability has a direct impact on
American quality of life.
Seapower: The unifying force and common denominator that enables global security stability and
prosperity.
This strategy clearly articulates that our sea services operate across the full spectrum of operations;
raising the prevention of war to a level equal to the conduct of war. We believe that preventing wars is as
important as winning wars.
Maritime forces will be employed to build confidence and trust among nations through collective
security efforts that focus on common threats and mutual interests in an open, multi-polar world.
Although our forces can surge when necessary to respond to crises, trust and cooperation cannot be
57
surged. They must be built over time so that the strategic interests of the participants are continuously
considered while mutual understanding and respect are promoted.
United States Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard will act across the full range of military
operations to secure the United States from direct attack; secure strategic access and retain
global freedom of action; strengthen existing and emerging alliances and partnerships and establish
favorable security conditions.
Expanded Core Capabilities of Maritime Power
1. Forward Presence
2. Deterrence
3. Sea Control
4. Power Projection
5. Maritime Security
6. Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Response
Sources: Warfare areas of operation- definitions and application to the F/A-18:
http://www.navyadvancement.com/warfare-specialist/vfa/205-warfare-mission.php
Warfare areas of operation in Navy/Marine Corps/Coast Guard strategy and which platforms engage in
each operation: http://www.thelightningpress.com/assets/files/NOPS/NOPS-1.pdf
Maritime strategy: http://www.navy.mil/maritime
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WEEK 11: SURFACE WARFARE
I. Mission Definition
To provide combat ready ships to the fleet; and to supply those ships and supporting commands with the
leadership, manpower, equipment, training, and material needed to achieve operational excellence and
conduct prompt, sustained combat operations at sea to ensure victory.
The surface fleet is able to conduct a myriad of operations in both peace and war-time environments.
These varied missions range from homeland security (Operation Noble Eagle) to theatre ballistic missile
defense (TBMD) and include the following operations and their associated equipment:
1. Maritime Interdiction Operations (MIO)
2. Naval Surface Fire Support (NSFS) 3. Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW)
4. Anti-Air Warfare (AAW)
5. Anti-Surface Warfare (ASUW)
6. Theatre Air and Missile Defense (TAMD)
7. Strike Warfare (STW)
8. Command and Control Warfare (C2W)
II. Capabilities
Advancements in technology and strategy have allowed the surface fleet to become a much more
dynamic force. Ship classes are no longer built around a single mission area; they are built to specialize in
one warfare area but must be able to operate in several additional roles. Modern surface ships possess
many unique capabilities listed below.
1. Stealth – New ship classes such as the DDG-51 ARLEIGH BURKE class destroyers and Littoral
Combat Ship (LCS) employ an angled superstructure, radar absorbent and reflective material (PCMS), and
reduced emissions to significantly reduce the radar cross section of the ship, making it much more difficult
to acquire on radar.
2. Endurance – Utilizing two primary power sources, either gas turbine or steam plants, modern surface
warfare platforms have ranges as long as 6000 nautical miles at 20 knots. These ranges are greatly
extended by the ability to refuel at sea.
3. Firepower – Includes gun mounts, cruise missiles, surface to air missiles, self-defense weapons, and
surface to surface missiles.
4. Mobility – Because over two thirds of the world‘s surface is ocean and eighty percent of the world‘s
population lives within 100 nautical miles of the coast, naval forces are a potent deterrent to potential
adversaries. Naval forces can arrive quickly and remain indefinitely in the waters around the world. This
presence reminds potential adversaries of the U.S. military‘s capability and resolve to enforce international
law.
5. Communication – The surface fleet utilizes several means of communication in order to provide and
employ classified and unclassified voice, messaging, data and video information from every available
source in order to effectively execute the mission. The two primary means used to provide ships,
submarines, aircraft, and ground forces necessary information for joint missions are: data transmission, via
LINK 4A, LINK 11, and LINK 16, and voice transmission, via Satellite COMMS, HF, UHF, and EHF.
IV. Surface Platforms/Equipment
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In addition to the following platforms, there are several other types of ship that fall under the realm of
surface warfare to include, amphibious, replenishment, and coastal patrol ships, and mine sweepers. These
platforms will be covered in later professional topics.
FFG-7 OLIVER HAZARD PERRY Frigate
Visual Identification
Hurricane bow, Mk-13 single rail launcher, single long box-like superstructure,
single mast, Mk-75 76 mm gun mount, aft stack, 1 Mk-16 CIWS, helo deck aft
Mission Primary: ASW, Secondary, ASUW
Weapons
1 Mk-13 single rail launcher
Mk-75 76 mm gun mount
1 Mk-16 20mm Phalanx CIWS (aft)
2 Mk-32 NATO torpedo tubes
Mission Specific Capabilities SQS-56 sonar, SQR-19 TACTAS
Crew Size 16 officers, 185 enlisted
CG-47 TICONDEROGA Class Guided Missile Cruiser
Visual Identification
Hurricane bow, split superstructure with two SPY array faces forward and two aft.
Two masts, with the smaller forward and larger aft. Two sets of stacks, one aft of
each mast. 5in/54 cal gun forward and aft.
Note – for CG-47 to 51 have been decommissioned
Mission Primary: AAW, Secondary: Strike
Weapons
2 Mk 45, 5in/54 cal dual purpose guns (1 fwd, 1 aft)
CG-47 to 51, 2 Mk-26 dual rail launchers (1 fwd, 1 aft)
CG-51 and up, 2 Mk-41 VLS (1 fwd, 1 aft)
2 Mk-16 20mm Phalanx CIWS (port and stbd)
2 Mk-32 NATO torpedo tubes
2 Mk-141 quadruple Harpoon canisters
Mission Specific Capabilities SPY-1D Air Search Radar, Mk-7 AEGIS combat system
Crew Size 24 officers, 340 enlisted
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DDG-51 ARLEIGH BURKE Class Guided Missile Destroyer
Visual Identification
Open bow, single 5in/54 cal or 5in/62 cal dual purpose gun fwd, single
superstructure, four SPY array faces on superstructure, swept mast, two separate sets
of stacks (1fwd, 1 aft). Helo deck aft. DDG 79 and following, 2 SH-60s
Mission Primary: AAW, Secondary: ASUW/Strike
Weapons
1 Mk-45 5in/54 cal or 5in/62 cal dual purpose gun
2 Mk-41 VLS (1/2 cell fwd, full cell aft)
2 Mk-16 20mm Phalanx CIWS (fwd and aft)
2 Mk-46 NATO torpedo tubes
2 Mk-141 quadruple Harpoon canisters (DDG-78 and below)
Evolved Sea Sparrow Missile (DDG-79 and following)
Mission Specific Capabilities SPY-1 Air Search Radar, AEGIS combat system
Crew Size Varies based on Modernization : 28 officers, 254 enlisted
CVN-68 Nimitz Class Aircraft Carrier
Aircraft 1 Carrier Air Wing (85 aircraft)
Crew Complement Ship‘s Company: 3,350; Air Wing: 2,480
Power Plant Two Nuclear Power Plants, four shafts
Armament Multiple NATO Sea Sparrow, Phalanx CIWS, and Rolling Airframe Missiles
(RAM)
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V. Amphibious Platforms
Whidbey Island (LSD-41)-Class Dock Landing Ship
Visual Identification Solid block superstructure. Boat/Aircraft crane starboard side
Lift capability Capable of carrying 4 Landing Craft Air Cushion (LCACs), or 3 LCU, or 64 AAV.
Crew 413 crew (22 officers) : Marine Detachment: 402 plus 102 surge.
Mission: Whidbey Island, commissioned in 1985, was the first of this new class of versatile durable dock
landing ships. Their ability to ballast down and flood a well deck makes possible the loading at sea of
amphibious warfare craft and their cargo. LSDs also can accommodate a sizable number of troops. The
first variant LSD 41, the Harpers Ferry, it had grater cargo carrying capacity, improved facilities for
embarked troops and greater operating range. It was funded in fiscal year 1988; three sister ships were
funded in fiscal years 1990, 1991 and 1993, respectively. The final ship of the class, the Pearl Harbor, was
commissioned in May 1998. The Navy is developing a midlife upgrade program which is designed to
extend the ships service life out to 40 years. Execution of upgrade packages is scheduled was begin in
2008 and be completed by 2012.
San Antonio (LPD 17)-Class Amphibious Transport Dock
Visual Identification Two stacks, single mast. Helo hanger on flight deck. Swept fwd mast. Battle bridge
and crew bridge.
Lift capability Capacity 2 CH-53E or 2 MV-22 or 4 CH-46 Sea Knights, UH/AH-1 Hueys on the
flight deck. 2 LCAC or 1 LCU; 18 AAVs or 14 EFVs in the well deck.
Crew 360 ship‘s crew(28 officers) + Up to 800 Embarked Troops
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Austin (LPD-4)-Class Amphibious Transport Dock
Visual Identification Two stacks, single mast. Boat and Aircraft crane stbd side. Helo hanger on flight
deck. Exposed life rafts on the hull.
Lift capability Capacity for up to 6 CH-46 Sea Knights on the flight deck. 17 AAVs, or 1 LCAC and
8 AAVs, or 1 LCU
Crew 426 crew (24 officers) + 900 embarked troops
Mission: LPDs are used to transport and land Marines and their equipment and supplies, by embarked air
cushion or conventional landing craft or amphibious assault vehicles. These vehicles are augmented by
helicopters or vertical take off and landing aircraft. These ships support amphibious, special operations and
expeditionary warfare missions.
Wasp (LHD-1)-Class Amphibious Assault Ship
Visual Identification Flight deck along the main deck. Elevator port side. Superstructure amidships
starboard side. Sterngate. Largest amphibious warship.
Lift capability Capable of carrying 3 Landing Craft Air Cushion (LCACs). 12 CH-46 Sea Knight
helicopters; 4 CH-53E Sea Stallion helicopters; 4 AH-1W Super Cobra helicopters.6
AV-8B Harrier attack aircraft; 3 UH-1N Huey helicopters (planned capability to
embark MV-22 Osprey).
Crew 1,108 crew (104 officers) + 1,894 embarked troops
Mission: The LHDs provide the Marine Corps with a means of ship-to-shore movement by helicopter in
addition to movement by landing craft. LHDs – which have extensive storage capacity and can
accommodate LCACs – have participated in major humanitarian assistance and occupation and combat
operations. They served as launching platforms for Marine Corps Expeditionary forces to Afghanistan in
Operation Enduring Freedom in 2001-2002 and to Iraq in Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2003. LHDs serve as
―Harrier Carriers,‖ launching AV-8B attack aircraft against targets inside Iraq.
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Landing Craft Air Cushion (LCAC)
Visual Identification Large black skirt. Two large propellers one port aft and one stbd aft.
Lift capability Capable of carrying 24 troops and 1 MBT
Crew
c
5
Mission: The LCAC is a high – speed, over the beach, amphibious landing craft. LCAC‘s air-cushion
capability allows it to proceed inland to discharge cargo on dry, trafficable beaches, thus reducing buildups
of troops, equipment and other material in the surf zone. The landing craft is capable of carrying a 60 – 75
ton payload. LCAC is unrestricted by tides, beach gradients, and surf conditions, allowing it to access
more than 70 percent of the world‘s beach areas. LCACs are carried by LHAs, LHDs, LPDs and LSDs.
VI. Current Projects
1. The Zumwalt-class destroyer (DDG-1000) is a planned class of United States Navy destroyers,
designed as multi-mission ships with a focus on land attack. The Zumwalt-class destroyers are multi-role
and designed for surface warfare, anti-aircraft, and naval fire support. The destroyer is being designed to
require a smaller crew and be less expensive to operate than comparable warships. It will have a wave-
piercing tumblehome hull form whose sides slope inward above the waterline. This slope will reduce the
radar cross-section, returning much less energy than a more hard-angled hull form. Originally 32 ships
were planned for the class, but this was cut down to three to be built currently.
2. The CG(X) program, is split into two classes, fourteen Zumwalt-sized "escort cruisers" and five
23,000 ton ballistic missile defense (BMD) ships. There has been political pressure for some or all of these
ships to be nuclear powered, which would give them the hull classification symbol of CGN(X).
3. The America class(LHA-6) amphibious assault ships are planned to replace the Tarawa class. Based on
the USS Makin Island (LHD-8), the LHA-6 will be a gas turbine powered ship supporting a Marine
Expeditionary Brigade with launch capacity for MV-22B Osprey tiltrotors, helicopters, and F-35B STOVL
strike fighters.
To increase the number of accommodated aircraft, it will feature greater hangar space. However, it will
not have the well decks that are used to house landing craft on the Tarawa and Wasp class amphibious
assault ships. The first ship is due to be delivered in 2013. At displacement of 45,000 tons and carrying a
complement of strike fighters, it can serve in the small carrier role.
The typical aircraft complement for the America class is expected to be twelve MV-22B Ospreys, eight
AH-1Z Vipers, ten F-35Bs, four CH-53Ks and four Navy MH-60S "Knighthawks". The exact makeup of
the ship's aircraft complement will vary according to its mission.
4. Developing Platform: Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) - The LCS is an entirely new breed of U. S. Navy
warship with versatile war fighting capabilities optimized for littoral coastal missions. Operational
experience and analyses indicate potential adversaries will employ asymmetric means to deny U.S. and
allied forces access into critical coastal regions including strategic choke points and vital economic sea
65
leans. The LCS is specially designed to defeat such ―anti-access‖ threats, which include fast surface craft,
quiet diesel submarines and various types of mines.
The ship‘s focused- mission design will offer combatant commanders both the required war fighting
capabilities and flexibility to ensure maritime dominance and facilitate unencumbered joint expeditionary
force operations. While complementing the primary missions of larger Navy surface combatants, LCS will
feature advanced networking capability to share tactical information with other Navy aircraft, ships,
submarines and joint units.
In 2004, the Navy contracted two industry teams, one lead by Lockheed Martin and the other by General
Dynamics, to develop final system designs for a fast, agile and networked surface combatant sea frame.
Freedom Class Littoral Combat Ship (LCS-1)
Independence Class Littoral Combat Ship (LCS-2)
Sources: US Navy Ships: http://www.navy.mil/navydata/our_ships.asp
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WEEK 12: SUBMARINES AND UNDERSEA WARFARE
I. Mission of the Submarine Force.
As stated by the CNO's Submarine Warfare Division, the U.S. Submarine Force has several goals: (1)
to maintain its role as the world's preeminent Submarine Force; (2) to aggressively incorporate new and
innovative technologies to maintain dominance throughout the maritime battlespace; (3) to promote the
multiple capabilities of submarines and develop tactics to support national objectives through battlespace
preparation, sea control, supporting the land battle and strategic deterrence, and; (4) to fill the role of the
Joint Commanders' stealthy, full spectrum expeditionary platform.
II. History
American Revolution
The first military submarine was the American-built Turtle (1775). Designed and built by the patriot
David Bushnell, the hand-powered, egg-shaped device accommodated a single man. It is thought to be the
first submarine capable of independent underwater operation, and the first to use a screw for propulsion.
During the American Revolutionary War, Turtle attempted to sink a British warship, HMS Eagle (flagship
of the British blockaders), moored in New York harbor. However, Turtle failed.
Civil War
During the American Civil War, confederate forces revived the submarine concept. On February 18,
1864, the Confederate States Submersible, the CSS Hunley, performed the first successful military
submarine mission when she sank the USS Housatonic, just off Charleston Harbor. Hunley performed her
submerged attack against Housatonic using a spar torpedo (an explosive charge mounted on a long pole
sticking out of Hunley's bow). Though her attack was successful, Hunley sank following the engagement
and her entire eight-man crew perished.
World War I
Submarines first made a significant military impact in World War I. U-boats (German submarines)
were central to the German naval strategy. In fact, a torpedo fired from a German U-boat sank the ocean
liner RMS Lusitania (May 7, 1915), which directly precipitated entry of the U.S. into WWI; American
leaders could not tolerate the threat of unrestricted submarine warfare against civilian shipping traffic. The
fleet of American diesel submarines was used primarily for coastal defense. However, after 1917, some
American boats drew assignments to hostile European waters. These boats conducted offensive, open-sea
operations from the Azores and Bantry Bay in Ireland, supporting the Allied effort to maintain open sea
lanes along the European coast and in the approaches to the British Isles.
World War II
World War II produced significant improvements in the design and operation of submarines worldwide.
Side-stepping the requirements of the Treaty of Versailles, Germany built a large submarine fleet in the
run-up to the war. Their "wolfpack" tactics proved devastating to Allied military and civilian ships in the
European theatre. The U.S. submarine fleet employed the extremely reliable Gato, Balao, and Tench
classes to score the most complete victory of any force in any theater of the war, operating in every naval
theatre. In spite of a hesitant beginning due to the Pearl harbor surprise and difficulties with defective
torpedoes, the submarine force destroyed 1,314 enemy ships for 5.3 million tons (including 8 aircraft
carriers and over 200 warships), which translated into fifty-five percent of all enemy ships sunk. Out of
16,000 submariners, the force lost 375 officers and 3,131 enlisted men in fifty-two submarines, the highest
casualty rate of any U.S. service branch in the 1939-1945 conflict.
Cold War
Following WWII, the Cold War redefined the mission of the submarine. Against the rising threat of
nuclear war with the Soviet Union, several critical design improvements transformed the U.S. submarine
fleet. Most notably, these improvements included: (1) the tear-dropped hull shape. First developed for
conventional diesel-electric submarines, the tear-dropped hull allowed much greater submerged operating
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speeds and higher propulsion efficiency. (2) Nuclear powered propulsion. Due in large part to the efforts
of ADM Hyman Rickover (USNA ‗22), ―Father of the Nuclear Navy,‖ the Naval Nuclear Power Program
was born. On January 17th
1955, Commanding Officer Eugene Wilkinson spoke the famous words
"underway on nuclear power" to launch the first nuclear powered submarine, USS Nautilus (SSN-571), on
her maiden voyage. Within three years, Nautilus sailed to the North Pole and shattered virtually every
submarine distance, speed, and endurance record. Nuclear power continues to afford U.S. submarines
nearly unlimited operational endurance. Nuclear powered submarines can remain submerged nearly
indefinitely, limited only by their capacity to store food.
During the 1960s, strategic planners parsed the submarine force into two distinct components, ballistic
missile (SSBN) submarines and fast attack (SSN) submarines. For SSBNs, the United States and the
Soviet Union both developed submarine launched nuclear weapons. These weapons began as surface-
launched cruise missiles, but soon improved to underwater-launched ballistic missiles. American SSBNs
continue to uphold the nuclear deterrence role, forming the most survivable element of the U.S.'s nuclear
triad (the other two elements being land-based ballistic missiles and air-dropped nuclear ordinance). SSNs
assumed the role of protecting SSBNs to ensure successful execution of the nuclear deterrence mission.
Equally important, SSNs assumed the offensive role of detecting and countering any foreign ballistic
missile submarines. Fast attack submarines tracked, photographed, and collected acoustic data on Soviet
submarines and conducted highly specialized and sensitive missions for national security.
With the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, the Cold War ended. Responding to the Soviet nuclear
threat had been costly, both in terms of fiscal expenditure and operational pace. However, despite the
heavy demands of the Cold War, the U.S. has only lost two nuclear powered submarines. In contrast, the
Soviets lost a total of nine submarines during the Cold War. The two lost nuclear powered U.S. submarines
are:
1. USS Thresher (SSN-593). Thresher was lost on April 10th
1963, during a deep diving sea-trial
off the coast of Massachusetts. Exact details of her loss remain unclear. However, a U.S. Navy
Court of Inquiry concluded Thresher most probably suffered from: (1) a severe flooding casualty
due to defective seawater piping, followed by (2) plugging of her emergency blow system due to
expansion cooling and freezing of water in her high pressure air system, rendering her attempt at
an emergency blow useless. Thresher's loss resulted in the SUBSAFE program, which enforces
rigorous accountability over construction and maintenance of key submarine seawater boundary
systems.
2. USS Scorpion (SSN-589). Scorpion was lost in May, 1968, returning to Norfolk from Rota,
Spain. The conditions of her loss are much less clear than for Thresher. However, based on
acoustic evidence, scientists working for the U.S. Navy have proposed she suffered either a
collision or an inadvertent weapon detonation.
III. Operations/Mission:
Peacetime Operations
Peacetime deployment of submarines helps demonstrate U.S. interest in particular regions and supports
U.S. national defense by providing a flexible forward presence. The stealth advantage offered by
submarines gives the President the ability to demonstrate interest in a specific region at a specific time.
Until the appointed time, a submarine can simply remain quietly submerged. During peacetime,
submarines can operate independently, but they also frequently support carrier strike groups, surface task
forces, and operate in conjunction with other submarines.
Strategic and Conventional Deterrence
Both strategic ballistic missile submarines (SSBN) and fast attack submarines (SSN) participate in the
mission of deterrence. The primary role, peacetime or otherwise, of the SSBN continues to be nuclear
deterrence. Under the doctrine of Mutually Assured Destruction (MAD), our constantly present nuclear
strike capability dissuades other nuclear powers from launching nuclear attack against the United States.
Additionally, as a conventional deterrent, the SSN provides an ever-present, though rarely seen, asset that
can exert pressure on any would-be threat with minimal risk to U.S. forces.
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Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR)
Attack submarines perform a broad spectrum of surveillance and intelligence roles. Some examples of
ISR missions include stealthy interception of enemy cell phone communications and gathering intelligence
on foreign port operations. Though the SSN force has been cut by nearly 40 percent since 1994, the
volume of ISR mission tasking directed to the Submarine Force has more than doubled. The submarine‘s
ISR capability stems from its stealth; a submarine can enter an area and watch and listen without being
counter-detected. Satellites and aircraft are also used for ISR. However, they suffer from several
disadvantages. They typically have limited stay times, and their observations are particularly susceptible to
weather and cloud cover. Additionally, satellites and aircraft are severely limited in their ability to detect
underwater activity. Because submarines are close to the action, they can capture signals that are too
enveloped in background noise for our satellites to detect. Also, submarines can position themselves to
capture line-of-sight transmissions (cell phone communications) or observe over-water tests that would
otherwise elude detection. Special Operations
SEALs and other small-unit special operations forces (including joint forces) operate in conjunction
with the submarine force. The dive chambers on SSNs and SSGNs (SSGNs were designed with special
operations capabilities specifically in mind) have the ability to ―lock-out‖ special operators while
submerged. SSNs and SSGNs can also externally carry special operations equipment, such as the Dry
Deck Shelter/SEAL Delivery Vehicle (DDS/SDV, a mini-submersible meant to transport operators from
the host submarine to the beach), rigid-hull inflatable boats (RHIBs), and other munitions and supplies.
Special operations teams can access the external equipment after locking out and carry it to the beach.
SSNs and SSGNs can also collect real-time tactical intelligence for relay to forces ashore and can conduct
reconnaissance of coastal areas in advance of amphibious operations. Finally, the SSN or SSGN can
recover special operations units once efforts ashore are complete. In short, submarines form the ideal
platform for inserting, supporting, and extracting small special operations units when surprise or secrecy is
essential.
Precision Strike
Submarines fire the Tomahawk Land Attack Missile (TLAM), either from torpedo tubes or from vertical
launch systems (VLS), to perform the critical job of precision strike. The TLAM provides high accuracy
and a standoff attack range of more than 650 miles. During Operation Iraqi Freedom, submarines were
responsible for about one third of Tomahawk cruise missile strikes. The execution of this role by
submarines has greatly expanded since the recent conversion of four SSBNs into SSGN submarines.
SSGNs are designed to act as formidable TLAM strike platforms. Each SSGN can carry up to 154
Tomahawk cruise missiles, the equivalent capacity of an entire Carrier Strike Group.
Sea Denial
Preventing enemy use of the seas – be it warship activity or merchant shipping – has always been and
continues to be an important mission for submarines. Submarines can perform sea denial missions in a
variety of scenarios, from general war against a major maritime power, to blockages of specific enemy
ports. Attacks against enemy surface ships or submarines can be part of a war of attrition (where the object
is to destroy as much of the opposing naval fleet and merchant shipping as possible), or such attacks can be
directed against specific isolated targets. As an example of an attrition campaign, during WWII, the U.S.
submarine force sank more than half of Japan's merchant vessels, as well as a large number of warships.
IV. Platforms
Fast Attack Submarines (SSN)
Fast Attack submarines are designed to: (1) seek and destroy enemy submarines and surface ships; (2)
conduct precision strike with Tomahawk cruise missiles; (3) project power ashore by delivering and
supporting Special Operation Forces; (4) carry out Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR)
missions; (5) support Carrier Strike Groups; and (6) engage in mine warfare. There are three classes of
SSNs now in service. They are:
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Los Angeles class (SSN 688 -- SSN 773)
Los Angeles class boats are the backbone of the submarine force with forty-five now in commission.
Thirty-one of the Los Angeles class are equipped with 12 Vertical Launch System tubes for firing
Tomahawk cruise missiles.
Seawolf class (SSN 21 -- SSN 23) Commissioned on July 19, 1997, USS Seawolf (SSN 21) represents the first in a class of boats that are
exceptionally quiet, fast, well-armed, and equipped with advanced sensors. Though lacking Vertical
Launch Systems, the Seawolf class has eight torpedo tubes, which can also fire Tomahawks, and can hold
up to 50 weapons in its torpedo room. The third ship of the class, USS Jimmy Carter (SSN 23), has a 100-
foot hull extension called the multi-mission platform. This hull section provides for additional payload to
accommodate advanced technology used to carry out classified research and development and for enhanced
war fighting capabilities.
Virginia class (SSN 774 -- SSN 784)
The Navy is now building the next-generation SSN, the Virginia (SSN 774) class. Five of the planned
thirty are already in service. The Virginia class has several innovations that significantly enhance their
capabilities with an emphasis on littoral operations. These include: (1) a fly-by-wire ship control system
that provides improved shallow-water ship handling; (2) enhanced special operation forces support
systems; (3) a reconfigurable torpedo room, which can house either torpedoes and Tomahawks cruise
missiles, or a large number of special operation forces and all their equipment for prolonged deployments;
(4) a large lock-in / lock-out chamber for divers; (5) traditional periscopes have been supplanted by two
Photonics Masts that house color, high-resolution black and white, and infrared digital cameras atop
telescoping arms; and (6) through the extensive use of modular construction, open architecture, and
commercial off-the-shelf components, the Virginia class is designed to remain state-of-the-practice for its
entire operational life through the rapid introduction of new systems and payloads.
The advantages of an SSN over a conventionally (diesel-electric; SSK) powered submarine are (1)
longer range, (2) significantly longer endurance since fuel is not a limiting factor, (3) higher speeds, and (4)
capable of sustained submerged operations since it does not have to run a diesel engine at periscope depth
or on the surface to recharge batteries. However, there are a few modern diesel submarines labeled as air
independent propulsion (AIP) that produce or carry air for combustion in their diesel generators, thus
minimizing advantage (4) above. West Coast SSNs are home-ported in Pearl Harbor, HI, San Diego, CA,
and Guam while East Coast SSNs are home-ported in Groton, CT, and Norfolk, VA.
SSN-688 and 688I Los Angeles class Attack Submarines
Visual Identification
Flight I and II have fairwater planes otherwise referred to as sail planes, and flight III have
bow planes. Flight II and III have 12 Vertical Launch Tubes in the bow.
Mission ASW/ASUW/Sea Denial/ISR/Strike/Offensive Mining/Special Ops
Weapons
MK 48 ADCAP Torpedoes – 4 Torpedo Tubes
UGM-109 Tomahawk Cruise Missiles
Mission Specific
Capabilities
Can fire Tomahawks from VLS tubes or torpedo tubes
Outfitted with special mast to conduct ISR
Crew Size 14 Officers, 120 Enlisted
Figure 1 and 1b: Los Angeles Class Fast Attack Submarine [Left to Right – 688 (I/II), and 688I (III)]
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SSN-21 Seawolf Class Attack Submarine
Visual Identification
Larger than the Los Angeles Class.
Tapered front of sail. All have bow planes.
Mission ASW/ASUW/Sea Denial/ISR/Strike/Special Ops
Weapons
MK 48 ADCAP Torpedoes – 8 Torpedo Tubes
UGM-109 Tomahawk Cruise Missiles
Mission Specific
Capabilities
Can fire Tomahawks only from torpedo tubes.
Crew Size 14 Officers; 126 Enlisted
Figure 2: Seawolf Class Fast Attack Submarine
SSN-774 Virginia Class Attack Submarine
Visual Identification
Larger than Los Angeles class, smaller than Seawolf class.
Tapered front of sail. All have bow planes.
Mission ASW/ASUW/Sea Denial/ISR/Strike/Offensive Mining/Special Ops
Weapons
MK 48 ADCAP Torpedoes -- 4 Torpedo Tubes
UGM-109 Tomahawk Cruise Missiles
Mission Specific
Capabilities
Can fire Tomahawks from VLS tubes or torpedo tubes.
Contains modules that can be replaced based on the specific mission requirements.
Crew Size 14 Officers; 120 Enlisted
Figure 3: Virginia Class Fast Attack Submarine
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Ballistic Missile Submarines (SSBN)
Since the 1960s, strategic deterrence has been the SSBN‘s primary mission, providing the United
States with its most survivable and enduring nuclear strike capability. There is only one type of SSBN in
service, the Ohio class submarine.
―Boomers,‖ as SSBNs are often called, serve as a virtually undetectable launch platform for
intercontinental ballistic missiles. They are designed specifically for stealth and the precision delivery of
nuclear warheads. Ohio class SSBNs have the capability to carry up to 24 submarine-launched ballistic
missiles (SLBMs), each having multiple independently-targeted warheads. The exact number of missiles
carried by each boat varies in a classified manner, at or below a maximum set by various strategic arms
limitation treaties. The SSBN‘s primary weapon, the Trident missile, was built in two versions. The first
generation missile, Trident C-4, has been phased out of service and replaced by the larger, longer-range,
and more precise Trident II D-5.
The first eight submarines (SSBN 726 to 733) were initially built to only carry the C-4 missile.
The first four Ohio class (SSBN 726 through SSBN 729) ended their strategic deterrent mission in the early
2000s when they began the conversion process into guided missile submarines, or SSGNs. SSBN 730
through 733 have been retrofitted to carry the D-5 missile. SSBN 734 to 743 were designed from the
beginning to carry the D-5 missile and continue to execute their primary mission of strategic deterrence.
The Ohio class design allows the submarines to operate for 15 or more years between major
overhauls. On average, the submarines spend 77 days at sea followed by 35 days in-port for maintenance.
Each SSBN has two crews, Blue and Gold, which alternate manning the submarines while on patrol. This
maximizes the SSBN‘s strategic availability while maintaining the crew‘s training readiness and morale at
high levels. The Ohio class is the largest type of submarine ever constructed for the U.S. Navy, and is
second only to the Russian Typhoon-class in mass and size. West Coast Boomers are home-ported in
Bangor, WA, and East Coast Boomers are home-ported in King‘s Bay, GA.
SSBN-726 Ohio Class Ballistic Missile Submarine
Visual Identification
Fairwater planes otherwise known as sail planes
Large ―turtleback‖ hull design
Hull stays dry while riding on the surface
Mission
Primary: Strategic Deterrence
Secondary: ASW/ASUW/Sea Denial/ISR
Weapons 24 Trident II D5 SLBM Tubes
MK 48 Torpedoes -- 4 Torpedo Tubes
Mission Specific
Capabilities
Carries up to 24 SLBMs. Large platform and deck allows for potential special ops after
completion of strategic mission.
Crew Size 15 Officers, 140 Enlisted
Figure 4: Ohio Class Ballistic Missile Submarine
Guided Missile Submarines (SSGN)
The first four of the Ohio-class SSBNs were converted into guided missile submarines (SSGN).
Ohio class SSGNs provide the Navy with an unprecedented combination of precision strike and special
operation mission capability within a stealthy, clandestine platform. Armed with tactical Tomahawk Land
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Attack Missiles and equipped with superior communications capabilities, each SSGN is capable of directly
supporting dozens of Special Operation Forces (SOF).
The SSGN conversion includes the installation of vertical launching systems (VLS) in a
configuration dubbed "multiple all-up-round canister" (MAC). On each SSGN, 22 of the 24 missile tubes
hold 7 Tomahawk cruise missiles, for a total capacity of 154 TLAMs. If the maximum number of TLAMs
were loaded, one Ohio class SSGN would carry an entire Carrier Strike Group's equivalent of cruise
missiles. The 2 remaining missile tubes act as lock-out chambers to be used by Special Forces personnel.
An SSGN can berth a team of 66 SOF personnel for up to 90 days. The MAC tubes can also be used to
carry and launch UAVs or UUVs, giving the ship remotely controlled "eyes & ears," allowing the ship to
act as a forward-deployed command & control center. SSGNs can also carry the Dry Deck Shelter/SEAL
Delivery Vehicle (DDS/SDV), in support of SOF.
Like SSBNs, SSGNs also use two crews, Blue and Gold, which alternate to increase the platform's
operational tempo. West Coast SSGNs are home-ported in Bangor, WA. East Coast SSGNs are home-
ported in King's Bay, GA.
SSGN-726 Ohio Class Guided Missile Submarine
Visual Identification
Fairwater planes otherwise known as sail planes
Large ―turtleback‖ hull design
Hull stays dry while riding on the surface
Mission ASW/ASUW/Sea Denial/ISR/Strike/Offensive Mining/Special Ops
Weapons MK 48 Torpedoes -- 4 Torpedo Tubes
UGM-109 Tomahawk Cruise Missiles -- Maximum 154
Mission Specific
Capabilities
Specialized to support SOF missions.
Large Tomahawk Cruise Missile payload for precision strike.
Crew Size 15 Officers, 144 Enlisted, 66 SOF personnel
V. Combat Systems
Weapons
Mk-48 and Mk-48/ADCAP (ADvanced CAPability) Torpedoes
The Mk-48 is the principal heavyweight Anti-Submarine and Anti-Surface ship torpedo in the U.S.
inventory. It is an acoustic-homing torpedo, having its own onboard SONAR to seek and destroy enemy
contacts. SSBNs carry the original Mk-48 torpedo, but all SSNs carry the Mk-48 ADCAP. The ADCAP
modification includes improvements in speed and accuracy, more sophisticated SONAR, all digital
guidance and control systems, and increased range. A single Mk-48 is capable of sinking most of the
world‘s warships. The torpedo is designed to detonate underneath a ship, creating a steam void below the
ship that breaks the ship‘s keel. The Mk-48 follows a pre-programmed search routine and uses an active
seeker head to hunt and destroy its target, and can be controlled by a guidance wire from the submarine.
UGM-109 Tomahawk Cruise Missile
The Tomahawk Land Attack Missile (TLAM) is an all-weather, long range, subsonic cruise missile used
for land attack warfare. U.S. submarines can launch the Tomahawk cruise missile either from a standard
21" diameter torpedo tube, or from a Vertical Launch System (VLS, used by the improved Los Angeles
class, Virginia class, and SSGN submarines). The most common Tomahawk cruise missile is a
conventional 1,000-lb, unitary warhead. However, some are configured to release combined effects
bomblets (anti-airfield), and some carry tactical nuclear warheads.
Trident II (D5) Submarine-Launched Ballistic Missile (SLBM)
Trident II (D5) missiles are deployed in Ohio- class SSBN submarines, each carrying up to 24 missiles.
The Trident II (D5) is a three-stage, solid-propellant ballistic missile with a range of more than 4,000
nautical miles. The missile‘s range is increased by the aerospike, a telescoping, outward extension that
reduces frontal drag by about 50 percent. Trident II is launched by the pressure of expanding gas within the
launch tube. When the missile attains sufficient distance from the submarine, the first stage motor ignites,
the aerospike extends and the boost stage begins. Each missile carries multiple nuclear warheads, housed
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in multiple independent re-entry vehicles (MIRVs), which launch from the missile and are independently
targeted.
Sensors
SONAR
Unless it is using its periscope, a submerged submarine has no optical window to the outside world. To
locate contacts, to locate the ocean floor, and for targeting purposes, a submarine uses SONAR (SOund
NAvigation and Ranging). SONAR is similar to RADAR, but it relies on acoustic signals rather than
electromagnetic signals. SONAR can function in two modes: active (used less frequently) and passive
(constantly employed). In active SONAR, the submarine emits a pulse of sound. The pulse travels through
the water, reflects off the target and returns to the submarine. Onboard computers interpret the reflected
pulse to determine the bearing and range to a contact. Passive SONAR involves passively listening to
sounds -- like the noise generated by a merchant's engines, or the noise of another submarine's screw
chopping through the water. SONAR is also used for navigational purposes. By identifying known
features on the ocean floor, a submarine can keep track of her location.
There are many variants of SONAR hardware and software. The most advanced SONAR suite in the
U.S. submarine force is called Acoustic Rapid Commercial-Off-The-Shelf Insertion (ARCI, spoken ―AR-
key‖). The ARCI program is a phased effort to provide the submarine force with a common SONAR suite,
more capable and flexible than earlier designs. ARCI‘s open-system architecture (OSA) exploits
commercial processing developments and employs complex algorithms that could not previously be
accommodated. Commercial-Off-The-Shelf (COTS) based processors and OSA allow onboard computing
power to grow at nearly the same rate as commercial industry. This facilitates regular updates to both
software and hardware with minimal impact on submarine scheduling.
Fire Control
This computer system takes raw data from various sources including multiple SONAR systems, the
periscopes, radio, torpedoes still connected by wire, and manual inputs. The fusion of this information is
managed by the control-room watch team to build the tactical picture and to communicate with the
submarine‘s weapons. Fire Control implements algorithms to help determine the most likely range, course
and speed of each contact from all of the raw inputs.
When it becomes necessary to shoot a torpedo, Fire Control is used to program the torpedo with the
appropriate pre-set parameters for the environment and the contact. It also tells the weapon where to look
for the target and how to get there. At the time of fire, Fire Control sends the electrical signals to the
torpedo tube to launch the weapon. After shooting, Fire Control continues to update the torpedo with
refined targeting solutions via the torpedo‘s guidance wire. Fire Control is also used to plan cruise missile
strikes and it downloads flight plan and targeting information to Tomahawk cruise missiles prior to launch.
Sources
http://www.navy.mil/navydata/ships/subs/subs.asp
Mission: http://www.navy.mil/navydata/cno/n87/mission.html
History: http://www.navy.mil/navydata/cno/n87/history.html
Development Time: http://www.navy.mil/navydata/cno/n87/history/subhistory.html
Reading List: http://www.navy.mil/navydata/cno/n87/biblio.html
SSN: http://www.navy.mil/navydata/fact_display.asp?cid=4100&tid=100&ct=4
SSBN: http://www.navy.mil/navydata/fact_display.asp?cid=4100&tid=200&ct=4
SSGN: http://www.navy.mil/navydata/fact_display.asp?cid=4100&tid=300&ct=4
Photos: http://www.navy.mil/view_gallery.asp?category_id=17
Mk 48: http://www.navy.mil/navydata/fact_display.asp?cid=2100&tid=950&ct=2
Trident: http://www.navy.mil/navydata/fact_display.asp?cid=2200&tid=1400&ct=2
Tomahawk: http://www.navy.mil/navydata/fact_display.asp?cid=2200&tid=1300&ct=2
Sonar:
http://books.google.com/books?id=bCEDAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA84&dq=popular+science+July+1946&hl=e
n&ei=hc3oTO6dCYvonQfQu5iaDQ&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=book-
thumbnail&resnum=10&ved=0CE4Q6wEwCTgU#v=onepage&q&f=true
ARCI: http://www.navy.mil/navydata/cno/n87/future/arci.html
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WEEK 13: AIR WARFARE
I. Mission
Naval aircraft support all missions and operations of the U.S. Navy. The capabilities of modern naval
aircraft are vast enough to not be limited to use in one specific mission. As such,
The mission of naval aviation is to deploy combat capable forces forward fully responsive to the needs of
the Nation.
II. History
During the twentieth century, few military organizations played a more crucial role than Naval Aviation.
In war at sea, replacing the battleship as the decisive weapon, aircraft carriers projected their powerful air
wings over vast expanses of water, striking with surprise at enemy fleets and land bases, then disappearing
with equal swiftness. In times of peace, the carrier and her battle group provided American political leaders
a flexible and potent way to respond to regional crises wherever and whenever American vital interests
were threatened. "Where are the carriers?" has been the first question asked by American presidents at the
start of every national security crisis since the end of World War II.
(http://www.navalaviationmuseum.org/AboutMuseum/MuseumHistory.aspx, accessed 30 Nov 2009)
The Navy's interest in airplanes as a naval weapon dates back to 1898 when several naval officers
became members of an inter-service board. Their job was to observe and investigate the military
possibilities of the new flying machine. In 1908 and 1909, naval officer observers were present at the
public demonstrations staged by the Wright brothers. (NAVEDTRA 14014, Ch 1, 1-2)
In 1910, LT T.G. Ellyson became the first naval officer selected for flight training. Ellyson underwent
instruction with Glenn Curtiss, the producer of the first practical hydroplane and early aircraft developer. It
was a Curtiss pilot by the name of Eugene Ely who made the first shipboard takeoff from the USS
Birmingham in 1910. Ely would later become the first pilot to successfully land an aircraft on the deck of a
ship. Just one year later having successfully completed training, LT Ellyson demonstrated the ability to
launch a plane utilizing a newly devised compressed air catapult. (NAVEDTRA 16138-H, Ch 17, 1-2)
The first naval air station was located right here in Annapolis, MD at Greenbury Point in 1911. The first
aircraft carrier, USS Langley, was commissioned in 1922 by converting an old collier to a flat top ship.
(NAVEDTRA 14014, Ch 1, 1-2)
Naval aircraft did see action in WWI, but it wasn‘t until WWII that naval aviation gained prominence.
While naval aviation saw action in both European and Pacific theaters, it was the performance at the battle
of Midway that solidified their position of importance. Having destroyed all four Japanese carriers, naval
aviators turned the war in the Pacific from defensive to offensive. From that point onward, the center of the
fleet became the aircraft carrier instead of the battleship. (NAVEDTRA 16138-H, Ch 17, 1-2)
Naval aviation has continued to grow in distinction and popularity over the past few decades. From
operations in Desert Storm, Iraqi Freedom, and Enduring Freedom to humanitarian assistance at home and
abroad, naval aircraft and aircraft carriers have assumed prominent roles and responsibilities.
Naval aviation has also been at the cutting edge of aerospace expeditions, such as the first successful
crossing of the Atlantic by an aircraft, exploration of the Arctic and Antarctic, and numerous ―journeys of
discovery‖ into outer space. The common link for those who participated in this exciting history was their
training in a sleepy little Southern city on the Gulf of Mexico: Pensacola, Florida. Since 1914, it was here
that the fledglings tested their mettle against the unique demands of flying naval aircraft.
(http://www.navalaviationmuseum.org/AboutMuseum/MuseumHistory.aspx, accessed 30 Nov 2009)
76
III. Operations
The primary function of naval aviation is to closely coordinate with other naval forces in maintaining
command of the seas. Accomplishing this task takes five areas of focus:
1. Eyes and ears of the fleet. Naval aviation has over-the-horizon surveillance capabilities that
provide vital information to our task force operation.
2. Protection against submarine attack. Anti-submarine warfare operations go on continuously
for the task force and along our country's shoreline. This type of mission includes hunter/killer
operations to be sure of task force protection and to keep our coastal waterways safe.
3. Aid and support operations during amphibious landings. From the beginning to the end of
the operations, support occurs with a variety of firepower. Providing air cover and support is an
important function of naval aviation in modern, technical warfare.
4. Rapid logistic support for ground forces. Logistic support aircraft strongly support the
mobility of the ground forces. Providing logistic support aircraft is another required function of
naval aviation.
5. Search and rescue operations. During sea missions, the possibility of a downed aircraft or
man overboard always exists. Search and rescue helps reduce the number of lives lost.
Naval aviation conducts its primary mission through the following operations:
1. ANTI-AIR WARFARE (AAW)
2. ANTI-SURFACE WARFARE (ASU)
3. ANTI-SUBMARINE WARFARE (ASW)
4. CLOSE AIR SUPPORT (CAS)
5. COMBAT SEARCH AND RESCUE (CSAR)
6. COMMAND, CONTROL, AND COMMUNICATIONS (CCC)
7. COMMAND AND CONTROL WARFARE (C2W)
8. FLEET SUPPORT OPERATIONS (FSO)
9. INTELLIGENCE, SURVEILLANCE, AND RECONNAISSANCE (ISR)
10. MINE WARFARE (MIW)
11. STRIKE WARFARE (STW)
The numerous naval aviation operations are carried out by multiple aviation platforms. In general, there
are two categories of aircraft, Fixed Wing and Rotary Wing. Within those categories, aircraft are
developed with specific missions in mind. Fixed wing naval aviation assets can be further classified into
one of two groups: Carrier Aviation or Maritime Aviation. A fuller explanation of each classification
follows.
IV. Fixed Wing Aviation
Carrier Aviation
Mission: To provide a credible, sustainable, independent forward presence and conventional deterrence in
peacetime, to operate as the cornerstone of joint/allied maritime expeditionary forces in times of crisis, and
to operate and support aircraft attacks on enemies, protect friendly forces and engage in sustained
independent operations in war.
Aircraft Carrier: With over 5,000 personnel, the current Nimitz Class nuclear powered aircraft carrier
(CVN) directly supports of 75-95 aircraft from 7-8 squadrons deployed onboard. The squadrons work
together under the direction of the Carrier Air Wing. Each aircraft and squadron serves a unique and
necessary role in the conduct of the overall mission.
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Carrier Air Wing Elements:
Strike Fighter (VFA)
F/A-18 A/C Hornet
Role:
AAW / STW /
CAS / ASU
The F/A-18 Hornet is the Navy‘s combat tested maritime strike fighter. It
can typically escort itself to the target, drop precision ordinance, and escort
itself back home. The Hornet is an exceptional fighter, both in
maneuverability and weaponry, as well as a superb strike aircraft.
Distinguishing
Features:
Oval shaped air intakes.
Single seat cockpit.
Crew: 1 Pilot
Responsibilities:
Pilot: Responsible for all operations to include aviating, navigating,
communications, and weapons employment.
F/A-18 E/F Super Hornet
Role:
AAW / STW /
CAS / ASU
The FA-18 E/F has been introduced into the fleet to replace the F-14
Tomcat and the older F/A-18 Hornets. Like the ―legacy‖ Hornet, the Super
Hornet is a maritime strike fighter. However, the Super Hornet has a
greater range, service ceiling, payload, reliability, and an improved
electronics suite over the original Hornet.
Distinguishing
Features:
Rectangle shaped air intakes. 35% larger surface area than the Hornet.
Single (E model) or Dual (F model) seat cockpit.
Crew: E: 1 Pilot F: 1 Pilot / 1 NFO as a Weapons System Officer (WSO)
Responsibilities:
Pilot: Aviating, Weapons Employment
WSO: Communications, Navigation, Weapons Employment
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Electronic Attack (VAQ)
EA-6B Prowler
Role:
C2W / STW
A derivative of the Vietnam era A-6 Intruder, the EA-6B Prowler provides
an umbrella of protection for strike aircraft, ground troops and ships by
jamming enemy radar, electronic data links and communications.
Distinguishing
Features:
2 tandem seating cockpits. Permanently mounted refueling probe on
bulbous nose.
Jamming pods under wings with ―football‖ suite, or receivers, on top of the
vertical stabilizer.
Crew: 1 Pilot / 3 NFOs as Electronic Counter Measure Officers (ECMO)
Responsibilities:
Pilot: Fly aircraft and evade possible threats.
ECMO: Operate weapons systems including jammers and AGM-88 HARM
missiles; perform mission commander and co-pilot duties
Airborne Early Warning (VAW)
E-2C Hawkeye
Role:
CCC /C2W /
INT / AAW
The E-2C Hawkeye is the Navy's all-weather, carrier-based tactical battle
management, airborne early warning, and command and control aircraft.
Distinguishing
Features:
Twin turboprop engines.
Large rotating radar dome on spine of aircraft.
Crew: 2 Pilots / 3 NFOs
Responsibilities:
Pilot: Aviating, navigating, and threat avoidance.
NFO: Mission Commander, sensor operator, Airborne Command and
Control
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Fleet Logistics Support (VRC)
C-2 Greyhound
Role:
FSO
Provides critical logistics support to Carrier Strike Groups. Its primary
mission is carrier onboard deliver (COD) of cargo, mail and passengers
between carriers and shore bases.
Distinguishing
Features:
High wing.
Twin turboprop engines.
Crew: 2 Pilots / 2 Enlisted Aircrew
Responsibilities:
Pilot: Aviating and safety of aircraft and crew
Co-Pilot: Navigating, Communication
Aircrew: Loadmasters for cargo and passengers
Maritime Aviation
Mission: To conduct global patrol, surveillance, and reconnaissance missions in a maritime role under the
command of land- based forces. Maritime patrol and reconnaissance promotes regional security and
enhancement of theater security cooperation through close interoperation with allied forces, friendly
nations, and other U.S. military services.
Maritime Elements:
Patrol (VP)
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P-3C Orion
Role:
ASW / ASU /
STW/ CCC /
INT
Originally designed as a land-based, long-range, anti-submarine warfare
(ASW) patrol aircraft, the P-3C's mission has evolved in the late 1990s and
early 21st century to include intelligence/surveillance/reconnaissance (ISR)
of the battle space, either at sea or over land; possesses strike capabilities
with SLAM, Maverick, and unguided munitions.
Distinguishing
Features:
4 large turboprop engines.
Large Magnetic Anomaly Detector (MAD) boom protruding from aft of
aircraft.
Crew: 3 pilots / 2 NFOs / 4-6 Enlisted Aircrew / nominal crew is 12 total
Responsibilities:
Pilot: Responsible for the safety of flight during all mission phases. May act
as Mission Commander.
NFO: One Tactical Coordinator (TACCO) that typically serves as the
Mission Commander; one Navigator / Comms Officer (NAV COM);
possibly one other that is strictly the Mission Commander or a trainee for
the other two positions.
Aircrew: Operates optical / acoustic / non-acoustic sensor systems.
Fleet Air Reconnaissance (VQ)
E-6A/B Mercury
Role:
CCC
TACAMO (Take Charge and Move Out): TACAMO links the NCA with nation‘s
nuclear forces (Bombers, ICBM‘s, SSBN‘s, Tankers) by relaying EAM‘s.
Distinguishing
Features:
Boeing 707 airframe with 4 large turbofan engines.
Crew: 3 Pilots / 3 NFOs as Navigators/ Airborne Communications Officers (ACO) / 10
Enlisted Aircrew
Responsibilities:
Pilot: Responsible for the safety of flight during all mission phases. May act as Mission
Commander. Flying duties include aerial refueling and operating in unmanned airfields.
ACO: In charge of Communications Central. Releasing Authority for all message
traffic. May act as Mission Commander.
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EP-3E (ARIES II)
Role:
INT / C2W /
CCC
SIGINT (Signals Intelligence): The Navy's only signals intelligence
(SIGINT) reconnaissance aircraft. It uses sensitive receivers and high-gain
dish antennas and exploits a wide range of electronic emissions from deep
within targeted territory.
Distinguishing
Features:
P-3 with canoe-like dome on spine and underbelly of aircraft; multiple
protruding antennas over fuselage and wings. Crew: 3 pilots / 3 NFOs / 14 Enlisted Aircrew
Responsibilities:
Pilot: Responsible for the safety of flight during all mission phases. May act
as Mission Commander.
NFO: One Senior Evaluator (SEVAL) that typically serves as the Mission
Commander; one Tactical Evaluator (EVAL) that is the SEVAL Trainee;
one Navigator / Comms Officer (NAV COM); possible one other that is
strictly the Mission Commander or a trainee for the other two positions.
Aircrew: Operates the various sensor systems and normally two in-flight
techs.
V. Rotary Wing
The workhorses of the Navy, rotary wing aircraft employ over 70% of Naval Aviators. Helicopters carry
out missions ranging from cargo and personnel transport to Combat Search and Rescue (CSAR), while
others play vital roles in sea control, surface surveillance, or mine countermeasure operations.
Anti-Submarine Light (HSL) – Transitioning to HSM and MH-60R
HSL squadrons utilize the SH-60B and traditionally deploy on DDG‘s, FFG‘s, and CG‘s. HSL squadrons
are tasked with over the horizon targeting (OTH-T) and vertical replenishment.
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SH-60B/MH-60R Seahawk
Role:
ASW / ASU / FOS / CSAR
The SH-60B/R are the helicopters employed by the HSL and HSM communities. The
primary missions of the B/R are anti-submarine and anti-surface warfare. Ancillary
missions include search and rescue, vertical replenishment, counter-narcotics
operations, and command and control operations. The R variant is currently replacing
the B variant as the multi-mission helicopter for the future. The R will have updated
radar and sonar systems, a glass-cockpit configuration, and will adapt the ―dipping‖
sonar currently found in the SH-60F.
Distinguishing Features: SH-60B: Sonobuoy chutes on left side of the cabin and Magnetic Anomaly Detector
(MAD) mounted on right side of the tail pylon.
MH-60R: No MAD, dipping sonar dome.
Crew: 1Pilot / 1 Co-pilot as Airborne Tactical Officer (ATO) / 1-2 Enlisted Aircrew
Responsibilities:
Pilot: operate aircraft
ATO: supervise tactical situation/direct pilot and SO
Aircrew: act as sensor operator/runs radar and sonar computers
Anti-Submarine (HS) – Transitioning to HSC and MH-60S
The SH-60F and HH-60H are assigned to HS squadrons and traditionally deploy on aircraft carriers. Their
duties include: antisubmarine warfare (ASW), search and rescue, airborne utility services, and combat
search and rescue.
HH-60F/H/S Seahawk
Role:
ASW / ASU / FOS / CSAR
/ MIW
The F/H/S variants of the H-60 are currently used by the HS and HSC communities.
The HS community specifically utilizes the H/F models, but will eventually use
only the MH-60S. The SH-60F is designed to conduct anti-submarine warfare. It
uses both a ―dipping‖ sonar dome and a payload of buoys to detect subsurface
contacts. The HH-60H is used primarily for combat search and rescue and anti-
surface warfare missions. The MH-60S is very similar to the HH-60H but boasts
updated avionics and a glass cockpit system. The S variant is currently used
primarily for search and rescue and vertical replenishment. When the HS
community completes the transition to the MH-60S they will lose anti-submarine
capabilities. The HSL/HSM communities will assume the role of the anti-submarine
platform in the CSG/ESG.
Distinguishing Features: SH-60F: dipping sonar/no FLIR
HH-60H:FLIR
MH-60S:no FLIR
Crew: 1Pilot / 1 Co-pilot / 2 Enlisted Aircrew
Responsibilities:
Pilot: Operate aircraft
Co-pilot: Navigation/Tactical mission control
Aircrew: SH-60F – operate SONAR, tracking of targets
HH-60H – Crew Chief/Aerial Gunners and Ground Rescue Element in CSAR
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Sea Combat Support (HSC)
With the disestablishment of the Navy‘s Combat Support (HC) squadrons comprised of H-3 and CH-53
helicopters, HS squadrons have assumed the additional responsibilities of the HC community and formed
the HSC community. The newer MH-60S is the aircraft of choice for the HSC community.
MH-60S Seahawk
Mine Countermeasures (HM)
Capable of transporting 55 troops or 32,000 pounds of cargo, the MH-53 Sea Dragon remains the armed
forces largest and most capable transport helicopter.
MH-53E Sea Dragon
Role:
Airborne Mine Countermeasures (AMCM), with secondary missions of
vertical shipboard delivery and assault support.
Distinguishing
Features:
99 feet in overall length, it‘s longer than a C-130 Hercules!
6 blade rotary wing.
Crew: 2 pilots / 1-2 Enlisted Aircrew
Responsibilities:
Pilot: aviating, communicating
Co-Pilot: supervise tactical situation, direct pilot and SO
Aircrew: sensor operator, act as loadmasters
VI. The Future of Naval Aviation
Fixed Wing
Carrier Aviation:
While the mission and objectives of carrier aviation will closely remain the same, the equipment with
which the Navy conducts the mission will continually develop as new technology emerges.
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Aircraft Carrier CVN-21 marks the next generation of aircraft carriers. The first of this new line
of super-carriers will be CVN-78 with a planned delivery of 2015. While capabilities will remain
closely the same, new technology and equipment will improve the affordability and flexibility of
this enormous asset. Some of the key upgrades include electromagnetic catapults (Nimitz class
carriers use steam generated from the nuclear reactors) and advanced arresting gear.
Strike Fighter (VFA)
The F/A-18E/F Super Hornet will be joined by the F-35C Lightning II as the replacement for
the aging F/A-18A/C starting in 2013. The F-35 will be used by the Navy, Marine Corps, and
Air Force.
F-35C Lightning II
Electronic Attack (VAQ) The E/A-18G Growler is replacing the aging EA-6B Prowler (fully by 2015) as the only
dedicated electronic warfare aircraft. It will retain the fighter capabilities of the Super Hornet.
E/A-18G Growler
Airborne Early Warning (VAW)
With significant radar and avionics upgrades, the much improved E-2D Advanced Hawkeye are
currently starting to replace the older E-2C models.
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E-2D Advanced Hawkeye
Fleet Logistics Support (VRC)
The C-2 Greyhound will continue to provide Carrier Onboard Delivery.
Maritime Aviation:
While the mission and objectives of maritime aviation will remain closely the same, the introduction of the
Multi-Mission Maritime Aircraft (MMA) will provide a greater combat capability from a smaller force.
Additionally, unmanned aircraft such as the Broad Area Maritime Surveillance (BAMS) aircraft will
complement the MMA in the conduct of the maritime mission.
Patrol (VP / VPU)
A derivative of the Boeing 737, the P-8A Poseidon multi-mission maritime aircraft (MMA) will
dramatically improve anti-submarine and anti-surface warfare capabilities. The MMA is
scheduled to begin replacing the P-3C fleet in 2013.
P-8 MMA
Fleet Air Reconnaissance (VQ)
The E-6B Mercury and EP-3E will remain the fleet‘s primary assets for SIGINT and strategic
communications.
Rotary Wing
Two new H-60 variants, the MH-60R and MH-60S, will replace the aging H-60 and MH-53 fleet. The
transition will involve restructuring the Navy‘s current squadrons and the assumption of mine
countermeasure duties as well as missions formerly assigned to the S-3 Viking.
Sea Combat Support (HSC)
The MH-60S Seahawk will continue to be the workhorse of the HSC community.
Sea Mine Countermeasures (HSM)
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Replacing the remaining SH-60B and SH-60F aircraft by 2016, the MH-60R Seahawks assigned
to HSM squadrons will perform the same missions as previous HSL and HM squadrons.
Sources: Airman Non-resident Training Course NAVEDTRA 14014, revised 2003. Naval Education and
Training Development Center (pub), United States Government Printing Office, Washington, D.C, 1984.
Naval Orientation NAVEDTRA 16138-H, prepared by BMCS Neif F. Padgham, revised 1984. Naval
Education and Training Development Center (pub), United States Government Printing Office,
Washington, D.C, 1984.
Naval Aviation Museum: www.navalaviationmuseum.org
Commander Naval Air Forces: www.cnaf.navy.mil/
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WEEK 14: STRIKE WARFARE
I. Mission Definition
Strike Warfare is the use of tactical aircraft and/or cruise missiles against land targets in an
offensive power projection role.
II. Purpose of Strike Warfare
Strike warfare gives the US Navy an offensive power projection capability that can be used either
by itself or in combination with expeditionary forces. In either capacity, its makes possible precision guided
strikes on enemy targets. When used by itself, strike warfare can be used to attack key enemy infrastructure
and command and control elements, which can disrupt the enemy‘s forces. When used in conjunction with
expeditionary forces, strike warfare can be used to support tactical objectives of ground combat units, as
well as attacks aimed at disrupting enemy infrastructure and command.
The Importance of Precision The key to modern strike warfare is precision. The Navy has moved away from ―dumb‖ ordinance and
towards precision guided weaponry. Newer weapons such as the JDAM, JSOW, and SLAM-ER allow
aircraft to drop guided ordinance exclusively while cruise missiles, specifically the TLAM, are also
precision guided weapons. These guided systems are of limited use without precise information about the
targets. New technologies combine both satellite imagery along with long range radar maps of the targets to
provide clear targeting data for the GPS and INS guided strike weapons to follow.
From World War II to Persian Gulf I air raids were designed as multi-day operations that would
repeatedly return to a target until it was sufficiently damaged, since delivering ordinance to the strike area
did not ensure that the target was destroyed. With the introduction of all precision weaponry, specific aim
points within a target can be selected for destruction in any given sortie. This allows strike planners to
create a number of desired effects with a strike package. Instead of bombing a refinery until it is taken out
of service, a precision strike package can have the objective of disrupting refinery production for a certain
number of days.
Precision strike capabilities are vital in today‘s current War on Terrorism. Strike aircraft are continually
tasked with providing Close Air Support (CAS) to friendly forces in the forward theaters of operation.
Soldiers and Marines in urban environments rely heavily on strike assets to provide both a timely and
accurate response. Precision weapons employment mitigates the possibilities of fratricide and limits
overall collateral damage.
III. Basic Overview of Strike Options
Naval Surface Fire Support (NSFS) NSFS is conducted in association with expeditionary warfare and comprises all methods of attacking
shore targets with surface ship weapons systems. These methods include naval gunfire, missiles, and
rockets delivered by naval surface forces in support of amphibious operations. Cruisers and destroyers can
conduct shore bombardment with 5-inch guns at ranges of over 10 nm. Most cruisers and destroyers have
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strike-capable cruise missile systems. Cruise missile strikes from surface combatants can be conducted
independently or integrated with other types of strike. For example, a strike of cruise missiles from
combatants and tactical attack aircraft from a carrier is an effective combination.
Suppression of Enemy Air Defenses (SEAD)
The objective of this type of operation is to neutralize enemy anti-aircraft abilities to allow general air
superiority over a target area. This can be specifically achieved by destroying either air defense weaponry
such as missile and guns, or by destroying enemy radar and thereby effectively blinding anti-aircraft
weapons.
Tactical Aircraft (TACAIR)
Aircraft that can be fitted to serve in an attack role. The F/A-18 C/D and E/F are all capable of
conducting any type of strike mission, and can carry most munitions listed below. The EA-6B Prowler
plays an essential role in the suppression of enemy air defenses (SEAD) in support of strike missions.
Cruise Missile
A cruise missile is an unmanned, self-propelled, guided weapon delivery vehicle that sustains flight
through aerodynamic lift over most of its flight path. The primary cruise missile currently used by the Navy
against on-shore targets is the Tomahawk Land Attack Missile (TLAM).
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Advantages Disadvantages
Tactical Aircraft
(TACAIR)
Greater Payload
Target Selection Capability
Flexibility
Battle Damage Assessment
Can be used for Close Air Support/Armed
Reconnaissance missions
Reusable
Human component
Shorter Range (without refueling)
Limited Deep Strike Capability
CRUISE MISSILES Deep Strike Capability
No chance of losing pilots
High Accuracy
Multiple launching platforms
No Battle Damage Assessment
No target selection capability
Small Payload
High cost per shot (~$1 million)
IV. Airborne Weapons
High-speed Anti-Radiation Missile (HARM)
HARMs use a passive seeker that homes on the emitted electromagnetic radiation of enemy radar. They
are effective as a Suppression of Enemy Air Defense (SEAD) weapon, able to home in on land and sea-
based search and Surface to Air Missile (SAM) guidance radars, effectively blinding enemy anti-aircraft
systems.
Standoff Land Attack Missile, Extended Range (SLAM-ER)
This weapon was developed from the Harpoon anti-shipping missile and is intended for use on land
targets. It uses GPS for mid-source guidance and infrared for terminal guidance, in addition to data link
capabilities that allow human course correction during flight. Its range is over 150 nautical miles and it is
useful against well defended targets where aircraft might be at risk.
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Joint Stand-Off Weapon (JSOW)
JSOW is a glide weapon that uses GPS satellite information for guidance. It has stand-off capability
from 15 nautical miles for a low altitude launch to up to 40 nautical miles with a high altitude launch. It is
designed to be effective against both land and sea targets in any daylight and weather conditions. It uses
INS/GPS guidance for midcourse navigation and infrared guidance for terminal homing.
Laser Guided Bombs (LGB)
LGB‘s have a laser seeker that that guides the bomb onto its target. The target must be ―painted‖ with a
laser, which can be done by the launching aircraft, another aircraft, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), or
ground units. With the target ―painted‖ the laser seeker in the nose of the bomb guides on the reflected laser
light and follows this path directly to the target.
Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM) JDAM is a kit that is installed to bombs in the existing inventory. It uses a GPS/INS guidance system.
An advantage over LGBs is that it has the ability to attack point targets in bad weather, extending the scope
of potential aircraft operations. It can upgrade several types of ―dumb‖ bombs that are currently in the
Navy‘s inventory. The weapon can be released from any altitude with the aircraft moving in any direction
(climbing, descending, level flight, banking, etc.)
Types of Warhead
Airborne bombs can have many different types of warheads suitable for use on different types of targets.
Many of these ordinance types can be fitted with the JDAM kit to enhance their capabilities. In addition,
the JSOW can carry many of these different types of warheads.
General Purpose Bombs
GP bombs are the most basic, inexpensive type of ordnance used in strike warfare. A computer
onboard the aircraft determines when the aircraft should release the bombs; once they are released,
gravity takes over, and they arc down toward their targets. Iron bombs are used most effectively
against unhardened structures.
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Retarded General Purpose Bombs High drag general purpose bombs are similar to the ―Slick‖ iron bombs with one extra feature.
Attached to the bomb casing is a high-drag tail assembly that decreases the speed of the bomb
when it is dropped, allowing the dropping aircraft to escape the blast area when flying at low
altitude. The high-drag tail assembly uses either a ―ballute‖ (parachute like bag) or metal vanes to
produce the high drag. High drag bombs are effective against the same targets as the ―Slick‖, or
low drag, GP bombs.
Cluster Bombs
Cluster bombs are free-fall bombs that deploy multiple ―bomblets‖ on a target area. When a
cluster bomb is dropped on a target, the bomb breaks open, dispensing many smaller shaped-
charge bomblets. Since these bomblets fall over a relatively large area, they are more effective
against spread-out targets. The various types of cluster bombs are made to carry a wide range of
different bomblets, each suited to attack certain targets, such as armor, personnel, structures, radar
sites, and runways.
Fuel Air Explosive Bombs
When dropped, the bomb releases gases into the atmosphere, forming a highly explosive mixture.
A delayed-action fuse ignites the gases, causing the contaminated air to burn. This fireball of
burning gas rapidly expands, incinerating the target area. In the open air, this is sufficient to set off
mines, and flatten soft structures, parked aircraft, and personnel. However, in an enclosed space,
the effect is magnified, blowing apart the walls, floor, and roof of the structure.
Penetrator Bombs These bombs are specifically designed for hardened or subterranean targets. The bomb casing is
made thicker and from higher strength steel, especially in the nose. A Hard Target Smart Fuze
(HTSF) uses an accelerometer and timer to determine when to detonate. It can be set for a variety
of modes which will trigger from various conditions such as detection of a void, achievement of
preset depth, or time delay from impact. Penetrator bombs also frequently have larger warheads to
do more damage to well fortified or deeply buried targets.
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V. Tomahawk Land-Attack Missile (TLAM)
The Tomahawk is a long-range cruise missile developed by the US Navy for both surface and submarine
launch against land targets. TLAM C designates the ―conventional‖ unitary warhead and TLAM D
designates the ―dispenser‖ warhead for bomblet delivery. The TLAM can be launched from the Mk-41
VLS launcher carried on the CG-47 Ticonderoga-class cruisers and DDG-51 Arleigh Burke-class
destroyers. In addition it can be launched by all US attack submarines, either from torpedo tubes, or
specially designed vertical launch tubes. Some of the SSBN-726 Ohio-class ballistic missile submarines
have been converted to cruise missile launching platforms, with their ballistic missile tubes replaced by
TLAM vertical launch tubes.
Guidance
Guidance systems for the Tomahawk consists of an Inertial Navigation System (INS), Terrain Contour
Matching (TERCOM), Digital Scene Matching Area Correlation (DSMAC) and Global Positioning System
(GPS).
Learning Objectives:
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1. Understand how the United States Navy uses strike warfare.
2. Understand the importance of precision strike in accomplishing wartime objectives.
3. Understand and explain the four basic strike options.
4. Understand the advantages and disadvantages of using aircraft vs. cruise missiles.
5. Identify the various strike munitions and how they function.
6. Have a working knowledge of the Tomahawk Land Attack Missile: how it is employed; the
various platforms it can be launched from; how it navigates; and the types of warheads that
can be used with it.
Sources: http://www.fas.org/man/dod
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WEEK 15: USMC STRUCTURE AND ORGANIZATION
I. Mission Definition
The seven-part Mission of the Marines is defined by the National Security Act of 1947, amended in
1952.
1. Provide Fleet Marine Forces with combined arms and supporting air components for service with
the United States Fleet in the seizure or defense of advanced Naval bases, and for the conduct of
such land operations as may be essential to the execution of a Naval campaign.
2. Provide detachments and organizations for service on armed vessels of the Navy and security
detachments for the protection of naval property at naval stations and bases.
3. Develop, in coordination with the Army, Navy, and Air Force, the doctrine, tactics, techniques, and
equipment employed by landing forces in amphibious operations.
4. Provide Marine forces for operations, in coordination with the Army, Navy, Air Force, according to
the doctrine established by the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
5. Develop, in accordance with the Army, Navy, and Air Force, the doctrine, procedures, and
equipment for operations.
6. Expand peacetime components to meet wartime needs according to the joint mobilization plans.
7. Perform such other duties as the President may direct.
II. USMC Mission Competencies
MAGTF operations are built upon a foundation of five special core competencies. The direct result of
more than 225 years of expeditionary experience, these five core competencies define the essence of the
unique Marine institutional culture as well as their role within the national military establishment. Core
competencies are developed from inherent Marine missions, such as expeditionary amphibious operations,
and drive Marines to develop specific sets of skills while executing special roles and missions.
1. Warfighting Culture and Dynamic Decision-making: Marines focus on the force of human
resolve and utilize technology to leverage the chaos and complexity of the battlefield. From early
on, Marines are instilled with a determination to accomplish the mission. Warfighting Culture and
Dynamic Decision-making: Marines focus on the force of human resolve and utilize technology to
leverage the chaos and complexity of the battlefield.
2. Expeditionary Forward Operations: Marines are continuously deployed around the world near
potential trouble spots where they can deter aggression, respond quickly, and resolve crises
whenever called. The naval character and strategically mobile presence enhance cultural and
situational awareness of potential operating areas.
3. Sustainable and Interoperable Littoral Power Projection: Today‘s scalable MAGTFs can access
the world‘s littoral regions on short notice, responding quickly with a force tailored to the mission
at hand. Their partnership with the Navy provides significant organic sustainment capabilities from
the sea and reduces a theater commander‘s requirement to dedicate lift assets to early entry forces.
4. Combined Arms Integration: Marines pioneered development of concepts such as close air support
and vertical envelopment. MAGTFs constantly blend the art and science of commanding,
controlling, training, and executing combined arms operations from air, land, seas and space.
Marines understand the logic and synergy of joint and multinational forces under the ‗Single
Battle‘ concept.
5. Forcible Entry from the Sea: Together, the Navy and Marines provide the Nation with its primary
capability to rapidly project and sustain combat power ashore in the face of armed opposition.
MEFs, reinforced by maritime prepositioned assets when required, allow the US to protect its
worldwide interests, reassure allies, and fortify other elements of national power.
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III. Basic Structure and Organization
The Marine Corps' minimum peacetime structure shall consist of no less than three combat divisions,
three aircraft wings, and such other combat, aviation, and other land services as may be organic, therein.
The Marine Corps will also maintain a fourth division and air wing in the reserve.
The operating forces of the Marine Corps are currently organized into:
(1) Marine Corps Forces Command (MARFORCOM) with headquarters in Norfolk, VA
(2) Marine Corps Forces Pacific (MARFORPAC) with headquarters in Camp Smith, HI
(3) Marine Corps Forces Special Operations Command (MARSOC) with headquarters in
Camp Lejeune, NC.
The operating forces comprise the forward presence, crisis response, and combat power that the Corps
makes available to U.S. unified combatant commanders. The Marine Corps has established three
permanent combatant-level service components in support of unified commands with significant Marine
forces assigned: U.S. Marine Corps Forces (MARFORCOM), U.S. Marine Corps Forces Pacific
(MARFORPAC), and U.S. Marine Corps Forces, Special Operations Command (MARSOC). The
Commander, MARFORCOM is assigned to the Commander, U.S. Joint Forces Command (JFCOM). He
provides the 2d Marine Expeditionary Force (II MEF) and other unique capabilities to JFCOM. Likewise,
the Commander MARFORPAC is assigned to the Commander, U.S. Pacific Command. He provides I and
III MEFs to PACOM. The Commander, MARSOC is assigned to the Commander, Special Operations
Command (SOCOM). He provides assigned forces to SOCOM.
The following is a basic outline of the Marine Corps‘ organization and structure:
1. Marine Air-Ground Task Force (MAGTF): For operations and training, Marine Forces will be
formed into Marine Air-Ground Task Forces (MAGTFs). The MAGTF is the basic structure of
deployed Marines and can operate across a full spectrum of conflicts, including amphibious
operations. They have no standard structure, but rather are constituted as appropriate for the
specific situation/mission. The MAGTF provides a single commander the optimum combined-arms
force for the situation he or she faces. As the situation changes, it may of course be necessary to
restructure the MAGTF. Regardless of its size, a MAGTF is always comprised of four elements:
1.) Ground Combat Element (GCE): Infantry (battalion, regiment, or division) augmented with
tank, artillery, LAV, AAV, combat engineers and reconnaissance assets.
2.) Aviation Combat Element (ACE): Contains aircraft to support the tactical situation. Tactical
helicopters with fixed wing assets for close air support
3.) Combat Service Support Element (CSSE): Provides all necessary logistical support to the
MAGTF including: Transportation, Engineering, Embarkation, Medical/Dental, and Headquarters
and Service.
4.) Command Element (CE)
Although a MAGTF is a task organization tailored to a specific mission, there are three basic types
of MAGTFs: the Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU), the Marine Expeditionary Brigade (MEB), and
Marine Expeditionary Force (MEF). All MEUs complete Special Operations Capable (SOC)
qualifications prior to going afloat. There is also the designation of Special Purpose MAGTF for any unit
size, including up to the whole Marine Corps.
2. Marine Expeditionary Force (MEF): The MEF is the principal war fighting element in the active
force structure of the Marine Corps and is usually commanded by a Lieutenant General. The size
and composition of a deployed MEF varies depending on the needs of the mission. Each MEF has
one to three Marine Expeditionary Units (MEU) assigned to it that deploy throughout the globe.
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3. Marine Expeditionary Brigade (MEB): A MEB, usually led by a brigadier general, is built
around a reinforced infantry regiment, an aircraft group and a Service Support Group. Capable of
rapid deployment and employment via amphibious or airlift methods, it is the first echelon of a
Marine Expeditionary Force.
4. Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU): The smallest task force unit, the MEU has approximately
2,200 personnel and is built around a reinforced infantry battalion, a composite aircraft squadron
and a support group. It is commanded by a colonel and is routinely deployed with an Amphibious
Ready Group. The ground element of a MEU is a Battalion Landing Team (BLT), comprised of a
reinforced infantry battalion of approximately 1,200 Marines, including three Rifle Companies.
The aviation unit of a MEU is a reinforced medium helicopter squadron.
5. Marine Division: There are three Marine divisions in the active force and one in the reserve. It is
the largest Marine ground combat organization of a MEF and is usually commanded by a major-
general.
6. Marine Air Wing (MAW): The largest Marine aviation organization of the MEF, each MAW has
a unique organizational structure and is commanded by a brigadier general.
7. Marine Aircraft Group (MAG): Similar to an Air Force Wing and commanded by a colonel, a
MAG is the smallest aviation unit that is designed for independent operations.
8. Marine Logistics Group (MLG): Formerly called Force Service Support Group, the MLG
provides responsive, quality logistics support to a MEF, other Marine, joint, and combined forces
and federal agencies, as directed, through expeditionary means, forward basing, and global
sourcing.
CO Personnel
and Ships
Self-
Sustain-
ability
Ground
Combat
Element
(GCE)
Aviation Combat
Element (ACE)
Combat Service
Support Element
(CSSE)
Marine
Expeditionary
Unit (MEU)
Col
1,500-
3,000
2-4
amphibious
ships
15 days Battalion
Landing
Team
(BLT)
Marine Medium
Helicopter Squadron
augmented to a
composite helicopter
squadron
MEU Service Support
Group (MSSG) –
formed
from a Marine Logistics
Group (MLG)
Marine
Expeditionary
Brigade
(MEB)
BGen 7,000-
12,000;
up to 25
amphibious
ships
30 days Regimental
Landing
Team
(RLT)
Marine Aircraft
Group (MAG) -
multiple squadrons of
rotary wing aircraft
Brigade Service
Support
Group (BSSG)–formed
from the Marine
Logistics Group (MLG)
Marine
Expeditionary
Force (MEF)
LtGen
30,000-
40,000
60 days Marine
Division
Marine Aircraft Wing
(MAW) - will contain
all types of aircraft
Marine Logisitics
Group - established at
sea and ashore
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IV. Locations
Locations of Major Air/Ground Elements
I MEF: Camp Pendleton, CA
II MEF: Camp Lejeune, NC
III MEF: Camp Courtney, Okinawa, Japan
1st Marine Air Wing: MCAS Butler, Okinawa, Japan
2d Marine Air Wing: MCAS Cherry Point, NC
3d Marine Air Wing: MCAS Miramar, CA
I Marine Division: Camp Pendleton, CA
II Marine Division: Camp Lejeune, NC
III Marine Division: Camp Courtney, Okinawa, Japan
I MLG: Camp Pendleton, CA
II MLG: Camp Lejeune, NC
III MLG: Camp Smedley Butler, Okinawa, Japan
MEU Locations
1. West Coast/1st Marine Division: 11th, 13th, 15th MEUs; deploys to the Pacific and Persian Gulf
2. East Coast/2d Marine Division: 22nd, 24th, 26th MEUs; deploys to the Mediterranean Sea and
Persian Gulf
3. Overseas/ 3d Marine Division: 31st MEU; deploys to the Western Pacific
**MEUs are not standing units. The command element of a MEU is a standing command. The units that
comprise the GCE, ACE, and CSSE rotate after each scheduled deployment. Each particular unit is
―chopped‖ or attached to a MEU for a period of approximately 18 months
Marine Corps Reserves
Marine Forces Reserve (MARFORRES) is located in New Orleans, Louisiana, and serves as the
headquarters for all Marine Reservists and Reserve units. MARFORRES provides policy, guidance,
direction, and support to 104,000 Reserve Marines throughout the U.S. The four subordinate commands of
MARFORRES are the 4th Marine Division, the 4th Marine Aircraft Wing, the 4th
Marine Logistics Group,
and the Marine Corps Mobilization Command in Kansas City, Missouri.
V. Marine Corps Leadership
Marine Corps Leadership: The Marine Corps is commanded by the Commandant of the Marine Corps
(CMC). He is assisted in his duties by the Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps (SMMC). They serve a four-
year term of duty by the direction of the President. The current billet holders at print are:
35th CMC: General James F. Amos, USMC.
17th SMMC: Sgt. Maj. Michael P. Barrett, USMC.
Sources: Marine Corps Organization: http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/agency/usmc/overview.htm
Marine Corps Operation: http://www.dtic.mil/doctrine/jel/service_pubs/mcdp10.pdf
Student Handout Marine Air Ground Task Force Organization:
http://www.lejeune.usmc.mil/mccsss/schools/los/files/lessons/TEO/C102.pdf
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WEEK 16: USMC OPERATIONS AND PLATFORMS
I. Operations
1. Expeditionary Operations – An expedition is a military operation conducted by an armed force to
accomplish a specific objective in a foreign country. Expeditionary operations encompass the entire range
of military operations, from humanitarian assistance to forcible entry in a major theater war. The defining
characteristic of expeditionary operations is the projection of force into a foreign setting. Successful
expeditionary operations require—
Expeditionary Mindset.
Tailored Forces
Forward Deployment.
Rapid Deployment.
Expeditionary Basing.
Forcible Entry.
Sustainment. (MCDP 1-0, pp. 2 – 4-5)
2. Force Projection – Forward-deployed MAGTFs, with their range of capabilities, are designed to enable
the joint force commander to resolve crises and win conflicts. MAGTFs are uniquely suited to support the
national security strategy by rapidly projecting the required capability into a foreign setting to abate the
crisis. This capability is central to the United States ability to safeguard its national interests. Forward-
deployed MAGTFs are prepared to meet a wide array of challenges in their AO. Their presence and
engagement activities help to shape the crisis area. Finally, MAGTFs respond with appropriate force or
capabilities to defeat the enemy, restore order or provide humanitarian relief. The Marine Corps conducts
force projection primarily through the use of MAGTFs conducting expeditionary operations employing
three primary methods: (MCDP 1-0, pp. 2 – 5-6)
Amphibious operations.
MPF operations.
Combination of the above methods.
3. Amphibious Operations – Joint Pub (JP) 3-02, Joint Doctrine for Amphibious Operations, defines an
amphibious operation as a military operation launched from the sea by an amphibious force embarked in
ships or craft with the primary purpose of introducing a landing force ashore to accomplish the assigned
mission. Amphibious operations require a high degree of training and specialized equipment to succeed.
Marine Corps forces are specifically organized, trained, and equipped to deploy aboard, operate from, and
sustain themselves from amphibious ships. They are specifically designed to project land combat power
ashore from the sea.
4. Sustained Operations Ashore – The Marine Corps also has the capability to operate independent of the
sea to support sustained land operations ashore with the Army or coalition partners. The Marine Corps
conducts sustained operations ashore to provide the joint force commander four options when fighting a
land operation. (MCDP 1-0, pp. 2 – 12)
II. Amphibious Warfare
An amphibious operation is a military operation launched from the sea by naval and landing
forces embarked on ships or craft, involving a landing on a hostile or potentially hostile shore.
Amphibious Warfare along with Special Operations, Mine Warfare, and Explosive Ordinance Disposal
are subsumed under the Navy‘s new Expeditionary Warfare Division. This division identifies the naval
and amphibious capabilities required by the Navy of 2010 and beyond. The Expeditionary Warfare
Division ensures the Navy is capable of accomplishing the following missions: sea control and maritime
supremacy, power projection, strategic deterrence, forward naval presence, and strategic sealift.
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In support of these roles, specifically power projection and forward naval presence, Expeditionary Strike
Groups (ESG) have been formed. An ESG is comprised of a traditional Amphibious Ready Group and
embarked Marine Expeditionary Units (MEUs) as well as Cruiser/Destroyer escorts. The ESG
Commanders are either an Admiral or Brigadier General, who are embarked on one of the ships with a
supporting staff. The Navy and Marine Corps team provide the nation the only vehicle for self-sustaining
forcible entry into regions where U.S. access is contested. Amphibious forces must be capable of
performing a wide range of missions, from providing humanitarian assistance and disaster relief to
engaging in major combat operations such as occurred during Operation Iraqi Freedom. Additionally,
these forces can be configured and deployed to operate at various levels of conflict and in multiple theaters
simultaneously. Because they are sea-based with a command element, amphibious forces greatly expand
the available response options. They are particularly well placed to provide a demonstration of U.S.
commitment and resolve to friends and allies as well as adversaries.
Three-ship Amphibious Ready Groups – consisting of a large-deck amphibious assault ship (LHD or
LHA), and amphibious transport dock (LPD), and a dock landing ship (LSD) – carry the MEU and the
helicopters and amphibious assault vehicles that transport Marine combat and support elements ashore.
They also support the operations of the MEU‘s vertical/short take-off and landing aircraft, both helicopter
and fixed-wing that provide the MAGTF with integrated air support.
Phases of Amphibious Warfare (E.M.P.R.A.)
1. Embarkation: The embarkation phase is the period during which the forces, along with their
equipment and supplies, are loaded aboard assigned shipping.
2. Movement: Different elements of the ATF (Amphibious Task Force) move from points of
embarkation to the Amphibious Operations Area (AOA) during the movement phase. This stage is
completed when the various elements of the ATF arrive at their assigned positions in the AOA. During the
movement to the objective area, the Navy uses deceptive measures to confuse the enemy as much as
possible. Some of these tactics include: dispersion of forces, movement along separate routes, and the use
of radio silence combined with electronic deception. In a modern assault, a battle group would be employed
to defend the ATF. With this protection, the ATF would move towards the objective area.
3. Planning: The planning phase encompasses the period extending from the issuance of the initiating
directive by the establishing authority until embarkation. While planning occurs throughout the entire
operation, it is normally dominant in the period before the forces embark the ship. Effective logistics and
combat service support are absolutely critical to the success of any amphibious operation. All
considerations that lead to a successful operation should be dealt with in the planning phase, but may be
modified by the results of the rehearsal. These considerations include, but are not limited to: anticipated
enemy strength, climate and terrain, communication capabilities, length of supply lines, assembly and
embarkation, and target dates.
4. Rehearsal: Rehearsals are necessary to ensure the operation runs smoothly, and changes to the plan
can be made based on the outcome of the rehearsals. A rehearsal may consist of an actual landing or may
be conducted as a command post exercise. During the rehearsal phase, the prospective operation is
practiced for the purpose of testing communications, timing of operations, evaluating combat readiness,
and ensuring all echelons are familiar with the plans.
5. Assault: The action phase can consist of any type of amphibious operation. Since the assault is the
most difficult and the primary type of action, it will be discussed here. The assault phase begins when the
ATF arrives in the operational area and is capable of beginning the ship-to-shore movement, and it ends
with the accomplishment of the ATF mission. The assault sequence is:
a. Preparation of the landing area by supporting arms (gunfire support, TACAIR, and cruise missile
strikes) as well as recon, minesweeping, underwater demolitions, destruction of beach obstacles, and air
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strikes.
b. Ship-to-shore movement of the Landing Force
c. Air and surface assault to seize the beachhead and designated objectives
d. Provision of supporting arms and logistics/combat service support throughout the assault
e. Landing the remaining elements for conduct of operations as required.
NOTE: The order of these phases can be modified if an ATF is forward deployed or completing a
follow-on mission. The sequence then becomes embarkation, planning, rehearsal, movement, and action.
In the rapidly changing international environment, this flexibility is necessary for the success of
amphibious warfare.
Adjacent Operations
1. Subsidiary Landings: Conducted outside main objective area to support the main effort. This
operation can occur before or after the main landing. The purpose of subsidiary landings can be to:
a. Capture a specific position for use in the main landing.
b. Capture an area to deny its use to the enemy in harming the main effort
c. Induce a hostile reaction that will favor the main effort through deception.
2. Supporting Operations: Conducted to support the main landing in various ways. Normally conducted
outside the area of operations of the main landing force. Examples of supporting operations are:
a. Assistance in gaining or maintaining air, ground, or naval supremacy
b. Psychological and unconventional operations
Types of Amphibious Operations
The five different types of amphibious operations are amphibious assault, withdrawal, demonstration, raid,
and other amphibious operations. Each phase has a different objective.
1. Amphibious Assault: The purpose of the amphibious assault is the establishment of an Landing
Force on a hostile or potentially hostile shore.
2. Amphibious Withdrawal: The amphibious withdrawal involves the extraction of forces by sea in
ships or craft from a hostile or potentially hostile shore. A withdrawal from a hostile shore can be made as
a result of a termination of an operation or the redeployment of units to different areas. This is
predetermined but the amphibious withdrawal is based on the situation as well as tactical and strategic
considerations.
3. Amphibious Demonstrations: Amphibious demonstrations are conducted to deceive the enemy with
the exception of deluding the enemy into a course of action favorable to us. Several steps are taken to
make the enemy believe that a landing force is actually taking place. It can even include a partial ship-to-
shore movement.
4. Amphibious Raids: An amphibious operation involving a swift incursion into, or a temporary
occupation of, an objective, followed by a planned withdrawal. Raids are conducted for such purposes as:
Inflicting loss or damage, creating a diversion, executing deliberate deception operations, destroying enemy
information gathering systems to maintain operational security, and capturing/evacuating
individuals/material.
5. Other Amphibious Operations: The capabilities of amphibious forces may be especially suited to
conduct other types of operations, such as noncombatant evacuation operations and foreign humanitarian
assistance.
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III. Weapons and Platforms Aside from the personal weapons of the rifleman, here are some of the additional weapons and platforms
utilized by the Marine Corps.
M240G Medium Machine Gun
Maximum effective range: 1.1 miles (1.8 kilometers) on tripod mount
Maximum range: 2.31 miles (3.725 kilometers)
Rates of fire: Cyclic-650-950 rounds per minute / Rapid-200 rounds per minute / Sustained-100 rounds per minute
MK19 40mm Machine Gun, MOD 3
Maximum range: 2200 meters
Maximum effective range: 1600 meters
Rates of fire: Cyclic-325-375 rounds per minute / Rapid-60 rounds per minute / Sustained-40 rounds per minute
M2 .50 Caliber Heavy Machine Gun
Maximum effective range: 2000 meters with tripod mount
Maximum range: 4.22 miles (6.8 kilometers)
Cyclic rate of fire: 550 rounds per minute
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Tube Launched, Optically Tracked, Wire Guided (TOW) Missile Weapon System
Maximum effective range: 2.33 miles (3.75 kilometers)
M224 60mm Lightweight Mortar
Maximum effective range: 2.17 miles (3490 meters)
Rates of fire: Maximum-30 rounds/minute / Sustained-20 rounds/minute
M-252 Mortar 81mm Mortar
Range: 5,600 meters
Rate of fire: 15 rounds/min sustained
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High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle (HMMWV) (M998 Truck)
High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle (HMMWV) (M1151A1 ECV Armament Carrier)
Primary functions: The HMMWV provides a variety of wheeled vehicle platforms. These are cargo/troop carrier,
armament carrier, TOW missile system carrier, shelter carrier and two ambulance variants (2- and 4-litter).
Light Armored Vehicle-25 (LAV-25)
Primary function: Provide strategic mobility to reach and engage the threat, tactical mobility for effective use of fire
power, fire power to defeat soft and armored targets, battlefield survivability to carry out combat missions.
Range: 410 miles (660.1 kilometers)
Speed: 62 mph (99.2 km/hr)
Swim speed: 6 mph (9.6 km/hr)
Crew: Driver, gunner, commander and 6 troops
Armament: M242 25mm chain gun, M240 7.62mm machine gun mounted coaxial to the main gun
Variants: There are numerous versions of the LAV-25. Each variant is fitted with equipment, personnel, and armament
specific to the mission. The variants are: LAV-AT (Anti-Tank), LAV-M (Mortar), LAV-R (Recovery), LAV-L
(Logistics), LAV-AD (Air Defense), and MEWSS (Mobile Electronic Warfare Support System)
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Mine-Resistant Ambush-Protected (MRAP) Vehicle
Primary function: MRAP Vehicles are V-shaped hulled, raised chassis, armored vehicles with blast resistant
underbodies designed to protect crews from mine and IED blasts as well as fragmentary and small arms threats.
M198 155mm HOWITZER
Primary function: Provides field artillery fire support for all Marine Corps Air Ground Task Force organizations.
Maximum effective range: conventional ammunition-22,400 meters (13.92 miles) / rocket-assisted projectile-
30,000 meters (18.64 miles)
Rate of Fire: Maximum-4 rounds per minute/ Sustained-2 rounds per minute
Crew: 9 enlisted
M777 Lightweight 155mm HOWITZER
Primary function: Provides field artillery fire support for all Marine Corps Air Ground Task Force organizations.
Maximum effective range: 30km
Rate of Fire: Maximum-5 rounds per minute/ Sustained-2 rounds per minute
Crew: 7 enlisted
Improvements: Over 7,000 lbs lighter than the M198 due to titanium construction and hydraulic operation. It
emplaces three times faster, displaces four times faster, traverses 32 percent more terrain worldwide and is 70 percent
more survivable than the M198.
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M1A1 Main Battle Tank
Primary function: Main battle tank (MBT)
Caliber: 120mm (M256 main gun) capable of delivering both kinetic energy (sabot) and chemical energy (heat)
rounds.
Commander's Weapon: M2 .50 Caliber Machine Gun
Loader's Weapon: 7.62mm M240 Machine Gun
Coaxial Weapon: 7.62 M240 Machine Gun
Cruising Range: 289 miles (465.29 kilometers) without NBC system / 279 miles (449.19 kilometers) with NBC
system
Speed: Maximum: 42 miles (67.72 kilometers) per hour (Governed) / Cross Country: 30 miles (48.3 kilometers) per
hour
Crew: 4 – driver, loader, gunner, and tank commander.
Assault Amphibian Vehicle Personnel Model 7A1 (AAVP7A1)
Description: The AAVP7A1 is an armored assault amphibious full-tracked landing vehicle. The vehicle carries troops
in water operations from ship to shore, through rough water and surf zone. It also carries troops to inland objectives
after ashore.
Crew: 3
Cruising Range: Land at 25 MPH: 300 Miles / Water at 2600 RPM: 7 Hours
Cruising Speed: Land: 20 to 30 MPH / Water: 6 MPH
Maximum Speed Forward: / Land: 45 MPH / Water: 8.2 MPH
Maximum Speed Reverse: Land: 12 MPH / Water: 4.5 MPH
Capacity: 21 Combat Equipped Marines
Armament and Ammunition: HBM2 Caliber.50 Machine Gun and MK 19 MOD3 40 MM Machine Gun
Variants: There are two other versions of the Assault Amphibious Vehicle, each fitted with equipment, personnel, and
armament specific to the mission. The variants are: AAVC7A1 (Command Model) and the AAVR7A1 (Recovery
Model).
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AH-1W Super Cobra
Primary function: Attack helicopter
Speed: 147 knots (169.05 miles per hour) in basic combat attack configuration
Range: 256 nautical miles (294.4 miles) in basic combat attack configuration
Ceiling: 18,700 feet (5703.5 meters) in basic combat attack configuration (limited to 10,000 feet (3050 kilometers) by
oxygen requirements)
Crew: 2 pilots
Armament: One 20MM turreted cannon with 750 rounds; four external wing stations that can fire 2.75"/5.0" rockets
and a wide variety of precision guided missiles, to include TOW/Hellfire (point target/anti-armor), Sidewinder (anti-
air) Sidearm (anti-radar).
UH-1N
Primary function: Utility helicopter
Speed: 121 knots (139.15 miles per hour) at sea level
Ceiling: 14,200 feet (4331 meters) (limited to 10,000 feet (3050 meters) by oxygen requirements)
Range: 172 nautical miles (197.8 miles)
Crew: 2 pilots, 2 crewmen
Armament: M-240 7.62mm machine gun or the GAU-16 .50 caliber machine gun or the GAU-17 7.62mm automatic
gun. All three weapons systems are crew-served, and the GAU-2B/A can also be controlled by the pilot in the fixed
forward firing mode. The helicopter can also carry two 7-shot or 19-shot 2.75" rocket pods.
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AH-1Z Viper UH-1Y Venom
Upgrades: The H-1 Upgrades Program (UH-1Y/AH-1Z) replaces the current two-bladed rotor system on the UH-1N
and AH-1W aircraft with a new four-bladed, all composite rotor system that is coupled with a sophisticated, fully
integrated, state of the art cockpit. The UH-1 and AH-1Z also incorporate a new performance-matched transmission, a
four-bladed tail rotor and drive system, and upgraded landing gear. Additionally, structural modifications to the AH-
1Z provide the aircraft with six weapons stations, two more than the AH-1W. The advanced cockpit, common to both
new aircraft, reduces operator workload, improves situational awareness, and provides growth potential for future
weapons and joint interoperability. The cockpit integrates on-board planning, self-contained navigation, and night
targeting and weapons systems in mirror-imaged crew stations.
CH-53D/E Sea Stallion/Super Stallion Helicopter
Primary function: Transportation of equipment and supplies during the ship-to-shore movement of an amphibious
assault and during subsequent operations ashore.
Manufacturer: Sikorsky Aircraft
Speed: D - 130 knots (149.5 miles per hour) / E - 172.5 miles per hour (150 knots)
Range: 690 miles (600 nautical miles)
Armament: Two XM-218 .50 cal machineguns
Crew: 3
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MV-22 Osprey Tiltrotor
Primary function: Amphibious assault transport of troops, equipment and supplies from assault ships and land bases.
Description: The V-22 Osprey is a multi-engine, dual-piloted, self-deployable, medium lift, vertical takeoff and
landing (VTOL) tiltrotor aircraft designed for combat, combat support, combat service support, and Special Operations
missions worldwide. It will replace the Corps' aged fleet of CH-46E and CH-53D medium lift helicopters.
Range: 200nm Pre-Assault Raid with 18 troops or Land Assault with 24 troops / 50 nm (x2) Amphibious Assault / 50
nm External Lift Operations with 10,000 lb load
Cruise Airspeed: 240 kts (MV-22)
F/A-18A/C/CN/D Hornet
Primary function: Intercept and destroy enemy aircraft under all-weather conditions and attack and destroy surface
targets. F/A-18D can also be used for multi-sensor imagery reconnaissance
Cruise speed: High subsonic to supersonic
Combat radius: Fighter mission - 400 nautical miles (460 miles) / Attack mission: 575 nautical miles (661.25 miles)
Armament: Nine external wing stations, comprising two wingtip stations for an assortment of air-to-air and air-to-
ground weapons, including AIM-7 Sparrows, AIM-9 Sidewinders, AMRAAMs, AGM-84 Harpoons and AGM-65
Maverick missiles; two inboard wing stations for external fuel tanks or air-to-ground stations; two nacelle fuselage
stations for Sparrows or AN/AAS-38 Forward Looking Infrared Radar (FLIR) pods; and a center station for fuel tank
or air-to-ground weapons. Air-to-ground weapons include GBU-10 and -12 laser guided bombs, Mk 80 series general
purpose bombs, and CBU-59 cluster bombs. AN M61 20mm six-barrel gun is mounted in the nose and has a
McDonnell Douglas director gunsight.
Crew: F/A-18A/C/CN- 1 pilot
F/A-18D- 2 (pilot and weapons and sensors officer)
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EA-18 Growler
Primary function: Airborne Command and Control (C2W) support to Fleet Marine Forces to include electronic attack
(EA), tactical electronic support (ES), electronic protection (EP), and high speed anti-radiation missile (HARM).
Speed: 1,181 mph
Ceiling: 50,853 ft (15,500m)
Range: 1,458 miles
Armament: AN/ALQ-99 High and Low Band Jamming, AN/ALQ-218 Detection Pods, High Speed Anti-Radiation
Missile (HARM), Joint Stand-Off Weapon (JSOW).
Crew: 2
EA-6B Prowler
Primary function: Airborne Command and Control (C2W) support to Fleet Marine Forces to include electronic attack
(EA), tactical electronic support (ES), electronic protection (EP) and high speed anti-radiation missile (HARM).
Speed: Maximum - .99 mach / cruise - .72 mach
Ceiling: 40,000 feet (12,186 meters)
Range: Unrefueled, combat configuration - 850 nautical miles (977.5 miles) / Refueled -unlimited (crew fatigue factor
- approximately 8 hours)
Armament: ALQ-99 Tactical Jamming System (TJS); High Speed Anti-Radiation Missile (HARM)
Crew: 4 - pilots and electronic countermeasures officers
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KC-130J Hercules
Primary function: Versatile four-engine, tactical aerial refueler for fixed, rotor, and tilt wing arircraft. And assault
support. The KC 130J increases speed by 20% and range by 35% over earlier variants. It also features an improved
air-to-air refueling system and a state of the art flight system.
Crew: 2 pilots, 1 navigator/systems operator, 1 flight engineer, 1 first mechanic, 1 loadmaster (total of 6)
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IV. Emerging Concepts and Technologies Concepts enable decision-makers the ability to identify capabilities and changes to doctrine, organization,
training, and education to create a force for the future. Future operational concepts are general descriptions
of how military forces intend to fight in the future. Services and the joint community have relied
increasingly on operational concepts as the ―engines‖ for their combat development processes. These
concepts also furnish the intellectual basis for experimentation and force development. Increasing
technological advancements will expedite the creation of capabilities articulated in emerging concepts.
Technologically advanced systems will enhance the United States military forces‘ ability to exploit critical
vulnerabilities and rapidly defeat centers of gravity. These centers of gravity will be located and identified
using modern sensors and sophisticated intelligence collection and analysis. Some of the advanced systems
that will provide the enhanced capability to conduct operations are advanced sensors and information
systems; tilt rotor aircraft; vertical and short take-off aircraft; air-cushion vehicles and other hovercraft;
high-speed shallow-draft ships; and the advanced amphibious assault vehicle. (MCDP-1, p. 2 – 13)
Expeditionary Fighting Vehicle (EFV)
F-35 Lightening (Joint Strike Fighter)
STOVL (Short Take-Off, Vertical Landing)
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WEEK 17: NAVAL SPECIAL WARFARE
I. Warfare Definition
Special Operations is characterized by the use of small units with the unique ability to conduct military
actions that are beyond the capability of conventional military forces. These operations often require
covert, clandestine, or low visibility capabilities. Special operations differ from conventional operations in
degree of physical and political risk, operational techniques, mode of employment, independence from
friendly support, and dependence on detailed operational intelligence and indigenous assets.
II. History and Traditions
Emerging from the foundation set by Scouts and Raiders, Naval Combat Demolition Units, and
Underwater Demolition Teams, modern SEAL Teams were first commissioned in January of 1962 by
President John F. Kennedy. SEAL Teams One and Two were established to conduct counter guerilla
warfare and clandestine operations. Their requirement was solidified by actions in Vietnam where they
advised Vietnamese forces, conducted Direct Action missions, and helped rescue downed pilots. Naval
Special Warfare (NSW) forces have participated in every major conflict since then including: Operation
JUST CAUSE in Panama, Operations DESERT SHIELD/STORM in Iraq and Kuwait, Operation
RESTORE HOPE and TF RANGER in Somalia, and other conflicts from South America, to the Balkans to
Haiti to OEF and OIF.
Organized as the maritime component of US Special Operations Command (USSOCOM), Naval
Special Warfare has become a leading operational asset in the current war on terror. The backbone of
NSW has consisted of SEALs (Sea, Air and Land) and SWCC (Special Warfare Combatant-Craft
Crewmen) personnel, volunteer operators put through rigorous training programs like BUD/S and SWCC
School respectively.
To read more about the history of Naval Special Warfare, go to http://www.navsoc.navy.mil/History.html.
III. Operations and Capabilities
SEAL Teams SEAL Teams are comprised of 3 Troops with 2 platoons assigned per Troop (6 platoons/Team), a
Command and Control Element, and a support element that is deployable en masse to stage overseas for
extended periods of time. SEAL Officers lead these various units; their first leadership assignment is a
Squad Commander after completing the training pipeline. While leading experienced, combat proven
enlisted SEALs is challenging for newly trained officers, senior enlisted provide backing and sound advice
for young JOs. SEAL Officers then progress to Platoon Commander (LT) and Troop Commander (LCDR),
all challenging assignments leading SEALs. The SEAL elements are trained to infiltrate their objective
areas by fixed and rotary winged aircraft, Navy surface ships and submarines, vehicles, underwater, or on
foot. Their ability to conduct clandestine, high-risk missions and provide real-time intelligence offers
decision makers excellent situational awareness and provides multiple options to conduct warfare.
SEAL Delivery Vehicle Team (SDVT)
This team is specifically trained to use the Mk-8 SDV as an underwater, clandestine insertion and
extraction platform. The Mk-8 is launched out of a DDS (Dry Deck Shelter) attached to several Navy
submarines. SDV Teams train for the same missions as other SEAL Teams, but focus specifically on
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insertion and extraction using this specialized platform. SEAL Officers lead SDV Platoons and conduct
some of the most challenging missions in NSW.
Special Boat Team (SBT) Special Boat Teams are manned by SWCC, an all enlisted force commonly known as ―boat guys‖.
Junior Surface Warfare Officers with their SWO qualification pin are eligible to become Special Boat
Team Operators after their first tour. Although SWCCs are not SEALs, they have an extremely important
role in NSW. The primary mission of SBTs is the insertion and extraction of SEAL elements. They are
also involved in coastal and riverine missions. The platforms they use include the Mk-V and the 11 meter
Rigid-hull Inflatable Boat (RIB). Junior SEAL officers and/or SWCC Chiefs often command 8-man SBT
detachments like the 11m MCADS (Maritime Craft Aerial Delivery System) an airdropped boat package
for quick over-the-horizon interdiction operations.
IV. Naval Special Warfare Missions
Direct Action
Short-duration strikes and other small-scale offensive actions taken to seize, destroy, capture or recover
in denied areas. Direct Action involves ambush, combat swimmer ship attacks, combat search and rescue;
close quarters combat (CQC), and visit board search and seizure (VBSS).
Special Reconnaissance
Acquiring information concerning the capabilities, intentions and activities of an enemy. Special
Reconnaissance involves counter-sniper operations, hydrographic reconnaissance, and listening and
observation posts.
Unconventional Warfare
Operations conducted by, through and with surrogate forces that are organized, trained, equipped,
supported and directed by external forces. Unconventional Warfare involves training foreign guerrilla
forces or other clandestine operations.
Counter Terrorism
Counter Terrorism involves the prevention, deterrence, and response to terrorism.
Foreign Internal Defense
NSW offers training and other assistance to foreign governments and their militaries to enable the
foreign government to provide for its country‘s national security. Foreign Internal Defense involves
training the security forces of other nations in areas such as internal peacekeeping/law enforcement, border
defense, counter-drug operations and military strategy.
IV. Navy SEAL Training
The training of Navy SEALs consists of two major training periods BUD/S and SQT. BUD/S (Basic
Underwater Demolition/SEALs) is the first step towards becoming a SEAL. The training takes place in
Coronado, CA and lasts at least 6 months consisting of three phases each 7 weeks long, with officers and
enlisted training together. BUD/S is comprised of First Phase, highlighted by Hell Week and Hydrographic
Reconnaissance; Second Phase, where students become proficient in open and closed circuit diving; and
Third Phase, the culmination of BUD/S with an emphasis on small arms training, demolitions and tactics.
Each phase is designed to severely test the candidate‘s leadership and physical and mental abilities. In
addition to the daily physical challenges at BUD/S, officers are expected to lead throughout the training.
After finishing BUD/S, graduates must complete SQT (SEAL Qualification Training), which lasts up to 12
months or more. Training involves extreme environment survival techniques, urban warfare, High Altitude
Low Opening (HALO) parachute training, and many other skill sets. After completing SQT, sailors will
receive the NSW warfare designator, also referred to as the Trident. New SEALs then report to their
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command and could be deployed overseas to combat shortly thereafter or enter the Troop training cycle, an
18-month work-up in preparation for deployment.
V. SWCC Training
Special Warfare Combatant Craft Crewmen training consists of four phases in Coronado, CA and is
only available to enlisted personnel. The first phase is Awaiting Instruction Phase (AIP) a 6-week rotational
phase aimed at improving mental toughness and physical conditioning of SWCC candidates. The second
phase is SWCC orientation lasting 3 weeks. This phase formally introduces candidates to the SWCC
lifestyle and familiarizes trainees with all aspects of the physical requirements. The third phase is Basic
Crewman Training (BCT) and lasts 5 weeks. During this phase, candidates are tested weekly with timed
runs and swims in the pool, bay, and ocean as well as obstacle course runs. They are also taught basic
navigation and small boat seamanship. This phase culminates in a 3-day event called ―The Tour,‖ where
candidates apply all of their training to date over three days in various weather conditions and with little
sleep. The final phase of SWCC training is Crewman Qualification Training (CQT) and lasts 20 weeks.
During this phase, candidates learn intermediate levels of seamanship and navigation and begin learning
about various weapon systems. Furthermore, they become proficient in marksmanship, communications,
engineering, waterborne patrolling, mobility, and combat casualty care.
VI. Naval Special Warfare Craft:
Mark VIII SEAL Delivery Vehicle (SDV)
Mission
The electrically powered Mk VIII SEAL delivery vehicle is designed to deliver up to six
combat swimmers and their equipment. The Mk VIII is a `wet' vehicle, meaning that when it
submerges the hull is completely flooded, the swimmers wearing underwater breathing
apparatus (UBA). The vehicle is carried in a dry deck shelter aboard a US submarine.
Payload Equipment for up to six combat swimmers
Speed 6 kts.
Range 70 miles
Crew 6 (Two operators, Four passengers)
Mark V Special Operations Craft
Mission
Used to carry Special Operations Forces (SOF), primarily SEALs and combat swimmers, into
and out of operations where the threat to these forces is considered to be low to medium. They
also support limited coastal patrol and interruption of enemy activities.
Range 500+ NM
Speed 50 knots (max), 35 knots (cruise)
Payload 5 + 16 troops, 4 zodiacs, multiple heavy weapon mounts
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11M NSW RIB (Rigid-Hull Inflatable Boat)
Mission
High speed, high buoyancy extreme weather craft used to carry Special Operations Forces
(SOF), primarily SEALs, into and out of maritime operations. They also support coastal
patrol and interdiction of enemy activities. Fully interoperable with MK V SOC Combat
Boat.
Range 200+ NM
Speed 45+ Knots
Payload 5 + 8 troops, 2 zodiacs, 2 heavy weapon mounts
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Mine-Resistant Ambush Vehicle (MRAP)
Mission Ground mobility vehicle used to carry SEALs in a variety of terrain. The vehicle is designed to
protect the crew from explosive events.
Range 420 miles
Speed 60+ mph
Payload 8 personnel and gear
VII. Future Capabilities
Naval Special Warfare continues to execute some of the most dynamic missions for the DOD. Future
officers will work in diverse environments from Helmand Province in Afghanistan to the Horn of Africa,
and need to be culturally attuned to a variety of regions. The focus of NSW and USSOCOM is persistent
engagement with our partners and allies around the world. The Commander, USSOCOM, wants a special
operator that can work in a joint and interagency environment, act as a diplomat for our country, and
continue to represent the best quality warrior in the military.
Sources: http://www.sealswcc.com/seal-default.aspx SEAL SWCC History and Information
http://www.sealswcc.com/swcc-default.aspx
http://www.navsoc.navy.mil/history.htm Navy SEAL Information
The US Navy‘s Elite Fighting Force by Mir Bahmanyar with Chris Osman, 2008.
Navy SEALs A History of the Early Years by Kevin Dockery, 2001.
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WEEK 18: EXPLOSIVE ORDNANCE DISPOSAL
I. Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD)
The mission of Navy EOD is: To provide the Fleet with the capability to detect, identify, render safe,
recover, evaluate, and dispose of explosive and/or hazardous ordnance items that have been fired,
dropped, launched, projected, or placed in such a manner as to constitute an increased danger to
operations, installations, personnel, or material.
The EOD core competency encompasses the ability to render safe the following types of Unexploded
Ordnance (UXO):
Ground Ordnance (projectiles, rockets, grenades, landmines)
Air Ordnance (bombs, missiles, aircraft explosive hazards, and dispensed munitions)
Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs)
Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMDs) (chemical, biological, and nuclear weapons)
Underwater Ordnance (mines, torpedoes, and depth charges)
II. EOD History & Overview
The Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) community was officially organized as a warfare community
in July of 1978 as the Special Operations Community, but the core missions and skills of EOD teams were
employed and practiced far before the community‘s birth. A need for ordnance disposal skills was
recognized during WWII, as German and Japanese military operations left behind large quantities of dud-
fired ordnance. Mine Disposal School was founded in May, 1941. Bomb Disposal School was founded in
January 1942 by (then) LT Draper Kauffman; based, in large part, on the British Bomb Disposal model.
The first two Navy EOD commands were established in 1953.
Today, all four services have EOD Technicians, all of whom are trained at the Naval School Explosive
Ordnance Disposal (NAVSCOLEOD). Navy EOD is organized somewhat differently than the other
services in that EOD is its own warfare community in the Navy; in the other services, it is a component of
larger communities. Additionally, Navy EOD Technicians must go through rigorous training that enables
them to operate in more environments. Navy EOD exists today as the only special operations capable
(Land, Sea, Air) Explosive Ordnance Disposal Technicians.
The Navy EOD community is primarily focused around the core competencies of EOD; Underwater
Mine Countermeasures (UMCM), Combat Expeditionary Support (CES), Special Operations Forces (SOF)
support, Anti-Terrorism/Force Protection (AT/FP), and Navy Dive and Salvage Support Operations. Navy
EOD units can deploy as a shipboard detachment with a Carrier or Expeditionary Strike Group, or as a
land-based asset assigned to an Army or Marine Corps unit. Additionally, Navy EOD units are special
operations capable, specifically and uniquely tasked with support to Naval Special Warfare (NSW) and
Army Special Forces (SF).
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III. EOD Competencies & Missions
There is a common misperception that Navy EOD‘s operational environment includes only underwater
operations. This perception is far from the truth; diving is only one mission area in which Navy EOD
Technicians have expertise. Today, most Navy EOD deployments are land based with ground combat units
performing offensive operations:
Mine Countermeasures (MCM)
MCM is made up of three components: EOD personnel (UMCM), surface units (SMCM), and air units
(AMCM). EOD personnel are specifically tasked with detecting and diving on armed underwater ordnance
and conducting Render Safe Procedures (RSPs). Additionally, EOD personnel render safe dud-fired mines,
torpedoes, and depth charges, and conduct searches for and RSPs on limpet mines.
Special Operations Forces (SOF) Support
Navy EOD Technicians lend their expertise to SOF units to ensure they achieve mission success. The
skills learned in the EOD training pipeline lend themselves to participation in these types of operations.
Navy EOD Technicians will participate in advanced training with the SOF unit they are assigned to in order
to support the entire spectrum of operations with which that unit may be tasked.
Anti-Terrorism/Force Protection (AT/FP)/U.S. Secret Service Support
AT/FP is a natural extension of the counter IED skills EOD Technicians learn. Many EOD
Officers assigned to afloat staffs serve as, or work in close conjunction with, the AT/FP Officer.
EOD Technicians regularly perform U.S. Secret Service support in order to mitigate and eliminate
explosive hazards. Additionally, some EOD Shore Detachments work in conjunction with local,
state, and federal bomb disposal agencies to combat terrorist threats.
Expeditionary Diving and Salvage
Expertise in diving is a vital skill needed for the disposal of underwater ordnance. All Navy EOD
Technicians are Navy Divers and are trained in open-circuit SCUBA and the Mk-16 Mod 1, a computerized
re-breather with low magnetic properties.
Though they fall under EOD command, some Navy Divers are not EOD qualified, but instead get
advanced training as Second Class Divers, First Class Divers, Diving Medical Technicians, and Master
Divers, specializing in surface supplied diving, open/closed circuit SCUBA, and diving medicine. These
Divers may be assigned to a Mobile Diving & Salvage Unit, to an EOD Mobile Unit, or another EOD
command.
IV. EOD Organization
The Type Commander (TYCOM) for Navy EOD is the Commander, Naval Expeditionary Combat
Command (NECC). Under the NECC, Navy EOD forces are divided into 2 Groups, EODGRU ONE in
San Diego, CA and EODGRU TWO in Norfolk, VA. Each group contains 4 or 5 Mobile Units (EODMU),
which are comprised of companies and platoons, and a reserve Mobile Unit, referred to as an EOD
Operational Support Unit (EODOSU). The EOD platoon consists of one officer and six to eight enlisted
EOD Technicians. Each Group also contains a Training & Evaluation Unit (EODTEU) and a Mobile
Diving & Salvage Unit (MDSU). There are other EOD major commands that do not fall under one of the
two Groups, but instead fall under the NECC as a separate entity.
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WEST COAST
COMEODGRU ONE (Coronado, CA)
EOD Training & Evaluation Unit 1 (Point Loma,
CA)
EODMU 1 (Coronado, CA)
EODMU 3 (Coronado, CA)
EODMU 5 (Guam)
EODOSU 7 (San Diego, CA)
EODMU 11 (Whidbey Island, WA)
Mobile Diving and Salvage Unit 1 (MDSU-1)
(Pearl Harbor, HI)
EAST COAST
COMEODGRU TWO (Little Creek, VA)
EOD Training & Evaluation Unit 2 (Ft. Story,
VA)
EODMU 2 (Little Creek, VA)
EODMU 4/CTF 56 (Bahrain)
EODMU 6 (Little Creek, VA)
EODMU 8 (NAS Sigonella, Sicily)
EODOSU 10 (Ft. Story, VA)
EODMU 12 (Little Creek, VA)
Mobile Diving and Salvage Unit 2 (MDSU-2)
(Little Creek, VA)
*Additionally, each Mobile Unit has multiple Shore Detachments attached to it. These Shore detachments
provide a fixed regional response capability and are usually located in proximity to a DOD installation.
EOD MAJOR COMMANDS
NAVSCOLEOD, Naval Diving & Salvage Training Center (NDSTC), Commander Task Force 56,
Center for EOD & Diving, Commander Naval Riverine Force, EOD Technology Division, and the Joint
IED Defeat Organization.
V. EOD Training Pipeline
All Navy EOD students, both officer and enlisted, participate in the same training pipeline, broken into
four phases: EOD Diver, NAVSCOLEOD, Jump School, and EOD Tactical Training.
1. EOD Diver COI, Naval Diving & Salvage Training Center (NDSTC)
All Navy EOD personnel begin training at NDSTC in Panama City, FL. There, EOD students complete
the 9-week EOD Diver Course of Instruction (COI) and learn to safely use open circuit SCUBA rigs and
the closed circuit Mk-16 Mod 1 SCUBA re-breather.
2. Naval School, Explosive Ordnance Disposal (NAVSCOLEOD)
From Dive School, EOD students proceed to NAVSCOLEOD, at Eglin AFB, FL. The Navy provides
EOD training to all four of the services. This school lasts nine months for Navy personnel, due to their
additional two months of training in underwater ordnance. The school is very academically and physically
intensive, especially when Navy students reach the Underwater Ordnance Division. Navy students must
demonstrate capability in the following divisions in order to graduate:
Core I
Demolition
Tools & Methods
Core II
Ground Ordnance Division
Air Ordnance Division
Improvised Explosive Devices
Division
Weapons of Mass Destruction
Division
Underwater Ordnance Division
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Upon graduation from NAVSCOLEOD, all personnel (officer and enlisted) are designated as Basic
EOD Technicians.
3. Jump School
Newly graduated Basic EOD Technicians leave NAVSCOLEOD and report immediately to parachute
training at Ft. Benning, GA, or Otay Mesa, CA. EOD Technicians reporting to Ft. Benning will complete
the Army Parachute COI, a three-week course leading to a static line parachuting qualification. EOD
Technicians reporting to Otay Mesa, CA will complete the four-week Navy Parachute COI with Tactical
Air Operations, leading to both a static line and military free-fall qualification.
4. EOD Tactical Training
Regardless of which parachute COI the new EOD Technicians participate in, upon completion they
report to EOD Tactical Training at EODTEU-1 in San Diego, CA. There they will receive training in small
arms, Helo Rope Suspension Technique (HRST) operations, Special Insertion and Extraction (SPIE)
rigging, cast and recovery operations, rappelling, land warfare techniques, and advanced combat first aid.
Once Tactical Training is completed, the EOD Technician reports to a Mobile Unit for assignment to a
platoon.
VI. EOD Warfare Qualification
Officer
When the Special Operations community was realigned as the EOD Community beginning in 2007, the
Personnel Qualification Standards (PQS) (not to be confused with the training pipeline) for enlisted and
officer EOD Technicians became different, much as it is throughout the rest of the Navy. Enlisted EOD
Technicians retain the ―old‖ qualification path. Basic EOD Technicians complete two years of PQS,
demonstrate proficiency, and complete a board to earn their Senior EOD Technician qualification.
Successful completion of an additional three years of PQS, demonstrated proficiency, training, and
scenario-based boards will result in qualification as a Master EOD Technician.
The warfare qualification process is now different for officers. Like their enlisted counterparts, EOD
officers graduate NAVSCOLEOD as Basic EOD Technicians. However, EOD officers no longer complete
Senior and Master EOD qualifications. Instead, new EOD officers must complete a three-year program of
PQS, demonstrated EOD proficiency, demonstrated leadership, and complete a scenario-based oral and
performance based qualification board while leading an EOD platoon. Successful completion of these
requirements leads to qualification as an EOD Officer. The EOD Officer Qualification badge looks exactly
the same as the Master EOD Technician‘s, except it is gold rather than silver/pewter.
VII. Navy Diver Classifications
Not all Sailors who are part of the Navy EOD Community are EOD Technicians. The Navy Diving
community is a subset of the EOD Community. Since all Navy EOD Technicians begin their training
pipeline as Navy Divers, there is a tight bond of common expertise between EOD Technicians and Navy
Divers. The term ―Navy Diver‖ is not a monolith. ―Navy Diver‖ refers to a Sailor who has successfully
completed one of several COI‘s offered at NDSTC (of which the EOD Diver COI is just one). Navy
Divers who are not Navy EOD Technicians can earn the following designations:
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SCUBA Diver
Basic Diver attends a one-month school at NDSTC. They are restricted from ―decompression‖ dives.
Second Class Diver
Attends 4-month long training at NDSTC. 2/C Divers gain proficiency in SCUBA, MK-20, and MK-
21, hyperbaric chamber operations, and diagnosis of diving related casualties.
First Class Diver
Former 2/C Divers who complete the 4-week 1/C Diver COI are then qualified to supervise the dive.
They have more advanced expertise in supervising hyperbaric chamber operations and diagnosing and
treating diving related casualties.
Master Diver
Master Divers must be a Chief Petty Officer. These 1/C Divers return to NDSTC and complete ―Master
Diver evaluations‖ in which they are evaluated in a series of scenarios by a panel of senior Master Divers.
Most candidates will fail to become Master Divers on their first attempt and will have to return a year later
to try again. Master Divers are the Navy‘s diving experts. Regardless of their pay grade, they are
addressed as ―Master Diver.‖
*Most enlisted Divers progress from 2/C Diver through 1/C Diver. Very few are selected as Master Divers.
Dive Medical Officer (DMO)
A Medical Officer who specializes in diving related illnesses.
Dive Medical Technician (DMT)
All DMTs are Hospital Corpsmen (HM) while all other enlisted Divers are rated as Divers (DV). These
Divers complete the 2/C Diver COI and then complete a special DMT COI that further teaches them about
the medical aspects of diagnosing and treating diving illnesses.
Diving Officer (BDO)
An officer who completes the 4-month Basic Dive Officer (BDO) COI becomes a diving officer. These
officers are trained in SCUBA, Mk-20, Mk-21, as well as diving and hyperbaric chamber operations and
supervision. They are directly responsible to the CO for the safe and efficient running of the command
diving program. Many BDOs also complete the Salvage Officer (SO) COI, qualifying them to plan and
lead salvage operations.
VIII. EOD-Specific Tools and Equipment The following list is by no means all-inclusive of the equipment Navy EOD Technicians and Divers use.
Rather, these are examples of some of the most commonly used pieces of equipment.
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Foster-Miller TALON Bomb Robot
Weight: 115-156lbs
Payload capacity: 100lbs
Arm lift: 10lbs at full extension
20lbs total lift
Battery life: 8.5 hours
Cameras: 3 IR-illuminated
Controlled from briefcase-sized Operational Control Unit (OCU)
iRobot EOD Packbot Bomb Robot
Weight: 68lbs
Payload capacity: 46lbs
Arm lift: 10lbs at full extension
30lbs total lift
Battery life: 2-12 hours
Cameras: 4: 2 color, 1 drive, 1 surveillance
Controlled from briefcase-sized Operational Control Unit (OCU)
MK-16 Mod 1 Underwater Breathing Apparatus (UBA)
The Mk-16 SCUBA re-breather produces no bubbles; exhaled CO2 is ―recycled‖ with low acoustic and
magnetic properties. It is electronically driven, the UBA uses 3 oxygen sensors which monitor the partial
pressure of oxygen in the Diver‘s breathing loop and automatically adds O2 if the ppO2 is not within pre-
established parameters. The Diver monitors rig performance through a primary and secondary electronics
display. Divers utilizing the UBA are capable of diving to 300 Feet of Sea Water (FSW). The MK-16 can
use two diluent gases: N2O2 for dives 150 FSW or shallower, or HeO2 for deeper dives.
Percussion Actuated Non-electric (PAN) Disruptor Device used to render safe IEDs remotely without detonating them. The benefit of such a tool is that it
allows Render Safe Procedures (RSPs) to be conducted while the EOD Technician is a safe distance from
the IED.
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MED-ENG EOD IX Bomb Suit This suit provides extensive blast and fragmentation protection. It comes in multiple layers: trousers,
groin protector, torso, and helmet. The IX Bomb suit also incorporates a fan and full body cooling system.
MK-21 Surface Supplied UBA
Fulfills the Navy‘s hardhat, surface supplied diving requirements for deep-sea diving & salvage. The rig
is comprised of a Kirby-Morgan Superlite 17 helmet, an umbilical containing a gas hose, communications
wire, and a pneumofathometer to determine depth. Unlike older surface supplied rigs, the diver is not
enclosed in a full suit; instead he/she wears only the helmet with the attached umbilical. For normal dives,
max depth is 190 FSW on air, 300 FSW if the Diver is breathing HeO2.
Sources:
Navy EOD website: http://www.eod.navy.mil/index.htm
Navy Diver information: https://www.npdc.navy.mil/ceneoddive/eods/
Contains information on platforms: http://www.foster-miller.com/lemming.htm
EOD memorial website: http://www.eodmemorial.org/
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WEEK 19: Restricted Line and Staff Corps
I. Fleet Support Officers
Officers in Fleet Support Community serve in roles that support the operating fleet, primarily through
shore billets. Fleet Support officers are experts at line management ashore of complex facilities with
technical missions and miltiple tenant commands at one base. This community has gone through
significant changes since it was created. In October, 2001, two new Restricted Line communites were
established, information Professional and Human Resources, which were initially filled by Fleet Support
officers.
II. Restricted Line Communities
Engineering Duty Officer
EDOs apply technical expertise, practical engineering judgment, and business
acumen to the research, development, design, acquisition, construction, life cycle maintenance,
modernization, and disposal of ships and submarines and their associated warfare support systems.
EDOs work in Fleet Maintenance & Industrial Management (50%), Acquisition (20%), and Systems
Engineering (30%).
Aerospace Engineering Duty Officer
AEDOs provide professional management and technical direction in the entire air weapon system
acquisition process from design to production and later product improvements of Naval aircraft, spacecraft,
and weapons. Over one-third of AEDO billets are flying billets. AEDOs test and evaluate new aircraft,
weapons systems, and weapons in various stages of development. Throughout a career, the AEDO will
have billets in: (1) operational support activities; (2) headquarters; (3) research, development, test, and
evaluation; and (4) manufacturing and production.
Aerospace Maintenance Duty Officer
AMDOs provide full time direction in the development,
establishment, and implementation of maintenance and material management policies and procedures
for the support of naval aircraft, airborne weapons, attendant systems and related support equipment.
The community includes approximately 500 officers. In addition to working in fleet maintenance
organizations throughout the fleet, AMDOs are very much involved in all aspects of material acquisition
and support as top-level Program Managers in NAVAIR and as Commanding Officers of the Naval
Aviation Depots. AMDOs and AEDOs are combined into a new, single competitive category at the
Captain level.
Naval Intelligence
Naval Intelligence provides tactical, operational and strategic intelligence support to
U.S. naval forces, joint services, multi-national forces, and executive level decision-makers. Naval
Intelligence Officers have a wide variety of technical and non-technical academic backgrounds,
Including political science, modern history, physical and natural sciences, and the liberal arts. There are
approximately 1,350 Naval Intelligence Officers.
Information Warfare
Formerly known as Cryptology, there are over 800 Navy Information Warfare
officers, who perform Naval Information Operations functions as directed by the Chief of Naval
Operations afloat and ashore, and National Signals Intelligence tasks assigned by the Director, National
Security Agency at NSA facilities ashore. These functions include: -Information Operations (IO,
comprised of Electronic Warfare-EW, Operational Security-OPSEC, Military Deception-MILDEC,
Computer Network Operations-CNO, and Psychological Operations-PSYOP) support on board ships,
submarines and aircraft and ashore -Signals Intelligence/EW tasks assigned under CNO authority
(generally afloat) and DIRNSA (ashore) -Information Operations to maximize friendly use of the
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electromagnetic spectrum and to minimize adversary IO efforts
Public Affairs Officers
The Public Affairs community is responsible for "Telling the Navy Story." Navy
Public Affairs comprises three functional areas:
1. Media Operations: PAOs work with media outlets to communicate with the American public.
2. Internal Communications: PAOs produce publications, briefings and video news programs to
communicate with Sailors, their families, reservists, retirees and civilian employees.
3. Community relations: PAOs reach out to the American public through "hands-on" programs like
public tours, Congressional and VIP visits and embarks, speaking engagements, open houses and
special events.
PAOs serve at sea, ashore, and in joint assignments, and are always deployed where Navy news is being
made. All PAOs join the community through lateral transfer. Today there are about 190 officers in this
community, the smallest in the Restricted Line.
Navy Oceanographers
The Naval Oceanography community collects, analyses, and then distributes
data about the ocean and the atmosphere to Navy forces operating all over the world. Naval
oceanographers are first on the scene - either literally in survey ships, or figuratively through computer
prediction programs - in any military operation. There are approximately 430 Oceanography officers.
They assist the war fighter in taking tactical advantage of the environment. They support the operational
fleet from a variety of platforms. This can range from local area weather forecasting in support of
aircraft carrier operations to optimizing the use of a sonar system in accordance with prevailing
underwatersound conditions.
Information Professionals
The Information Professional Community is responsible for offensive and
defensive Navy information operations to support requirements of theatre and operational commanders
and national policy makers. They provide expertise in information, command and control, and space
systems through the planning, acquisition, operation, maintenance, and security of systems that support
Navy operational and business processes. Presently, there are billets for 535 officers.
Human Resources
The Human Resources community plans, programs, and executes life-cycle
management of the navy‘s most important resource – its people. The primary focus will be on the
human resources system: the combined elements of manpower, personnel, training, and recruiting.
There are billets for 570 officers in this community, under the direction of the Chief of Naval Personnel.
III. Staff Corps Communities
There are five Navy Staff Corps communities: Medical, Supply, Civil Engineer, Judge Advocate
General, and Chaplain.
Medical Community All officers in the Medical, Medical Service, Dental, and Nurse Corps are licensed medical
professionals and are organized under the Bureau of Medicine and Surgery.
Medical Corps
The Medical Corps consists of commissioned doctors who are responsible for maintaining the general
health of personnel in the naval service. These doctors provide medical services, and administer
hospitals, sick bays, and other medical facilities in the Navy. For squadrons of small ships, a medical
officer may serve the entire squadron. Large ships usually have their own medical officer.
Medical Service Corps
This is the most highly diversified Corps within the Medical Community. Officers in this corps are
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specialists in clinical, scientific, and administrative health care fields. The Medical Service Corps now
has approximately 2,600 officers. Health care scientists and clinical care specialists make up about 60
percent of the total Corps, serving in 22 different specialties including aerospace physiology,
psychology, physical therapy, optometry, biochemistry, and radiation health, while health care
administrators comprise the remaining 40 percent.
Dental Corps
Commissioned dentists provide dental services on shore and onboard large ships. Dental Corps officers
are responsible for surgery, orthodontics, preventing and controlling dental disease, and supervising
dental hygiene. Many small ships do not have dental officers.
Nurse Corps
As professional registered nurses, Nurse Corps officers use nursing expertise to accomplish the health
services mission. Today, there are approximately 5,200 active duty and reserve Nurse Corps officers.
They care for many patients whose illnesses and injuries are no different from those found in civilian
facilities. They also care for those with battle injuries or conditions resulting from fleet operations,
chemical/biological warfare, or parasite-infested environments.
Supply Corps
Supply Corps officers handle the supply phases of naval logistics. The broad responsibilities of the
Supply Corps are closely related to those of many executive positions in private industry and embrace
such areas as financial management, inventory control, transportation, procurement, data processing,
and personnel services, including feeding U. S. naval forces and operating the Navy's Exchanges. The
2,900 Supply Officers are the business managers of the Navy and they are responsible for the supply
support of the ships of the active fleet and hundreds of naval shore installations. The most important
responsibility of the Supply Corps is the worldwide, integrated Navy Supply System, which gets the
Fleet what it needs, where and when it needs it.
Civil Engineer Corps
Naval Officers of the CEC supervise and execute construction projects, infrastructure repairs, facility
support contracts, real estate management, nature resource management, environmental remediation,
and many other aspects of facilities engineering. As engineering managers in highly visible positions
supervising numerous skilled personnel, they perform functions that are usually reserved for the most
senior engineers in the private sector. CEC Officers work in one of three areas: construction contract
management, public works, or the Seabees. Contract management officers are involved in all aspects of
construction contracts. In public works, they are responsible for the operation and maintenance of
complex facilities and utility systems found at shore activities. The Seabees consist of highly skilled
personnel, schooled in both construction and defensive combat. Seabees may be deployed around the
world to perform contingency construction, provide humanitarian relief, support amphibious operations,
or accomplish important construction tasks.
Judge Advocate General Corps
The JAG corps was established in 1967 and is composed of lawyers who provide legal services to
commands, service members, and their families. The Judge Advocate General directs an organization of
more than 730 judge advocates in addition to other enlisted and civilian personnel, and provides legal
and policy advice to the Secretary of the Navy in all legal matters.
Chaplain Corps
Officers in the Chaplain Corps are ordained ministers of various denominations and religions
recognized
by the Department of Defense. They provide religious ministries to naval service personnel and
families, including worship services, religious education, pastoral counseling, and basic promotion of
spiritual and moral welfare. Chaplains work on shore, on ships, and in the field with all branches of the
naval service. Lateral transfers into the Chaplain Corps are not allowed.
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Medical Corps Dental Corps Nurse Corps Medical
Service Corps Civil Engineer
Corps
Chaplain Corps
(Christian) Chaplain Corps
(Jewish) Chaplain Corps
(Muslim) Supply Corps
Judge Advocate
General's Corps
IV. The Limited Duty Officer and Chief Warrant Officer Programs
Limited duty officer and chief warrant officer are two separate programs which provide the Navy with
officer technical managers and technical specialists who exercise leadership in key positions throughout
the service. Both programs provide the opportunity for outstanding senior enlisted personnel to
compete for a commission without need for a college degree. Combined, these two communities make
up more than eleven percent of the officer corps.
Limited Duty Officers (LDOs)
As officer technical managers of the Line or Staff Corps, LDOs progressively advance within broad
technical fields related to their former enlisted ratings. They fill leadership and management positions at
the ensign through captain level that require technical background and skills not attainable through
normal development within other officer designators. LDOs serve as, but are not limited to serving as,
division officers, department heads, OICs, XOs and COs, ashore or afloat. LDOs wear identical rank
structure to that of Unrestricted Line officers.
Navy Band
Officers in the Navy Band are Limited Duty Officers who started their careers by enlisting in
the Navy Band. Enlisted personnel must be at least an E-6 in order to apply. Upon
commissioning, they are assigned to one of fourteen bands, and will rotate every two to three
years. Senior billets are those with the Navy Band, Washington, and the US Naval Academy
Band.
Chief Warrant Officers(CWOs)
Today, as commissioned officers of the line or staff, Navy CWOs possess the authority and are qualified
by extensive experience and knowledge to direct the most difficult and exacting operations within a
given occupational specialty. Although intended primarily as technical specialists, CWOs may also
serve as division officers, department heads, OICs, X0 and CO, ashore or afloat. Like Staff Corps
officers, CWOs wear special insignia above the rank devices on their shoulder boards and sleeves to
indicate their field of expertise. The ranks of CWO start at CWO2 and end at CWO5.
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Chief Warrant Officer
Rank Structure of the
United States Navy
CWO5 CWO4 CWO3 CWO2
V. Differences between Unrestricted Line, Restricted Line, and Staff Corps Officers
Unrestricted Line officers serve in all warfare communities in the United States Navy and are eligible
for command opportunities both at sea and ashore. These are the primary officer communities in the
Navy.
Restricted Line Officer communities provide highly specialized, technical services that directly support
the missions of the United States Naval Service. Restricted Line officers are not generally eligible for
command at sea; however, they may command auxiliary vessels and various shore activities. Restricted
Line officers wear rank insignia identical to those of Unrestricted Line officers.
Officers in the Staff Corps provide various highly specialized services necessary to Naval bases, service
members, and their families. Staff Corps officers may command auxiliary vessels and various shore
activities, and may also attain command within their own corps. Unlike Line officers, Staff Corps
officer wear their grade (rank) insignia on the right collar, and their corps insignia device on the left
collar. The corps insignia replaces the star worn by line officers on sleeves and shoulder boards.
Sources: Restricted line information: http://www.public.navy.mil/bupers-npc/boards/activedutyofficer/Pages/ RestrictedLine.aspx
Staff Corps information: http://www.public.navy.mil/bupers-npc/boards/activedutyofficer/Pages/
StaffCorps.aspx
List of Staff Corps billets: http://dictionary.sensagent.com/list+of+united+states+navy+staff+corps/en-en
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WEEK 20: COMPUTER NETWORK OPERATIONS
I. Foundation – Information Operations
Complimentary to kinetic action in war, Information Operations (IO) are essential for information
superiority and success in conflict.
IO is the integrated employment of the core capabilities of Electronic Warfare (EW), Computer
Network Operations (CNO), Psychological Operations (PSYOP), Military Deception (MILDEC), and
Operational Security (OPSEC), in concert with specified supporting and related capabilities, to influence,
disrupt, corrupt or usurp adversarial human and automated decision making while protecting our own.
With the increase in global connectivity and availability of technology, Computer Network
Operations (CNO) has become increasingly important and will be the focus on this chapter.
II. History
US Cyber Command (USCYBERCOM) was established by the Secretary of Defense in October 2009 as
the first joint command charged with operational command of the cyber domain. It falls directly under US
Strategic Command (USSTRATCOM) and reflects a shift in military strategy as a response to international
threats in the digital realm. FLTCYBERCOM (10th
FLEET) is the Naval component of that command.
FLTCYBERCOM Mission:
―To serve as central operational authority for networks, intelligence, cryptology/SIGINT,
information operations, cyber, electronic warfare, and space in support of forces afloat and ashore;
operate a secure, interoperable Naval network; coordinate Navy’s operational requirements for
intelligence, information operations, networks, cryptology/SIGINT, and space capabilities.”
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III. Operations
Warfighters in the Air, Land, and Sea environments heavily rely on the Global Information Grid (GIG)
for information communication and dissemination. CNO is comprised of computer network attack,
computer network defense, and related computer network exploitation enabling operations which take place
in, and around, the GIG in both physical and cyber space:
Cyberspace A global domain within the information environment consisting of the interdependent network of
information technology infrastructures, including the Internet, telecommunications networks, computer
systems, and embedded processors and controllers.
Cyberspace Operations The employment of cyber capabilities where the primary purpose is to achieve objectives in or through
cyberspace. Such operations include computer network operations and activities to operate and defend the
Global Information Grid.
Global Information Grid (GIG) The globally interconnected, end-to-end set of information capabilities, associated processes and
personnel for collecting, processing, storing, disseminating, and managing information on demand to
warfighters, policy makers, and support personnel. The Global Information Grid includes owned and leased
communications and computing systems and services, software (including applications), data, security
services, other associated services and National Security Systems.
Computer Network Attack (CNA) Actions taken through the use of computer networks to disrupt, deny, degrade, or destroy information
resident in computers and computer networks, or the computers and networks themselves.
Computer Network Defense (CND)
Actions taken to protect, monitor, analyze, detect, and respond to unauthorized activity within the
Department of Defense information systems and computer networks.
Computer Network Exploitation (CNE) Enabling operations and intelligence collection capabilities conducted through the use of computer
networks to gather data from target or adversary automated information systems or networks.
IV. Computer Network Defense
Information Assurance (IA) is a measure or combination of measures that protect and defend
information and information systems by ensuring availability, integrity, authentication, confidentiality, and
non-repudiation. This includes providing for restoration of information systems by incorporating
protection, detection, and reaction capabilities. Computer Network Defense Consists of:
1. Availability – Timely, reliable access to data and information systems for authorized users, and
precludes denial of service or access.
2. Integrity – Protection of information against unauthorized modification or destruction.
3. Authentication – Verifying the identity of an individual or entity and the authority to access
specific categories of information.
4. Confidentiality – The protection of both sensitive and classified information from unauthorized
disclosure.
5. Non-repudiation – Assurance to the sender of data with proof of delivery and to the recipient of the
sender‘s identity, so that neither can later deny having processed the data.
The United States classifies and protects its information so that only the right people see the right data at
the right time. The United States government classification system is established an executive order issued
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by the President. The current executive order lays out the system of classification, declassification, and
handling of national security information generated by the U.S. government and its employees and
contractors, as well as information received from other governments.
The desired degree of secrecy about such information is known as its sensitivity. Sensitivity is based
upon a calculation of the damage to national security that the release of the information would cause. The
United States has three main levels of classification: confidential, secret, and top secret. Each level of
classification indicates an increasing degree of sensitivity. Thus if one holds a top-secret security clearance,
one is allowed to handle information up to the level of top-secret including secret and confidential
information. If one holds a secret clearance, one may not then handle top-secret information, but may
handle secret and confidential classified information.
Unclassified – Unofficial or potentially official information which does not require the application
of security safeguards, but the disclosure of which may be subject to control for other reasons.
Confidential – National security information or material that requires protection and the
unauthorized disclosure of which could reasonably be expected to cause damage to national security.
Secret – National security information or material that requires a substantial degree of protection
and the unauthorized disclosure of which could reasonably be expected to cause serious damage to
national security.
Top Secret – National security information or material that requires the highest degree of protection
and the unauthorized disclosure of which could reasonably be expected to cause exceptionally grave
damage to the national security.
Regardless of sensitivity level, information that is classified may be given only to people with the
appropriate clearance and a valid need to know the information. Having a Top Secret clearance does not
give one access to all documents classified at that level. In addition, dissemination of information is often
compartmentalized, requiring special additional clearance requirements to reduce the number of people
who have access to extremely sensitive data. Special clearances are required for access to cryptographic
and nuclear secrets.
The GIG consists of multiple networks of different classification. The DoD‘s Non-secure Internet
Protocol Router Network (NIPRNET) consists of millions of computers connected to the internet with
complete access to the World Wide Web. The DoD also maintains a separate network called the SIPRNET
(Secret Internet Protocol Router Network) which is not connected to the Internet, but uses the same
technology as the internet. The SIPRNET is used to store and transmit classified information up to the
secret level. Likewise the DoD maintains other separate networks that use the same technology as the
internet but are also separated into different data classifications.
An applicable tactic the DoD uses to protect its networks is a layered defense called Defense in Depth.
Defense in Depth is the stationing of mutually supporting defense positions designed to absorb and
progressively weaken attack, prevent initial observations of the whole position by the enemy, and to allow
the commander to maneuver the reserve.
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In the cyber environment, it keeps its applications up to date with security patches and other fixes to
prevent the application from harming the network or allowing data to be shared with the wrong parties.
Further, it restricts certain applications that are known to either be very vulnerable or those that are
commonly used to exploit DoD networks. For the same reasons, the DoD dictates the operating system
(host) allowed on each network. Then, it places physical technology in the inside and perimeter of each of
its networks to act as a gate keeper, allowing only authorized network traffic in and out of the network.
With physical access to communications and computer equipment, enemies of the DoD could easily
penetrate our defenses and get unauthorized access to data. Finally, the DoD puts policies and procedures
in place to prevent unauthorized access to data and to ensure that each DoD mission is performed as
expected.
V. Computer Network Attack
Attacking a network may be for many reasons including: financial gain, intelligence gathering, sabotage,
mission disruption, or gaining a foothold within a network for future actions. While many of these attacks
have a technical component that will not be covered in this chapter, most attacks start with a person who
has a computer and an account on a DoD network. Some common attacks are listed below, with associated
defenses to protect against these attacks. NOTE: The most vulnerable parts of the network are the people
who use the system.
______________________________________________________________________________
Attack: Social Engineering
Description: An attacker finds information from public sources that, when pieced together, can be used to
break into a system.
Defense: Recognizing available personal public information and controlling it.
Example: An acquaintance gets access to your Facebook page, sees personal information, USNA
information, or summer training information, and can now collate open source intelligence (OSINT) based
off of that information or pose as you while contacting a website ―help desk‖ to get access to other
websites.
______________________________________________________________________________
Attack: Phishing
Description: A high-tech scam that uses e-mail or websites to deceive you into disclosing your credit card
numbers, bank account information, Social Security Number, passwords, or other sensitive information.
This is not only personally dangerous, but also places DoD networks at risk.
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Defense: Pay close attention to e-mails or web sites asking for personal or system information. Rarely are
these legitimate e-mails. Verify all requirements for personal information over the phone, in person or
using an independent means of verification. Rather than hitting reply (which may not go to the person you
think) or simply clicking on the link, actually find their e-mail address and type it.
Example: You get a legitimate looking e-mail from Navy Federal Credit Union noting that, for security
reasons, you need to update your account. When you go to that link it asks you your name and account
number, possibly the last 4 digits of your social security number, and for verification it asks you your
Mother's maiden name or other personal information. From this data, the attacker has access to a wealth of
information.
____________________________________________________________________________
Attack: Spoofing and Redirection
Description: Unauthorized use of legitimate Identification and Authentication (I&A) data, however it was
obtained, to mimic a subject different from the attacker. Impersonating, masquerading, piggybacking, and
mimicking are forms of spoofing.
Defense: Always look to see if the link matches the expected link. Type in the complete URL of the
website; don't click on links in e-mail.
Example: You get an e-mail that looks like it comes from the Commandant that says to click on a link for a
recent policy update. When you click on the link, it takes a while to open. When it does, the policy is either
blank or clearly not from the Commandant. Although you ignore it, an attacker has loaded a program on
your system which logs every keystroke, so they now have access to all of your passwords and key
documents.
______________________________________________________________________________
Attack: Software Vulnerability/malware
Description: A single program can have millions of lines of code making it very difficult to secure every
line. Hackers use vulnerabilities in existing programs, or create their own programs, to break into systems
and gain access to unauthorized data
Defense: Keep your security patches and antivirus signatures up to date.
Example: You notice that your virus checker takes about two minutes to load. Not wanting to wait, you
disable your virus checker and use the internet. You have likely "infected" your system with programs
designed to allow an attacker to gain full access to your system and data.
______________________________________________________________________________
Attack: Password Cracking
Description: Passwords are stored as encrypted characters for most applications. If an attacker has access
to the location where these passwords are stored they can break them either by brute force (going through
every combination) or by pre-computing all possible combinations and looking up the encrypted characters
and matching it to the pre-encrypted password.
Defense: Make password cracking far more complex by using passwords of greater than 14 characters,
using phrases or letters from the first word of every phrase rather than a single word; ensuring your
password makes use of upper and lower case letters, numbers and special characters; using a different
password for different applications so that if one is compromised, the attacker does not have access to all of
your systems.
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Example: In Microsoft Windows, a password of 14 characters of a-z, A-Z and 0-9 can be cracked in less
than a minute due to readily available lookup tables. Assume a password of 14 of the same characters. By
adding 2 special characters (!@#$%^&*(), that password could increase the same password cracking effort
to months or even years.
______________________________________________________________________________
Attack: Intercepting Traffic
Description: All network traffic that is not encrypted can be fully read by an attacker with readily available
free software; including passwords, personal data and key mission data.
Defense: Ensure you are using "secure", meaning encrypted, network traffic any time you are putting
personal information, passwords or sensitive information into forms on the network. If given a message that
a site certificate may not be valid, click into the information to discover who signed the data (most military
sites are signed by DoD, VeriSign for non-DoD Sites). If not a valid site, do not click on that link or put in
the personal information.
Example: You go to your Navy Knowledge Online site, and get a message that the certificate may not be
valid. You click into the certificate and see that it has been signed by abc.com not the Department of
Defense as noted below. That site is likely a "phishing" site, trying to gain information that you would
normally put into the real Navy Knowledge Online. NOTE: ―https://‖ not ―http://‖ is an indicator of a
secure website.
______________________________________________________________________________
Attack: Security Hopping
Description: An attacker has access to one machine; they use that information to gain access to other
machines on the same network or different networks using the same passwords.
Defenses: Use different passwords for different systems; Never disable the security features of your USNA
accounts, since these accounts are connected (outside the Academy) to Navy and DoD networks.
Example: You disable your virus checking for two minutes while going to a web site. Without your
knowledge software loaded to your computer, an attacker takes control of your machine and a common
printer to which that computer is attached. The attacker the connects to another computer connected to that
networked printer and continues this process until he connects to a Navy computer outside the Academy. If
enough people in this chain bypass security measures, it doesn't take long for the attacker to have control of
thousands of Navy computers with valuable logistics and ship movement information.
______________________________________________________________________________
Attack: Improper use of a CAC
Description: A Common Access Card (CAC) provides physical and/or electronic identification.
All DoD employees are issued a Common Access Card. Your midshipman ID is a CAC. In addition to key
personal information like your fingerprint, Social Security number, birthday, and military service
information, it also contains private encryption keys embedded in the gold seal. These encryption keys (or
certificates) enable users to log onto certain sensitive DoD sites that would be otherwise denied to those
without Common Access Card‘s. Losing a CAC puts the entire DoD network at risk since only a single
point of entry is needed for an intruder to attack it and jump to "secure" sites throughout the entire DoD.
Defenses: If you loose your CAC (even if you find it later in a public place where an attacker could have
copied it), you should report it immediately.
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Sources: USNA Annual Training: Information Assurance
US Strategic Command: US Cyber Warfare Command
http://www.stratcom.mil/factsheets/Cyber_Command/
Defense in Depth (PDF File): www.nsa.gov/ia/_files/support/defenseindepth.pdf