Acting Secretary of the Navy Address

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.

The nature of conflict is rapidly evolving, and the Marine Corps is evolving with it. Join us for a first look at Ground Combat Element 2040, a bold vision for the future of Marine Corps ground forces. This presentation will unveil how the GCE is being reimagined to dominate the multi-domain battlefields of tomorrow. Discover how we are integrating advanced robotics, artificial intelligence, and next-generation technologies not to replace, but to amplify the lethality and decision-making of the individual Marine. See how GCE 2040 ensures our warfighters remain the most critical weapon in our arsenal, creating a human-centric force that is more lethal, resilient, and prepared to outpace any future threat.

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.