Ground Combat Element 2040: Technological Dominance Through a Marine-Centric Approach

Everyone Fights: A Senior Enlisted Perspective on Preparing Marines for the Next 250 Years is a panel including the 20th Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps, alongside Force Level sergeants Major. The discussion will focus on what it really means to man, train, and equip the enlisted force, balancing today’s operational demands, with the responsibility of preparing Marines for the future fight.

Recapitalization of our aging Maritime Prepositioning ships to support the MAGTF operating in the future threat environment is a critical enabler of the recently signed First-to-Fight Capstone Concept and aligns with the sustainment and distribution capabilities provided by the Global Positioning Network (GPN).  GPN is a network of ashore and afloat prepositioning nodes enabled through contracting, leveraging Joint Logistics Enterprise (JLENT) resources, and regular campaigning by the FMF.  As highlighted by the shift in focus with the National Defense Strategy and Force Design, the modernization of the maritime prepositioning with characteristics centered around access will provide greater depth and agility to forces operating in distributed maritime environments. 

We must invest in a prepositioning capability that is both regionally aligned and globally responsive to form the backbone of resilient sustainment and distribution network. Platforms must be capable of accessing austere ports to rapidly deliver tailored supplies and sustainment for concepts like Expeditionary Advanced Base Operations (EABO), Distributed Aviation Operations (DAO), & Distributed Maritime Operations (DMO), all while possessing the endurance to operate globally. A future MAGTF supported by the modernized GPN, is essential to ensure our forces can operate in any domain and maintain our strategic and operational advantage.

As the Marine Corps advances through Force Design implementation, TECOM is transforming training and education to meet the demands of a rapidly evolving battlefield. Grounded in MAGTF combined arms and maneuver warfare principles and informed by contemporary conflict, the Corps is adapting to challenges such as ubiquitous surveillance, long-range fires, contested logistics, degraded command and control, and the proliferation of unmanned systems and AI. This panel will examine how initiatives such as Training and Education 2030 and Project Tripoli are modernizing the T&E enterprise to increase Fleet Marine Force lethality and readiness within the Joint Force.