Libraryofthe MarineCorps 3000238053 MCDP1-0 Marine Corps Operations US Marine Corps DISTRIBUTION STATEMENTA: Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited. PCN 142 000014 00 To OurReaders Changes: Readers ofthis publication are encouraged to submit suggestions and changes through the Universal Need Statement (UNS) process. The UNS submission pro- cesss is delineated in Marine Corps Order 3900.15A, Ma- rine Corps Expeditionary Force Development System, which can be obtained from the Marine Corps Publications Electronic Library Online (universal reference locator: http://www.usmc/directiv.nsf/web+orders). The UNS rec- ommendation should include the following information: • Location ofchange Publication number and title Current page number Paragraph number (ifapplicable) Line number Figure or table number (ifapplicable) • Nature ofchange Addition/deletion oftext Proposed new text Additional copies: A printed copy ofthis publication may be obtained from Marine Corps Logistics Base, Alba- GA ny, 31704-5001, by following the instructions in MCBul 5600, Marine Corps DoctrinalPublications Status. An electronic copy may be obtained from the MCCDC Doctrine world wide web home page which is found at the following universal reference locator: https://www.doctrine.usmc.mil. Unless otherwise stated, whenever the masculine gender is used, both men and women are included. DEPARTMENT OF THENAVY HEADQUARTERS UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS WASHINGTON, D.C. 20380-1775 9 August 2011 FOREWORD First published in September 2001, Marine Corps Doctrinal Publica- tion (MCDP) 1-0, Marine Corps Operations, provided a bridge between the maneuver warfare philosophy articulated in our first nine MCDPs and the tactics, techniques, and procedures contained in our warfighting and reference publications. It focused on describing the role ofthe Marine Corps component in providing, sustaining, and deploying Marine Corps Forces atthe operational level ofwar and on how the largest ofour Marine air-ground task forces (MAGTFs), the Marine expeditionary force, conducted operations at the tactical level. Developedjust prior to, and published shortly after, the momentous events of 1 1 September 2001, the original edition reflected the language and operational constructs prevalent withinjoint doctrine at thattime. Key among them were the notions of"war" versus "military operations otherthan war," as well as the unstated, but imbedded, beliefthat the ability to defeat a conventional adversary granted the ability to succeed against "lesser" foes. Since then, Marines have successfully conducted a wide variety ofexpeditionary missions. These missions have included the projection ofa landing force from amphibious ships in the Indian Ocean more than 400 miles inland into Afghanistan; a mechanized attack from Kuwait to Baghdad, followed by prolonged counterinsurgency operations to pacify major portions ofIraq; and numerous foreign humanitarian assistance and crisis response operations worldwide. Critical to the success ofthese missions was the role played by forward-postured, sea-based forces and resources that were employed singly or with others and surged from dispersed global locations. Crisis response has — — long been the stock-in-trade of indeed the rationale for forward-deployed, sea-based Marines; however, Marines have also become a force ofchoice for various engagement activities employed by the geographic combatant commanders to build partnerships and proactively shape what is now called the operational environment. The diversity ofoperations, the expanded application ofMarine Corps capabilities, and the changing lexicon all illustrate how our collective American understanding ofthe security era, our national strategy, our organizations, and our employment ofmilitary power have evolved during nearly ten years of conflict. Accordingly, this edition, which supersedes its predecessor, reflects that evolution. This publication records changes to Marine Corps organization and force posture. It discusses the use ofsmaller MAGTFs and other, nonstandard formation—s that are increasingly employed with ourjoint and multin—ational partners especially those in the Navy and special operations forces and how we plan, execute, and assess our expanded activities across the range ofmilitary operations. It provides concise descriptions ofthe various operations Marines may conduct and elaborates on the various tactical operations that Marine Corps commanders may integrate, in varying degrees, to successfully accomplish assigned missions. Marine Corps commanders and staffs at all levels should read, study, and MCDP be thoroughly conversant with the content of 1-0. The notion that "words matter," is embedded throughoutthis publication, which defines key terms to ensure Marines speak a common operational language. Inasmuch as MCDP 1-0 illustrates how the flexibility and rapid deployability ofour task- organized, combined arms forces apply across the range ofmilitary operations, joint and multinational force commanders and their staffs can also use this publication to better understand Marine Corps capabilities and considerations for their employment. MCDP This publication supersedes 1-0, Marine Corps Operations, dated 27 September 2001. AMOS ;s F. Gene^al^JjHtfed States Marine Corps Commandant ofthe Marine Corps Publication Control Number: 142 000014 00 DISTRIBUTION STATEMENT A: Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited. MCDP 1-0, Marine Corps Operations TABLE OF CONTENTS — Chapter 1 The Marine Corps in National Defense Expeditionary Force in Readiness 1-1 Maneuver Warfare Philosophy and Mission Command 1-3 Enduring Marine Corps Principles 1-4 Instruments ofNational Power and the Range ofMilitary Operations 1-5 Military Engagement, Security Cooperation, and Deterrence 1-5 Crisis Response and Limited Contingency Operations 1-5 Major Operations and Campaigns 1-6 Levels ofWar 1-6 The National Security Structure and Strategic Direction 1-7 The President and the Secretary ofDefense 1-8 The Chairman ofthe Joint Chiefs ofStaff 1-9 . The Joint Chiefs ofStaff 1-9 The Combatant Commanders and United States Ambassadors 1-10 Unified Action 1-10 . Joint Phasing Model for Operations 1-11 Multinational Operations, Alliances, and Coalitions 1-12 Roles and Functions ofthe Marine Corps 1-13 United States Code, Title 10,ArmedForces 1-14 Department ofDefense Directive 5100.1, Functions ofthe Department ofDefense andIts Major Components 1-14 Marine Corps Manual 1-15 Key Marine Corps Tasks 1-15 The Commandant ofthe Marine Corps 1-17 MCDP 1-0 Organization and Structure ofthe Marine Corps l-l8 Headquarters, Marine Corps l-l8 Marine Corps Operating Forces 1-19 Supporting Establishment l-2l — Chapter 2 Marine Corps Forces and Expeditionary Operations Marine Corps Components 2-1 Role and Responsibilities to the Commandant 2-2 Role and Responsibilities to the Joint Force Commander 2-3 Joint Operations Conducted Through Service Component Commanders 2-4 Joint Operations Conducted Through Functional Component Commanders .2-4 . . Marine Corps Component Commander as a Functional Component Commander 2-6 Marine Air-Ground Task Forces 2-6 MAGTF Elements ofa 2-6 Types ofMAGTFs 2-9 Other Task-Organized Marine Corps Forces 2-15 United States Marine Corps Forces, Special Operations Command 2-16 United States Marine Corps Forces, Cyber Command 2-17 Marine Corps Core Competencies 2-18 Power Projection 2-20 . . . , Amphibious Operations 2-23 Types ofAmphibious Operations 2-23 Operational Environments ofAmphibious Operations 2-24 Amphibious Operation Command Relationships 2-26 Phases ofAmphibious Operations 2-29 Maritime Prepositioning Force Operations 2-30 Sustained Operations Ashore 2-31 Enabling Force 2-31 Decisive Force 2-32 Marine Corps Operations Exploitation Force 2-32 Sustaining Force 2-32 Command and Control ofMarine Corps Tactical Air During Sustained Operations Ashore 2-32 — Chapter 3 Conducting Expeditionary Operations Planning 3-1 Planning Tenets 3-1 The Marine Corps Planning Process 3-2 Problem Framing 3-2 Course ofAction Development 3-4 Course ofAction War Game 3-4 . Course ofAction Comparison and Decision 3-5 Orders Development 3-5 Transition 3-5 Planning Considerations 3-5 Operational Environment 3-6 Battlespace 3-6 . Battlespace Framework 3-10 Battlespace Considerations 3-12 Maneuver Control and Fire Support Coordination Measures 3-13 Centers ofGravity and Critical Vulnerabilities 3-13 Commander's Intent 3-15 Commander's Guidance 3-15 Lines ofOperations 3-18 Commander's Critical Information Requirements 3-18 Information Operations 3-19 Cyberspace Operations 3-21 Execution 3-22 Command and Control 3-23 Information Management 3-23 MCDP 1-0 Assessment 3-24 Planning for Assessment 3-24 Assessment Cell 3-25 Measures ofPerformance and Measures ofEffectiveness 3-25 Assessment Considerations 3-25 Tactical Tenets 3-26 Achieving a Decision 3-27 Gaining Advantage 3-27 Tempo 3-30 Adapting 3-31 Exploiting Success and Finishing 3-32 — Chapter 4 Military Engagement, Security Cooperation, and Deterrence Nation Assistance 4-4 Humanitarian and Civic Assistance 4-4 Support to Foreign Internal Defense 4-4 Security Assistance 4-5 Maritime Security Operations 4-5 Combating Terrorism 4-5 Antiterrorism 4-5 Counterterrorism 4-5 Show ofForce Operations 4-6 Arms Control 4-6 Sanctions Enforcement/Maritime Interception Operations 4-6 Protection ofShipping 4-7 Freedom ofNavigation and Overflight 4-7 Defense Support to Public Diplomacy 4-7 Exclusion Zones Enforcement 4-8 Department ofDefense Supportto Counterdrug Operations 4-8 Support to Insurgency 4-8 Marine Corps Operations Chapter 5—Crisis Response and Limited Contingency Operations Consequence Management 5-3 Foreign Humanitarian Assistance 5-4 Noncombatant Evacuation Operations 5-5 Strikes and Raids 5-6 Embassy Defense 5-6 Recovery Operations 5-7 Defense Support ofCivil Authorities 5-7 Peace Operations 5-8 Peacekeeping 5-8 Peace Enforcement 5-8 Peacemaking 5-9 Peace Building 5-9 Conflict Prevention 5-9 — Chapter 6 Major Operations and Campaigns Counterinsurgency 6-3 Defensive Operations 6-3 Offensive Operations 6-4 Other Tactical Operations 6-4 Reconnaissance and Security Operations 6-4 Stability Operations 6-4 Sustainment Operations 6-5 — Chapter 7 Counterinsurgency Operations Contemporary Imperatives ofCounterinsurgency 7-2 Manage Information and Expectations 7-2 Use the Appropriate Level ofForce 7-3 Learn and Adapt 7-4 Attack the Network 7-5 Empower at the Lowest Levels Through Mission Command 7-5 2 1 MCDP 1-0 Support the HostNation 7-5 Establish Genuine Partnerships 7-6 Successful and Unsuccessful Counterinsurgency Practices 7-6 — Chapter 8 Defensive Operations Organization ofthe Defense 8-2 Deep Area 8-2 Close Area 8-3 Rear Area 8-4 Types ofDefensive Operations 8-4 Mobile Defense 8-5 Area Defense 8-7 Retrograde 8-8 Defensive Methods 8- 1 Battle Position 8-12 Strong Point 8-12 Perimeter 8-12 Linear 8- 1 Reverse Slope 8-12 Sector 8-13 — Chapter 9 Offensive Operations Organization ofthe Offense 9-2 Deep Operations 9-3 Close Operations 9-3 Rear Operations 9-4 Type ofOffensive Operations 9-4 Movementto Contact 9-5 Attack 9-5 Exploitation 9-7 Pursuit 9-8